Scrumptious snickerdoodle crescent rolls to snack on

As another year at Geneseo dies down, many of us are finding our way back home, either eagerly expecting the year ahead or wondering what a future after Geneseo holds. But why expect and wonder on an empty stomach? Here’s an easy recipe that can be made in bulk and brought in the car with you on your journey home.

Peanut Butter Snickerdoodle Crescent Rolls

Ingredients:

1 tube of crescent rolls

4 teaspoons of peanut butter

2 tablespoons of sugar

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

Directions: 

1)    Preheat oven to 350°F. 

2)    Stir sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Put it to the side.

3)    Unroll the crescent rolls and separate into triangles. Spread 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter on the thick end of each triangle. Sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon sugar. Roll into crescents.

4)    Bake for eight minutes or until golden brown. While hot, dip the tops in the 

cinnamon sugar mixture. Repeat dipping process once they’ve cooled.

5)    Enjoy!

LGBTQ+ inclusive membership policies questioned in Greek life

For many students, Greek life is a focal point of daily life during their time at Geneseo. Members think nothing of wearing their organization’s letters proudly on their sweatshirts, of painting the Greek Tree or of working tirelessly to make their organization shine. After all, their efforts culminate into a unique Greek identity—something to leave behind for future generations.

But underneath the surface of this collective Greek identity lies an uncomfortable truth for some members. What do you do if your identity apart from Greek life clashes with the one you’ve been building with your brothers and sisters? For many members of the LGBTQ+ community who participate in Greek life, this is an ongoing question. 

On the surface, an LGBTQ+ person feeling uncomfortable among a stereotypical “frat-bro” Greek scene seems obvious—but LGBTQ+ members of Greek life at Geneseo feel as if the reality is more complicated. Many find themselves in organizations that are outwardly supportive of their gender identity or sexual orientation, but these organizations are not as socially progressive as they claim. Problems also arise from interacting with other organizations.

“I was lucky enough to find and join a gender and sexuality-inclusive organization on campus, and it has helped in making my Greek experiences a lot better,” communication major junior and Alpha Delta Epsilon member Candace Pedraza said. “However, I very often feel the need to dress more ‘femme’ when going out to avoid discrimination or harassment from fraternities, which leads to some dysphoria and feelings of forced invalidation from time to time.”

Anthropology major sophomore and fellow ADE member Emmett Zand Halstuch agreed with Pedraza. 

“ADE was the first group of people I came out to as trans. I try to dress masculine when going out to frats and I still get misgendered [by them] every single time,” he said. “Even in ADE, there have been moments when I felt like people don’t understand. One of [my] struggles from last semester was being told that I’m correcting people when they mess up my pronouns the ‘wrong way’… even in a sorority that is the most accepting Greek life organization on campus, there is still a lot to learn and change.”

For those whose identities do not conflict with Greek life, the presence of gender and sexuality-inclusive organizations appears to be enough, but this is clearly not the case. Most people want to quantify the discrimination of LGBTQ+ Greeks only when it’s outright. They imagine the “perfect victim” as analogous to a gay man at a party being harassed, or a lesbian couple being hassled as they walk home at night. 

But tiny vestiges of micro-aggression solidified by years of Greek tradition are still just as prevalent and problematic. What if your gender identity means that you’re neither a brother nor a sister? What if your Greek family feels uncomfortable about you talking about your encounter with someone of the same sex last night, even though they freely blab on about their experiences? 

Discrimination is still alive and well in Greek communities, inclusive or not. These problems could be assuaged with increased—or even mandatory—Safe Zone training of groups. So far, few groups are applying for these sessions and individual organizations have their own LGBTQ+ inclusive membership policies, but they are not overarching to all of Greek life. Understanding needs to be promoted within and outside of Greek life communities to see any real change for LGBTQ+ members.

International Night provides sample of different cultures

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Hosted by Wyoming Hall, International Night provided themed games by country for students to play. It highlighted the different cultures that students come from. (Jenna Harbus/Staff Photographer)

Stepping into the MacVittie College Union was like stepping into international territory on the night of Friday April 14. In partnership with Geneseo Late Knight, Wyoming Hall—otherwise known as Global Housing—held their International Night. 

There, students teamed up to create their own fake nations—complete with slogans and national animals—and competed against rival nations in a series of party games monitored by the GLK staff. 

“International Night is about different people coming together to build new friendships, and to gain acquaintance with other cultures,” GLK staff member, anthropology major junior Darnisha Buckley said.  

The idea for the event came from GLK graduate assistant Molly Cole’s work with Allegany and Wyoming’s area coordinator.

“Wyoming is known as Global House, and we wanted to incorporate the residence hall for an event,” Cole said. “We had a lot of ideas, and we thought the most fun would be a challenge night with an international theme to give our best taste of other cultures.”

Students arriving at the event were encouraged to separate themselves from the groups that they had come with so that they were making groups with people that they didn’t know. When students entered the ballroom, they wrote their nation’s name, slogan and other various facts on a poster board with their group’s input. 

Some took their nation-building task more seriously than others—but having fun was the most important goal for the night. 

“We’re making a Shrek-related country,” biology major sophomore Josephine Kwan said.

“Our motto is ‘This is our swamp,’” English major senior David Sabol said. “Because we’re territorial.” 

After they created their nations, groups were lead to various parts of the Union, from the mailroom to the lounges. Each area had a task for the teams to complete. Their progress was recorded by GLK staff members, who collected points and tallied the scores to determine the nation with the most points who would win at the end of the night.

Activities ranged from “Minute to Win It” styled games—where participants had to tie a tissue box stuffed with ping pong balls around their waist and shake out as many pong balls as they could within a minute—to oversized board games. 

Each station was styled after a specific country. For example, the Italian activity was a life-sized Jenga set. Traditional Italian music played in the background to set the atmosphere, as students carefully pulled out and stacked the massive wooden slabs. 

The activities promoted teamwork within the groups—and were just plain fun.

“Our activity is for teambuilding,” psychology major sophomore and Allegany resident assistant Cara Dejesus said. “I’m looking forward to seeing people struggle.”

Even when teams struggled, they didn’t look as if they were. Teams eagerly completed each task and ran from one to the other, looking to rack up as many points as possible. The night concluded with international karaoke in Wyoming until 1:30 a.m.

No matter what nation you came from, International Night was a successful merger of cultures—real, and imaginary.

Warthog rugby team hosts fourth annual Shave-a-Thon, raises money for cancer

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To promote Relay for Life, the Geneseo men’s rugby team hosted a Shave-a-Thon on Friday April 7. Gathered in the MacVittie College Union, team members including freshman Yazen Alkuisi (pictured above) decided to shave their heads, showing solidarity with cancer patients. (Jenna Harbus/Staff Photographer)

If the large crowds in the lobby didn’t draw your curiosity to the MacVittie College Union on Friday April 7, perhaps the copious tufts of hair coating the floor did. The Geneseo Warthog rugby football club held their fourth annual Shave-a-Thon on Friday April 7 in the student union. 

Under the watchful eye of fellow teammates, friends and confused Starbucks patrons, the event was meant to excite participants for Relay for Life, which was held on Saturday April 8.

Everyone on the Warthog rugby team decided to shave their heads in solidarity for people who lose their hair from chemotherapy. The men of the team lined up in threes, and for a donation of $5 or more, anyone could shave their head with a provided electric razor. Many of these donations came from their friends, eager to be the ones who removed the men’s hair. 

The general atmosphere of the men waiting to go under the razor by the hands—and wallets—of overzealous friends was playfully mournful. Many had their own ways of dealing with their loss. 

There was scarcely an unshaven man without his hands somewhere near his head in the moments preparing for the shave. If they weren’t, friends ran their own hands through for one last time. Some members had even spent the last few months growing and grooming their facial hair specifically for the event, or had otherwise changed their hair knowing that it would be gone soon anyway.

“My dear friend dyed his hair for this event,” political science major sophomore Hannah Lowry said. “It’s a good cause.”

The real focus, however, was on the important matters that the event concerned. Cancer’s ability to ruin lives was the worst part at the end of the day—not the hair loss.

“It’s not easy having cancer, and everyone has experience with it,” geography major junior Joseph Goldbloom said. “They lose their hair, so why shouldn’t we?”

Goldbloom had more than just powerful words. He had a powerful voice that echoed across the Union as he begged passerby students to drop some money into the club’s collection box.

“Dollars, pennies, it doesn’t matter,” he said. Relay for Life’s spirit was just a little stronger thanks to the contributions of these men. 

“It’s a big rally thing,” childhood and special education major sophomore Colin Sugrue—who organized the event—said. “It’s a big community thing. It gets us all together. And a bunch of guys looking like thumbs is a good time.”

Pride Alliance hosts Drag Ball showcasing student, professional performance

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Over 400 people attended the GLK and Pride Alliance Drag Ball. In addition to student performers, professional drag queens—including former “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” contestant Joslyn Fox took the stage. With the hopes of creating a more accepting environment, the drag ball brought many different people together. (Elizabeth Jacobs/Staff Photographer)

Sparkling sequins and glamorous outfits ruled the MacVittie College Union Ballroom with the Pride Alliance-run and Geneseo Late Knight-sponsored Drag Ball on Saturday April 1. Student performers, professional drag queens and even a few newcomers to the art of drag came to strut their stuff on and off the stage with over 400 attendees to watch.

Those unfamiliar with drag performances before might have felt a little shocked at first to experience the queens’ raunchy humor. They picked through the crowd, generously commenting on student’s physicality and making sly innuendos. The songs that they lip-synched weren’t anything to bring home to your mother, either—they were as loud and unapologetically brash as the queens themselves. 

If attendees felt uncomfortable about all of this, however, it didn’t show. Screaming and encouraging the queens—who flounced, bounced and death dropped their way across the stage—created community across attending students and participants. The kind of atmosphere that many professors try to start in their classes over the course of a semester, drag queens grabbing their fake boobs and honking created within minutes.

While the chance to see student performances and professional drag queens live on stage was tantalizing enough to draw in large crowds, the headliner of the event was the chance to see former “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” contestant Joslyn Fox perform. 

Her loud outfit included a gold jumpsuit that glittered in the ballroom light and cross earrings that channeled Madonna. When paired with her sultry performance, Fox captivated the expectant audience when she opened and closed the show.

But Fox’s performances weren’t the only notable part of her time on the ballroom stage. In between her songs, she spoke about politics—particularly, how the person who drove her to the event was a kind woman whom she had a long, personal conversation with. 

When she looked in the back of the woman’s car, she noticed a Trump bumper sticker. Fox said that it made her realize that many people have a lot of things going on in their lives and even with the current state of American politics, we shouldn’t shun other people.

“We are all brothers and sisters because of our human bond,” Fox said.

Politics took center stage several times throughout the night, as performers made references to movements such as Black Lives Matter. One queen commented that if people were willing to attend tonight’s event, then they should have no problem attending BLM marches or defending trans people of color. Their statement was met with a roar of cheers.

Drag balls have historically created and nurtured the LGBTQ+ community, even in times of severe repression. Protecting and rallying for the rights of minorities is as integral to a drag ball as are outrageous performances. 

GLK employee and childhood with special education major sophomore Dylan Fichera summed the event up best.

“This is such a welcoming and accepting atmosphere,” Fichera said. “This brings a lot of people together.”

It might seem silly and downright unbelievable to the unaware observer, but these loud and proud queens remind minority communities and Geneseo at large to be loud in turn and to have our voices heard.

Exploring different “spots”

The G-Spot—besides being the pun-intended name of this section—is a rather misunderstood spot. Some research even suggests that it isn’t real. Matters only get more complicated when taking other “spots” into consideration, such as the P spot, which far less people are knowledgeable on the existence of.

Besides its designation as the female “spot” of pleasure, many people are unaware of how to access and activate the G spot. Being the most well-known pleasure area does not make the G spot any more “basic.” In fact, finding and pleasing a part of the body that might not even exist makes the pursuit of the G spot even more mysterious. 

Named after German gynecologist Ernst Gräfenberg—whose research in 1940s led to its “discovery”—the G spot is supposedly a location about two inches within in the vagina. When activated, it will swell slightly and result in pleasurable stimulation that might lead to an orgasm. While location differs from person to person, it is usually found around the clitourethrovaginal complex—a fancy word describing the zone where the vagina, urethra and clitoris join.

If there is documentation of where this spot lies, however, why is there debate over its existence? Mainly, doubt arises from the fact that many G spot studies focus on anecdotal evidence. 

While studies have in fact “proven” its existence, these studies usually rely on small participant pools. A 2009 King’s College London study found that twins did not report having a G spot in the same location as their sibling, further casting reservations. 

If you’d like to add your voice to the debate—in the name of science, of course—it’s said that lying on your back and sticking two clean fingers—whether your own or your partner’s—about two inches into the vagina in a “come here” position will help determine its location. Then push against the vaginal wall with firm pressure. Due to its location near the bladder, you might feel like you have to urinate when it’s pushed against. 

Not everyone derives sexual pleasure from their G spot being touched, however, but that’s OK—there are other spots to explore. 

For people with penises, the P spot, or prostate, is the penile equivalent of the G spot. It is even situated in around the same area as the G spot—around the pelvis and near the bladder. 

The similar placements of the P spot and G spot have led to some theories that the G spot develops into the prostrate in utero. These theories are based off the interesting biological fact that all fetuses start off with vaginas, which develop into penises with the presence of XY chromosomes. 

Unlike the G spot, there tends to be less debate about the P spot’s existence, though; like the G spot, not everyone will find its stimulation pleasurable. 

It can be activated by inserting a finger one to two inches in the anus, or touching the perineum, which is the skin between the testicles and anus. Butt plugs are specially designed for this, but be sure to instruct yourself on how to properly use them before experimenting; this includes how your toy needs to be cleaned, handled and so on. 

Exploration of your body is empowering. Explore vastly, but explore safely.

Restaurant Takeover event showcases local eateries

Food Studio North opened its doors to Geneseo’s local diverse food profiles on March 23 with its Restaurant Takeover event. 

Partnered with Campus Auxiliary Services, participating restaurants included Sweet Arts, the Big Tree Inn, the Village Tavern, Village Café and Catering, Questa Lasagna and other popular local restaurants. 

For the price of regular admission to upstairs Letchworth Dining Complex, over 600 students had the opportunity to dine on food provided by the town’s community-based restaurants. The event—which Letchworth hopes to make annual—was an immediate success. 

Lines to enter upstairs Letchworth pooled around the stairs; the lines to find seating, however, were even more formidable. Students making their third and fourth trips around the dining hall—all looking for something new to sample—drowned out the sounds of campus cash cards furiously swiping.  

The types of cuisine served ranged from Asian, American, Italian and everything in-between, with choices to surely satisfy all tastes. Even the pickiest of eaters, whether a Buffalo wing purist or a Long Islander food critic, had nothing to complain about. 

Burgers, salads, breads and chicken made their way to almost every student’s plate, each offering something new to Food Studio North. While the option of a traditional Letchworth ice cream dessert was still open, some students opted for Sweet Art’s rice pudding instead. 

To those who attended, this was more than an opportunity to safely experience non-CAS food.

“I think it’s a great way to support local businesses,” political science major junior Remington Spoor said. “And it’s a fantastic means of community outreach by bringing the school closer to the greater community.”

But the food was, by far, the main attraction to the event. 

“This is the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, and I’ve been to Disney World,” psychology major freshman Madeline Reichler said. Her plate consisted of two veggie wraps, a chicken wing and egg rolls—a perfect image of the diversity of the event’s offerings. 

“It was a nice change-up from the regular menu,” international relations major freshman Maryn Chmielewski said over a plate of pasta. “I brought my friends from high school, and they loved it.” 

Her friends seemed to agree. One, a fan of the chicken wings, even asked how they could apply to Geneseo. 

Some of the restaurant stations offered more than just food. A bakery station had a basket of postcards laid out. If filled out and brought to the participating bakery, they would mail it out for free. Additional stations had coupons for free loaves of bread and other goodies, provided with the intention of promoting outreach between students and the community. 

Geneseo’s Restaurant Takeover event offered a fun, exciting new way for students to experiment with off campus food, all while giving local businesses a chance to showcase some of their specialties.

Flaws in America’s sex education system

Most students who have gone through American sex education are at least vaguely aware of its massive shortcomings. Between potentially uncaring and inattentive instructors, often incomplete—or flat out false—information and scare tactics, almost every student has a story about the incompetency of their local school’s sex education program. 

But the largescale reality is often much more horrifying: many American teenagers do not receive a comprehensive sex education. The consequences of this lapse in education—whether the result of religious, moral or societal beliefs—may determine America’s future demographic landscape. Stories about poor sex education become less funny when they determine our nation’s overall health.

While the classic “condom on banana” demonstration is regarded as more of a joke than as a legitimate educational tool, many American students are not lucky enough to even reach that point in their sexual education career. 

Only 50 percent of females and 58 percent of males receive formal education on how to properly use a condom, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Since a properly used condom—as in, a condom that is not expired and that is applied correctly—has a 98 percent chance of preventing pregnancy and can be used to avoid contracting STIs, the discrepancy in instruction raises alarms.

STIs are not the only cause for concern. The use of a condom is highly effective in preventing AIDS, according to research by AIDS.gov—but those odds drastically increase in probability with unprotected sex.

If schools do not teach their students how to properly protect themselves during sex with condoms, what methods do they suggest? In 2014, only 72 percent of public and private high schools taught pregnancy prevention as a part of their health courses, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Further research by Guttmacher revealed that of that amount, 76 percent taught abstinence as the most effective method against pregnancy. 

While physically true, this ignores the reality that students might explore their sexuality regardless of what their instructors tell them, thus putting them in a situation where they might not be able to protect themselves. After all, if a student is convinced that they will stay chaste, but then change their mind in a moment of sexual interaction, they will most likely not have a condom with them. 

Only 61 percent of high schools teach about contraceptive efficiency and only 35 percent require condom instruction, according to Guttmacher Institute research. 

Even the most effective of sexual education programs can be undermined by parental interference. Guttmacher estimates that 88 percent of schools that teach sex education allow parents to withdraw their students from the programs. 

While the parent’s gesture might be well-meaning in nature, it might withdraw the student from resources that are more reliable or up-to-date than what their parent can give them. 

Why does any of this matter to the average college student? The days of standardized sex education are behind us—but it’s important to recognize the gaps that might have been present in our own education. By learning about the shortcomings of the American sex education system at large, we can adjust our own misunderstandings about sex and be sure to properly educate the next generation.

PornHub provides inclusive sexual education

The majority of visitors on PornHub visit the site for a single reason—as offered to them at the click of a button. But as of late January, more of these visits to the Internet’s largest adult entertainment conglomerate may have an educational purpose in mind.

The “PornHub Sexual Wellness Center” officially went live on Jan. 31. Instead of pizza delivery men and pool boys, the site offers informative articles on topics ranging from reproductive health to sexuality to the physical body.

These articles are not just opinion pieces—each article has been researched and written by a team of doctors, therapists and sexologists. The site itself is directed under popular sexologist Dr. Laurie Betito, who runs her own private practice, hosts a sex-oriented radio show and has made several news appearances to talk about sex.

“[It] is an opportunity to reach a global audience and provide a source for healthy sexual education and dialogue,” Betito said. 

While the site may sound like a joke, it has established itself as anything but. Articles on the site are written to be inclusive of many different types of relationships, counteracting the largely heteronormative, religious and social morality-based sexual education in the United States. 

Gay, lesbian and transgender relationships are given the same intensive research and discussion that heterosexual ones are, as are ones that challenge the traditional views of monogamy. Thus, PornHub’s new site offers arguably one of the most inclusive sexual educations. 

The new site seems more critical now than ever, with users from the U.S. driving about 40 percent of the site’s visits, according to PornHub’s “2016 Year in Review.” Statistics surrounding the state of sexual education in the U.S. are daunting. 

Forty-three percent of teenage males and 53 percent of teenage females who are sexually active do not receive “formal instruction” on using contraception before they have sex, according to studies by the Guttmacher Institute. Even fewer of them—31 percent males, 46 percent females—learn where to obtain contraception. Regarding the origin of this lack of knowledge, 88 percent of schools allow parents the option to withdraw their children from sex education entirely.  

The statistics for non-heterosexual and non-cisgender persons are equally dire. Studies by the Center for Disease Control have found higher trends of bacterial vaginitis, syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections among LGBTQ+ persons. A study from the McCreary Centre Society has revealed that bisexual and lesbian youth are two-seven times more likely to become pregnant as teenagers compared to their straight peers. 

Additionally, for transgender individuals undergoing hormone therapy, there are multiple complications that can occur. Taking testosterone puts people at risk of liver disease, especially if taken orally. Taking estrogen, on the other hand, puts users at risk of high blood pressure and blood clotting, according to the Vanderbilt Medical School. These issues, even if brief, are rarely discussed in sexual education settings across U.S. schools.

Sexual education is much more than just physical health. In health classes, sexual education can be broadened to simply understanding persons of different orientations, which could potentially help bullied youth.  

PornHub’s site may not fix the entirety of America’s sexual education crisis, but it provides a step in the right direction.

Korye spreads Ghanaian drumming culture

The spirit of Africa visited the Knight Spot with stamping feet and powerful drums on Saturday Feb. 18. In partnership with Geneseo Late Knight, Korye Geneseo brought the infectious energy of Ghanaian dancing to campus with their “Night in Africa” event.

Sitting still was not a practical option at the Knight Spot when Korye took over. Korye uses dynamic Ghanaian dance and drums to create spirited performances, with the wish to spread that very same dance fever onto people who have never felt it.

A circle of students in the corner learned how to beat drums in powerful patterns—an essential part to the dances of Korye. Their large circle of students sitting in front of drums and other percussion instruments encompassed Korye members and new learners alike. All equally lost themselves to the rhythm of the sounds under their hands.

Meanwhile, two lines of students formed in the middle of the Knight Spot. Korye members were mixed between these lines, teaching participants how to dance to the rhythm of the practicing drums.

By instructing the members on the simple movements that string together into completed ones, Korye members taught participants their iconic dance moves. They supported the new participants through cheering them on at every opportunity with whoops and calls of “unity,” which is the English translation of “Korye.”

“Personally, I’m a dancer,” neuroscience major sophomore Dimitri Wing-Paul said. “It’s really a wonderful experience for me to learn different styles of dance.”

The excitement on participants’ faces when their swinging hips and swaying arms eased into a complete dance move was obvious. Even GLK coordinators could not resist the aura of the Knight Spot, as they sometimes mimicked the moves of the dancers by their table.

When groups took five-minute breaks to drink and to eat the food provided, participants got to opportunity to chat with Korye members. The music turned to more popular culture during these breaks, with “Leg Over” by Mr Eazi even playing at one point. Many participants took advantage of this opportunity to freestyle the moves that they had learned just minutes before.

“It’s really fun,” French and adolescent education double major freshman Emily Cecala said. “I really enjoy learning about other cultures, especially in these times.”

The event concluded with the new drummers and dancers joining together to bring their moves into one performance. Participants on both sides could see how their rhythm directly correlated to the music and to the movements.

Once they finished, both the participants and Korye members joined their fists in a circle.

“Korye! Unity!” they said while raising their arms into the air.

The enthusiasm of their voices felt like the event brought together the campus as one, if only for a moment.

“Love Bites” event diminishes Valentine’s Day blues

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In honor of a holiday that oftentimes perpetuates loneliness to singles, Geneseo Late Knight’s “Love Bites” was a fun, lighthearted event for everyone who participated in celebrating. (Elizabeth Jacobs/Staff Photographer)

Geneseo Late Knight took over the MacVittie College Union Ballroom and filled it to the brim with candy, treats and a general pleasant mood with their “Love Bites” event on Saturday Feb. 11. Activities overflowed out into the lobby for students to participate in. 

Outside, a photo booth snapped free photographs of whoever could manage to fit inside. Groups of friends pushed and shoved their way into the booth wearing an array of ridiculous accessories as provided by GLK, which resulted in some very silly and memorable snapshots. 

Inside the ballroom, there were three tables. One held an array of brownies and frosted cookies, which disappeared quickly into the mouths of hungry students. Another had mason jars and bowls of candy. Students were encouraged to decorate their mason jars with paint and to put candy inside of them for later—or to simply refill as they decorated if they couldn’t resist a quick treat. 

But by far the most popular table was the one where students could build their own stuffed animals, à la Build-a-Bear. As soon as the event opened its doors, everyone who waited to get inside immediately gravitated toward the piles of hollow bears that sat waiting to be picked up and stuffed at this table. 

Once the participants chose their furry friend, students reached into massive boxes of white fluff and filled up their bear’s body to their heart’s content. There were baskets of felt hearts and stars, which students wished upon and put into the stuffing for good luck. Popular wishes included “good grades” and “love.”

When their animal had come to life, participants created a birth certificate for their creation—or as the certificates called themselves, “bear-th certificates.” The bear-th certifications included the bear’s name and date of birth. Names were creative and ranged anywhere from the cute, like Calvin, to the major-referential, such as Dope-amine.

“The ‘Build-a-Bear’ activity was totally awesome and one of the more unexpected, fun and unique features of a GLK event I can remember,” psychology major freshman Madeline Reichler said, while holding her bear “Cameron Cam Camo Flage.” “I’m really excited to send the bear I made to my friend from another college to show I’m thinking of her this Gal-entine’s Day.”

“The stuffed bear was a huge surprise,” English and adolescent education double major freshman Hannah Fahy said, with her bear “Franklin.” “I came just to find out what ‘Love Bites’ was and was not disappointed.”

It seemed everyone at the event was proud to carry their homemade bear around.

The event, held to dissipate Valentine’s Day blues, went above and beyond its purpose, as students mingled with friends and strangers alike while participating in the festivities. Stories of childhood firsts at ‘Build-a-Bear,’ sing-a-longs to the event’s blasting playlist and empty candy wrappers littered each table—successfully fostering the sense of community that Geneseo is so well known for.

Civil War themed night brings traditions to life

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Geneseo Late Knight partnered with the Reenactment Company of Geneseo to provide a vicarious trip back to the Civil War era through traditional costumes, food and dance. (Elizabeth Jacobs/Staff Photographer)

History came alive at the Knight Spot on Friday Jan. 27 when the Reenactment Company of Geneseo paired with Geneseo Late Knight to hold their first Civil War Ball.

Men in uniforms and women in dresses paraded around the Knight Spot in outfits that were a replication of what people would have worn when attending the dances in the Civil War era. The attractions of the event set the historical ambiance, while a live string band played throughout the night.

Era-accurate food completed the atmosphere, which included potatoes and lemonade—the latter being a personal favorite of Abraham Lincoln’s. Men in Confederate and Union uniforms huddled around a life-sized chess board, devising their moves with war strategies one would expect from soldiers of the period. 

Civil War trivia ensued as well, as the Reenactment group happily assisted participants with the more difficult questions. There was even a photo booth where you could wear Civil War costumes and pose with soldiers from either side of the war.

“We have to be representatives of both sides, from captains to sergeants,” political science major sophomore Wesley Ebersole said. 

By far the most appealing attraction, however, were the reenactors themselves. They were all assigned military ranks and names, which they announced proudly when called upon. The actors rarely broke character all throughout the night, and when they did, it was to teach participants facts about the Civil War—or to hold a digital camera for the photo booth. 

“It’s a good opportunity for people to take a step back in history,” Geneseo Late Knight Graduate Assistant Molly Cole said. “It’s almost like a time machine.”

Civil War balls and dances proved just that for the soldiers on both sides in the 1860s. They became ways for the tired soldiers to forget about fighting—if only for a night. These dances have an interesting history and there is less information on them than the war itself; instructions for era-traditional dances, for example, exist solely through dance manuals of the time and hand written notes. 

The event served to enlighten participants to Geneseo’s historical ties to America—to remind attendees that there was more to the culture of the Civil War than bloodshed. 

History and psychology double major and founder of the Reenactment Company sophomore Julian David-Drori—or as he introduced himself at the Civil War Ball, Captain David-Drori—agreed. 

“Our job is to educate the public about history through living history,” David-Drori said. “The entire subject isn’t just about war.”

Quinoa cookies to kick off the New Year

Don’t be tempted by the shelves of cookies Mary Jemison likes to push out like clockwork. You can make a healthier alternative with these quinoa cookies, which are only about 140 calories a cookie. These cookies are so healthy that you can even eat them for breakfast! 

Almond-Cranberry Quinoa Cookies

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled

1 cup oats

1 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup unsalted slivered almonds 

Directions:

1)    Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 

2)    Whisk flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl. 

3)    Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and honey in a separate bowl until 

light and fluffy. Hint: An electric mixer helps; some dorms might have 

one available for rent from the front desk. 

4)    Add eggs, almond extract and vanilla extract to this bowl; continue 

to beat for about two minutes or until pale and fluffy. 

5)    Beat in the flour mixture from the first bowl, 1/2 cup at a time. 

6)    Stir in quinoa, oats, cranberries and almonds. 

7)    Spoon dough in two-tablespoon portions onto prepared sheets, 

preferably lined with parchment paper, spacing 1 inch apart.

8)    Bake cookies for 12-15 minutes or until golden. 

Enjoy!

Spanish Club educates on Hispanic Christmas traditions

Geneseo’s Spanish Club hosted a Navidad-themed presentation in Welles on Monday Dec. 5. Focused on the traditions of Hispanic countries during the holidays, the presentation rotated around the accounts of faculty and students alike. Too often, people falsely assume that Hispanic countries all have the same traditions when it comes to Christmas. Sharing the Spanish language, however, has not reduced the sheer diversity found in these countries’ holiday traditions. To paint all these countries with the same brush is to ignore the beauty of their individual cultures. The Spanish Club sought to correct this assumption through their presentation.

“People think that just because you know Spanish means that you know all about the other countries’ traditions,” Spanish Club president and Spanish and adolescent education double major senior Leinni Mejia said.

To raise awareness about their diversity, Mejia invited a plethora of different people to speak first-hand about their holiday experiences abroad.

“I wanted to learn. I wanted other people to learn,” she said.

Adjunct instructor of Spanish Rocio Vallejo was the first to speak. Her presentation, given in Spanish, was on Mexico. To demonstrate the importance of piñatas to a Mexican Navidad, she brought in her own. While traditional Navidad piñatas are shaped like a star with seven points—each one representing one of the seven deadly sins—hers was in the shape of a donkey.

She used the donkey to bring interactivity to her presentation, as she invited students to try smashing it with a blindfold. As they did so, she led the classroom in a traditional chant that usually accompanies the breaking of a piñata. When it finally exploded, candy rained onto the floor for the audience to grab.

Next, Arabic and English double major senior Lucia Gonzales-Aguilar—an exchange student from Université Paul Valéry—spoke at length about Spain, discussing the country’s specific separation of the Navidad celebration into days. There are days to eat meals with family members, a day to eat grapes in order to ward off the bad luck of a new year and a day to give candy to children. These all happen before the opening of presents on Jan. 6, which is a stark contrast to the two-day American tradition.

Mejia also tackled the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, the former being her original home. She mentioned a host of interesting traditions in the Dominican Republic, such as the Aguinaldos, who are carolers who not only visit and sing within homes, but also accept small cash donations or food.

And on Nochebuena—the American Christmas Eve—people cook vast amounts of food and trade it with their neighbors. At the end of the night, so much food has been exchanged that the kitchen is filled with entirely other people’s food.

In Puerto Rico, children leave letters to Santa in their Christmas trees. The country also has visiting carolers and enjoys a drink called coquito, which is their version of eggnog except it’s made of rum, coconut milk and vanilla.

Finally, Costa Rica—as presented on by childhood special education and Spanish double major senior Kimberly Smith—trades tamales like Americans do sugar cookies. There are horse parades and a Corridas de toros—or a running of the bulls, where bulls run wild through the streets and participants—wisely—run away from them.

Mejia was pleased with the event’s outcome and ended it with inspiring words.

“Especially with the bias-related incidents, I thought that maybe people didn’t want to learn about us. But I’m glad I continued with the program. I’m glad people stayed,” she said.

Everyone left Welles a little more culturally aware and filled with excitement for the upcoming holiday season.

Hanukkah Night celebrates Jewish holiday

The Knight Spot reverberated with the sounds of spinning dreidels and clinking gelt on Friday Dec. 2. Geneseo’s Hillel partnered with Geneseo Late Knight to present Hanukkah Night, an event in celebration of the traditional Jewish holiday. Bags of gelt, the gold coin-shaped candy most commonly used in the traditional Hanukkah game of dreidel and a single dreidel—a spinning top printed with four Hebrew letters—sat at each table for attendees to take home at the end of the night.

Food was also provided at the event. Attendees could make their own edible menorahs—a candelabrum with nine candles—out of marshmallows, icing and pretzel sticks.

The main attraction, however, was the dreidel game. The game itself was simple, bringing relief to the stressed minds of the student populace. For the game, each player put a piece of their gelt in the center of the table, then a player would spin the dreidel. Each letter printed on the dreidel represented a different action that the player must take when the top falls on it.

The Gimel symbol allows the player to take everything in the center of the table; each player, however, must offer another piece of candy to fill the center again. Nun symbolizes the next player’s turn with no consequences, while Hay allows the player to take half of the candy in the center. Lastly, Shin forces the player to offer up a piece of their candy to the center stash.

Students participating in the game followed the traditional rules, but quickly began to add their own twists, as well. For example, one table forced its participants to eat an increasing amount of marshmallows with the more Shins they got.

Another began sacrificing credit cards, room keys, earrings, licenses and even bags of tea to the center table, as its members dug deeper and deeper into their pockets to add something that would amuse their friends.

Psychology major freshman Madeline Reichler best summed up this table’s sentiments right after throwing her wallet in the center of the table. She buried her face in her hands and said, “I hate all of you.”

Said in good fun, however, a smile soon returned to her face when a Gimel gave her the entire table’s winnings, including one participant’s glasses. Fortunately, everything was returned to their rightful owners by the end of the night.

Even in its lighter moments, the positive reception of the event sparked hope in GLK coordinator and international relations major junior Uma Natarajan.

“It’s amazing how the Geneseo community can come together in solidarity after the bias-related incidents,” she said.

Dylan Fichera, another GLK coordinator and childhood education major sophomore, shared the same opinion as his colleague.

“We’re lucky to have these kinds of events, even with what’s going on in the world,” he said.

Casual as it was, Hillel and GLK provided a comforting environment to reflect on the importance of Hanukkah, as it was celebrated through fun with friends.

Maintaining your sex life over break

Holiday breaks provide a great test for your willpower. Between the stress of preparation, traveling and figuring out how to allocate the short time that you have with loved ones at home, there’s a lot of things on your mind. The state of your relationship may be one of them. After all, if your partner lives in Geneseo, it feels strange to leave them for break—especially for one as long as winter—because you’ve grown accustomed to having them around all the time. And what about your sex life, which will come to a screeching halt even when your desires do not?

Fortunately, your sex life doesn’t have to end because the semester does. There are ways to nourish it while on break—ways that might even bring you and your partner closer than regular sex would.

First, establish that your partner feels comfortable continuing your sex life while over break in order to prevent misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Afterward, determine what you will be comfortable doing. Discussing this is a great way to further learn what interests your partner sexually, which can later be used when you’re reunited.

There’s a wealth of activities you can engage in to satisfy your sex drive. The riskiest of these are probably the first that come to mind—sexting. Exchanging naked photos of yourself to your partner is satisfying in the moment, but it carries a lot of risk, especially if your partner saves the images.

You must always entertain the possibility that you might one day break up with your partner, no matter how unlikely it feels in the moment. Even a person that you would not expect to send your naked photos to others in revenge can surprise you, especially under the stress of a breakup.

If you choose to engage in this, consider using Snapchat to send your photos, which will send a notification if your partner screenshots the image. If you want to go a step further, download the app Bleep. Unlike Snapchat, the app’s server does not save anything after the recipient reads it, and screenshotting is impossible, which makes it good for sending sexual images.

Sexting, however, is not the only way to keep your sex life active. You could Skype or call one another, though these methods might be a bit loud, making them less than ideal for people in large families or small houses.

If set up right, though, Skyping or calling a partner is a more instantaneous form of sexual communication. It is also one that can be paired with masturbation or sex toys. Calling especially lends itself to guided masturbation, where one partner instructs the other as to how they should masturbate—usually through teasing them. This is also a good way to explore power roles in your relationship.

Whatever you choose to do, take it as an opportunity to learn about your partner. It will make your sex when you return to school all the more satisfying.

Genitalia stereotypes prompt gender disparities

Like everything else in our world, the concept as to what makes sex “good” for a person is largely socially constructed. Such social constructions tend to manifest around the genitals themselves, and Western society has laid out a clear set of expectations for them. In particular, Westerners concern themselves with the tightness of one’s vagina and the size of one’s penis. We have been taught that these characteristics are more than just physical—they can decide one’s worth as a human being. Consequently, these learned beliefs translate into our actions when choosing a partner.

Genitals supposedly say a lot about the personality of the person that they belong to. A larger penis, in the eyes of Western society, makes a person manlier, therefore making them more desirable. This idea is so prevalent that penis size was temporarily a focal point during the United States’ presidential candidacy debates.

In contrast, the concept of a tighter vagina being a sign of virginity makes a person more “pure.” “Manly” and “pure,” not surprisingly, correlate to the gender roles our society values in men and women.

From these beliefs rise gender disparities. Men and women alike believe that people who have “slept around” will have looser vaginas; subsequently, women who have had many partners face shame for it.

In reality, however, there are naturally looser vaginas and it is scientifically impossible for a vagina to become looser from having a lot of sex. The social consequence for having a “loose vagina” is not the same as those for having a small penis. People with small penises are often made out to be not “manly” enough for a woman.

Much more defense for smaller penises, however, exists than for inelastic vaginas. The term “size isn’t everything” is almost inseparable from our culture as a sexual defense and an innuendo. Furthermore, girls are commonly discouraged from judging men on size alone. After all, as society tends to cry, men have more to offer to women than just the size of their genitals.

Why this courtesy isn’t extended to women is directly correlated with sexism. Fortunately, however, it’s possible to stop perpetuating the “loose vagina” myth. Even just gently correcting your friends if they believe this can end the myth one step at a time.

No matter the characteristics of your partners’ genitals, that shouldn’t be what determines your enjoyment of sex. Take the time to research any preconceived notions you have about sex—you might be surprised what you discover.

Vegan brownies to satisfy sweet tooth

Campus dessert options for vegans have a stigma of tasting terrible. Just look at Dash at the Commons’ “Badass Power Cookie” fiasco, where even the temptation of a free Coke with the purchase of one wasn’t enough to get people over their terrible taste. Thankfully, not all vegan desserts are bad—including these vegan brownies. Vegan Brownies

Ingredients: 

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 cups vegan sugar (any bag of sugar that says “Beet,” “Unrefined,” “USDA Organic” or “Raw” is vegan)

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (unsweetened hot chocolate mix can be substituted, but the chocolate taste

won’t be as strong)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup water

1 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Stir flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in large bowl.

3. Pour in the water, vegetable oil and vanilla; mix until well blended.

4. Spread evenly in a 9x13 inch baking pan.

5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top is no longer shiny.

6. Let sit for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!