lj May 7, 2015 thepointeruwsp.com Volume 59 I Issue 28 Embracing the Unexpected: Venturing Forward MYKAYLA HILGART As I sit in the Communication I spent it finishing up my last well­ be married and land a job at a small NEWS AND ENVIRONMENT EDITOR Arts Center (my second home of ness credit through a backpacking station somewhere. After thr~e mhilg I [email protected] sorts) on the Sunday night before course up at Treehaven. years, I am leaving the university my last full week of college courses, I never would have expected alone with a passion for print jour­ many thoughts are rushing through I'd use the facility during my years nalism and the Fourth Estate. my mind. Should I go to a conve­ here, but · I certainly enjoyed the Journalism is an honorable field. nience store and get a Mountain campus and woods in all its glory. Now, many might disagree, but I Dew? ·Will it downpour on my way I met people I never would have wiJl never give up. I will shame­ back? And finally, what will I be otherwise and escaped II real life" lessly bartend or sell overpriced doing a year from now? What will for a little while. I got to adventure cosmetics door-to-door on the side my life be like? on my own, much like I'll be doing for McChicken money, but my aspi­ The ·answer? I have no idea. in a larger way very soon. rations will remain. And that's just the way I prefer it. I I came in as a freshman with I want to report the news and embrace the unexpected. a high school sweetheart and a contribute to a well-informed, well-. Instead of spending the week­ vague idea that video journalism educated society. I don't aspire for end slaving away on my million and anchoring might be a fun gig. I fame, and I don'.t want to be a talk­ and five papers and video projects, expected that in four years I would ing head. I believe my wishes are continued on page 6 @ 0 0 thepointeruwsp.com facebook.com/uwsp_pointer @uwsp_pointer thepointeruwsp• 2 The Pointer GRADUATION 2015 , " THE POINTER Editorial Editor-in-Chief Experience Bolds More ..... .. .. .. ....... .................. .... ....... ..... Grace Ebert Managing Editor ...... .... ..... .. .. .... .............. ... .... ...... ..... Carly Keen Value than a Degree News Editor ........... .. ................ .. ...... .. ...... MyKayla Hilgart Sports Editor GRACE EBERT ... ................. .... ...... ... ... ..... .. Marty Kauffman ED ITOR-IN-CHIEF Pointlife Editor geber 17 [email protected] .. ........................ ................ ..... Emily Showers & UWSP students, faculty and Arts Entertainment Editor staff take pride in knowing that ... .. ... ... ....... .... ...... ..... .... ..... ... ... ... Julia Flaherty many Pointers graduate in four Environment Editor years, which is a great accomplish­ ..... .......................... .. ........ .. .. MyKayla Hilgart ment considering our issues with Online Editor bottleneck courses. ... .... ... ..... ..... ................. Anna Schuttenhelm I've been at UWSP for two years, and because of earning 30 Copy Editor ... ... ..... ............................ .Sam antha Bradley credits during high school and Reporters enrolling in summer courses, I ... .............. ................. .... ...... ... Caroline C halk could graduate in one more semes­ ter. While I've considered the mon­ ... ............ ........... .. ...................... Avery Jehnke ... .. ..... ...... ... ... ..... .. ....... .Sophi e Stickelmaier etary benefits of graduating one ...... ..... ................................. Rebecca Vosters and a half years early, I'm planning ................................. ...... ....... .. Riddh i Gandhi to stretch out my time and stay for Multimedia Reporters three full years, without adding ing quickly, we sometimes over­ ....... ... ... ... ..... ............................. Carly Caputa another major or minor. look why students are here. I came This decision to stay at UWSP to UWSP because we have strong Photography and Design weighed on me heavily this year. academic programs and opportu­ Photo Editor I compared the benefits of each nities I wouldn't have at a larger ... .............. ............ ......... .. .. .... ... .. ... Alliso n Birr option, and while I felt pressure school. I want to take advantage of Page Designers to graduate and begin my career the most I can here before leaving, ...... ............................... ..... Kylee Hawkinson early, I realized that I have more to and I need to stay lohger than nec­ ... .. ..... .... ........... ... ............ .. Samantha St rauss learn and do at UWSP. essary to do that. ................ .... ...... .. ....... .. .. ... Lanea Zagrzebski During the remainder of my Graduating without delay, Business time on campus, I hope to learn which Chancellor Bernie Patterson learn more about American litera­ has made clear he values greatly, Business Manager ture and study Hawthorne and is important, but it shouldn't be ... ...... .. ....... ........... ...... .... ...... .. Ryan Kernosky Melville during a major authors our only goal. UWSP provides our Sales Representatives course. chance to learn and grow, meet ... .......... .. ...... ................... .. .... .. ...... Matt Ruet h .... .... .......... ......... ........... Hayden Fredriksen I want to connect with other new people, understand the world Faculty Adviser students, faculty and staff to learn a little bit better and prepare our­ ... .... .... .... .. .. ....................... ........ Dr. Steve Hill and share their stories. selves for our futures. And I hope to strengthen The While a degree is important, Pointer by focusing on our online we need to value our experience content and publishing on a daily and education at UWSP more. basis. It's important that students feel Editorial Policies I want to spend this time learn­ that they've prepared themselves The Pointer is a student-run ing more about myself and prepar­ to graduate and be successful in newspaper published weekly for ing for life after graduation. the future, no matter the time to the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Because we focus on graduat- degree. Point. The Pointer staff is solely responsible for content and editorial policy. No article is available for BEHIND(? • • • • inspection prior to publication. •••• No article is available for further publication without expressed THE BAR written permission of The Pointer staff. Bulletproof coffee has been a trend that doesn't seem to be The Pointer is printed Thursdays going away. Health enthusiasts argue the frothy drink helps during the academic year with a burn fat, wards off caffeine crashes and boosts energy. This circulation of 3,000 copies. The paper creamy, fatty combination might be just what we need to make is free to all tuition-paying students. it through finals. Non-student subscription price is $10 per academic year. Bulletproof-Style Coffee Letters to the editor can be mailed or delivered to The Pointer, I cup hand-brewed coffee 104 CAC, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI I tablespoon butter 54481, or sent by e-mail to pointer@ uwsp.edu. We reserve the right to I tablespoon coconut oil deny publication of any letter for any reason. We also reserve the right to edit letters for inappropriate Mix coffee, butter and coconut oil. Blend well. Enjoy. length or content. Names will be withheld from publication only if an The Pointer does not promote the consumption of alcohol for people under age appropriate reason is given. 21. When consuming alcoholic beverages, please drink responsibly. Letters to the editor and all other material submitted to The Pointer •••••••••••• becomes the property of The Pointer. May 7,2015 3 GRADUATION 2015 Rethinking a '_Victory Lap' AVERY JEHNKE document called a Degree Progress uation. I left my campus job for two friends because they have graduated REPORTER Report and discovered I had taken others that were better suited to help and left town. [email protected] about a semester worth of extra-curric­ me grow. I spent less time blowing I feel there is something unnatural ular classes that didn't count toward off assignments and spent more time about graduating in four and a half my degree. I had been taking German doing them. years. It's like throwing a wrench into and intro-level math instead of courses Most recently, I have scaled back the four-year degree plan you buy into in the forestry major. some of my club sport commitments when you decide which university to I wasn't particularly concerned and ruthlessly sought summer jobs attend after high school. with the news because I had friends in across the country. I have constantly At the same time, one more semes­ the same situation and the thought of been busy and certainly stressed, but ter feels completely natural. Whether I spending more time in Stevens Point noticed I was most bored, anxious admit it or not, college life is all I've was comforting. Taking more than and unsatisfied when I had nothing to known since graduating high school, four years to graduate, after all, isn't do. My efforts have been successful. I and Stevens Point feels like· home. I'd so uncommon, right? have accepted a summer job, and I feel be lying if I said I didn't enjoy drink­ My junior year came and went ready for graduation. ing cheap beer on weekdays. I'd also and it wasn't until the end of the fall I feel ready for graduation not be lying if I said I can't wait to gradu­ semester of my senior year that I real­ only because I have stepped up my ate because the truth is, I can wait. ized I wasn't as eager to stay another game as a student and a professional, I'm looking forward to my final semester as I had thought. I began but because I'm anxious to start a semester not as a "victory lap,"' but I'd like to congratulate my col­ to feel like the extra time would be a career and college can be a pain. I want as a final opportunity to take advan­ leagues and classmates who are grad­ good chance to squeeze out the last financial stability, a permanent job and tage of the information, people and uating because it's a great achievement bits of college life I know and love, but home. I also want a regular schedule resources associated with a college and a milestone in most people's lives.