The Voice of Montana State University Billings for Over Half a Century

September 21, 2012

By MSU BILLINGS

www.MSUBretort.org

Volume 88, Issue 1

ACT/SAT scores, and the percentage of students who graduate from high school in the top 25% of their graduating class; The average freshman retention rate and the average graduation rate; and, Alumni giving: The percentage of alumni who give to their school is an indirect measure of satisfaction, the publications ranking criteria notes. Groseth noted while he is pleased with the current ranking, more work can be done to move MSU Billings even higher on the list in the future. As I look at the overall rankings, elements that caused U.S. News to place us in the top tier include our small class size, excellent program-by-program accreditation and the overall emphasis on undergraduate teaching and learning, he said. Those that may have prevented us from ranking higher include low levels of state support per-student and our retention/graduation rate. Because we are an open-admissions, opportunity-based institution, we need to do a better job in these areas and we have initiated some specific steps that we believe will lead to improvement.

MSU Billings Takes Top Tier of Regional Universities in the West

NEWS SERVICES
ontana State University Billings has again been ranked as one of the nations Best Colleges by U.S. News and World Report. The university is being recognized as one of the top tier regional universities in the West for undergraduate through masters level academics in Americas Best Colleges 2013. For more than a decade, MSU Billings had ranked among top colleges in the third tier of schools. For the second year in a row, however, MSU Billings has been ranked in the first tier. Highlights of the college rankings will be published in the September 2012 issue of U.S. News & World Report, available for newsstand purchase next week. As a university with close ties to our city and our region, it is important for us to know we are being doing the right things locally. This report has data to support that on a national level as well, said MSU Billings Chancellor Rolf Groseth. This report is an affirmation of our excellent faculty and our university-wide commitment to access and student success. MSU Billings was recognized as one of the top private and public colleges or universities in its category: Best Regional Universities- West Region for institutions that provide a full range of undergraduate and masters programs, according to the newest issue of the magazine. According to the methodology used by U.S. News & World Report, rankings are based on several key measures of quality. Academic reputation, peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, student/ faculty ratios and average alumni giving all used to rank colleges. The magazines guidelines and rankings are used to help students and parents in their college-selection process. All facets of the college experience are weighed, such as the overall feel of the university, student activities, cost, availability of financial aid and sports. But academics lead the way. Located in Montanas urban center, MSU Billings is a university of more than 5,300 students and features more than 70 academic options in allied health, the arts and sciences, education, business and technology. Students can also choose from 23 fully on-

A freshman student at MSU Billings relaxes on the University Campus recently. The U.S. News and World Report has again ranked MSU Billings as one of the top tier regional universities in the West. Student-to-faculty ratios of 19-1 and small class sizes that promote close faculty/student relationships are among the data that makes MSUB a top regional university.
line programs, designed to meet the needs of busy students, especially working adults. The student/faculty ratio of 19:1 means smaller classes for improved student-faculty engagement. MSU Billings received its rankings in the categories of: A peer assessment score: Opinions of MSU Billings, as ranked by presidents, academic vice presidents and deans of admissions at colleges and universities throughout the country, gave MSU Billings a stellar rating, especially in the area of faculty dedication to teaching. The high percent of faculty who teach full time and who have doctoral degrees: Research shows that the more satisfied students are about their contact with professors, the more they will learn and the more likely it is they will graduate, publishers at U. S. News say in their report. According to the data, 71 percent of the faculty at MSU Billings teach full time. An average faculty/student ratio of only 20-1 or less: More than have the classes at MSU Billings 51percent have fewer than 20 students. Only 4 percent of the classes at MSUB have 50 or more students, according to the data, which means faculty and students are able to engage in a more close and meaningful way. The students who enter MSU Billings with high

Running Out Of Silence: Taking a Stand Against Domestic Violence

By PATRICIA HAMPTON

News & Campus Life Writer

the membership and support of community members, organizations, and businesses throughout the city. On Saturday, October 6, DVAAS will host Running Out of Silence on the MSU Billings main campus. Running Out of Silence is a walk/run to raise awareness about domestic violence and abuse, as well as to raise funds to combat this epidemic. Jamie Schoonover, a student of MSU Billings, is the President and founder of this organization. When Schoonover originally proposed the idea of the walk/ run, that is exactly what it

id you know that more than one in four women suffer cases or repeated episodes of domestic violence? While women are among the most commonly targeted, men and children are also victimized. Domestic violence altars and destroys the lives of millions each year. There are ways to combat this and make a difference in the lives of victims. The Domestic Violence Abuse Awareness Society (DVAAS) is a new student organization on the MSU Billings campus, but beyond being student led, this group has already gained

was meant to be, but since has expanded exponentially to include vendors, entertainment, and additional activities. With an initial goal of raising $100,000 in this first year, DVAAS is looking forward to what will become an annual event, to be held on the first Saturday of October each year. October is the month for recognizing issues of domestic violence, and has been designated the color purple. As Schoonover has said, Where a little purple with your pink. The money that is raised by DVAAS will benefit lo-

cal non-profit organization that help domestic violence victims and their families, such as the YWCA and the Gateway House. The event will begin at 11:00am outside between McMullen Hall and the Student Union Building. Downtime, a wellknown local Billings band, will perform several times throughout the day for participants and attendees. In addition, numerous local businesses and individuals will have vendor booths both for selling their products, and for providing information. The vendors

will be donating proceeds from that days sales to DVAAS. Childrens activities, from photography, to face painting, to plaster masks, and so much more, will be available for the duration of the event. The MSUB Chemistry and Biology Club will also be participating in providing childrens activities. Additional entertainment throughout the day will feature belly dancers, the MSUB Dance Club, and numerous MSUB student performers, to name a few. The walk/run itself begins at noon, following either a one mile route around the campus, or a four mile route that begins and ends at the Main Cam-

pus, passing McFinys (one of the events sponsors), and reaching the YWCA where information and water will be available. Registration for the walk is $25 for the general public, $15 for College students, $10 for high school aged students, and free for children younger than high school age. Registration fees will include participation in the walk, a Running Out of Silence t-shirt and bracelet. For those interested in volunteering for the event, feel free to contact Schoonover at (406)5914085. For more information about Running Out of Silence and DVAAS, please visit the website at www.

Montana State UniVersity Billings Student Union Building 228 1500 University Drive Billings, MT 59101 Phone: 406-657-2193 Fax: 406-657-2388 E-mail: info@msubretort.org www.msubretort.org

Campus bookstore comperable in tech

By MARCUS MORRIS

Guidelines & Policies

The Retort encourages the submission of Letters To The Editor. Letters must be under 750 words in length and include a name and phone number. The Retort reserves the right to edit for space and possible libel. Letters should deal with subject matter relevant to the students, faculty, or staff of MSU Billings. The Retort is published monthly. Letters must be submitted by our submission date (ten days prior to our next publication date). Submit Letters To The Editor to editor@msubretort.org The Retort is made possible in part by student fees allocated by ASMSUB. The Publications Board of ASMSUB advises The Retort, leaving content decisions to the editors. Reasonable care is taken to ensure that The Retort articles and other information in this publication and website are up-to-date and accurate as possible, as of the time of publication, but no responsibility can be taken by The Retort or Montana State University Billings for any errors or omissions contained herein or online. Furthermore, responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through this publication and our website is not the responsibility of The Retort or Montana State University Billings. The opinions by expressed columnists are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Retort or Montana State University Billings. new site will allow visitors to view articles and then comment on them (after creating log-in information with the site). Volunteer writers may also submit their articles through the submission page (submission link on the top menu bar). The site also features our advertising info, staff listing, internship information and more. There is so much more on the way and I promise not spoil the ending for you. Check out what we have so far at msubretort.org or .com. There are still some tweaks to work out we keep visiting to explore more updates. In addition to the cosmetic changes happening to The Retort, the overall face of newspaper is changing. We have welcomed four new staff members this year: James Hickman (Design Editor), Chris Claus (Online Editor), Serene Crees (Arts & Entertainment writer), and Tabby Maust (Outdoors Writer). Check out all the staff members and brief bios on them on page 8! The Retort is also pleased to welcome Marcus Morris as a volunteer writer. Check out his story on page 7. As always, The Retort is always looking for more volunteer writers. For an application, you may go to The Retort website, select About The Retort and find the link under Student Employment Opportunities. You may also stop by the new Retort office, Room 220 or shoot us an email at msubretort@gmail.com for information. I guess in some ways, I am also a change to The Retort, though not a new face. I have been the layout editor for The Retort since my freshman year three years ago. I am pursing a degree in English with a minor in Spanish. The Retort has been a major part of my college career and when the time came for me to step up as Editor at the end of last Spring, I couldnt turn it down. Thus far, the job has been hectic and enjoyable, crazy, amusing and all around.nothing like I thought it would be. But, Im excited to see what the year will hold for The Retort and even more excited to hear from youthe reader! Please send me your feedback at editor@msubretort.org, give me a call at 406-657-2193, or stop in for a visit at the new Retort den in the SUB, room 220! Well, here we go

Contributing Writer

Advertising & Subscriptions

For advertising information, please email us at business@msubretort.org or visit the ad rates section of our website at http://www.msubretort.org/ads.php. Subscriptions to students, parents of students, alumni, faculty, or staff are available for simply the cost of postage. For more information about subscriptions, please contact us at business@msubretort.org or 406 657 2193. If youd like to order a back issue of The Retort, the cost will be $5.00 plus the cost of postage. Email us our business manager at business@msubretort.org to check issue availability and for more information.

Deadlines & Publication

September 13, 2011 September 27, 2011 October 11, 2011 October 25, 2011 November 8, 2011 November 29, 2011 January 24, 2012 February 7, 2012 February 21, 2012 March 7, 2012 April 4, 2012 April 18, 2012 September 21, 2011 October 5, 2011 October 19, 2011 November 2, 2011 November 16, 2011 December 7, 2011 February 1, 2012 February 15, 2012 March 1, 2012 March 15, 2012 April 12, 2012 April 26, 2012

Faculty Advisor Editor-in-Chief Business Manager Design Editor Copy Editor Online Editor News & Campus Life Writer Sports Writer A&E Writer Outdoor Writer Columnist Columnist Contributing Writer Photographer

Dan Carter Leah Campbell Jared Hammer James Dean Hickman Jennifer Otis Chris Claus Patricia Hampton Cory Lovec Serene Crees Tabby Maust Paulina Carrillo Tiff Hall Marcus S. Morris Amy Tackett

ear Retort Readers, hello and welcome back to school! Its that time of year again when we find ourselves emptying our bank accounts to pay for books, sharking through the parking-lot isles to find a close spot and slowly shaking off that summer-induced coma. A walk through the main campus at MSU Billings, its hard not to recognize some of the changes that were made over the summer. But, change was not restricted to the interior design of the SUB and LA buildings. The Retort has been busy all summer redesigning the layout and website. Thanks to the help of James Dean Hickman, former Editor-in-Chief of The Rook, The Retort got a whole new look including a new logo and layout. James was also busy looking through The Retort archives that were deeply hidden and dustladen in the back of the old Retort office. His detective work brought us to the oldest publication at MSU Billings, then titled The Rimrock Echo. The Rimrock Echo dates back to 1936 and from there evolved into EMCOE in 1949 and finally titled The Retort in 1960. The Retorts rich history is not something to be forgotten or overlooked. As a part of an ongoing project for The Retort, we hope to have all the publications archived electronically in the next couple of years. Additionally, The Retort is in the process of redesigning its website. Like any project I begin, once Im ankle deep, I suddenly realize I cant feel the bottom anymore. Though we are doing swimmingly well with the website, it seems it will forever be a work-in-progress. With the help of Chris Claus, the new Retort Online Editor, we have developed a base for The Retort website using WordPress. The

t is the start of another new year here on the MSUB Campus. I look around and see dozens of people hurrying about, trying to finish all of those last minute tasks before classes start. For many students, myself included, who are still waiting to hear from the financial aid office regarding survival and education funds, there is a good chance we haven't had the money to get our supplies yet. Our university bookstore is a great solution for all students, but especially for the group that I fall into: the financially bereft. While wandering through the bookstore as Chad, the new manager, and his team gathered my books, I had a chance to take a closer look at the available computer systems. I was surprised to note that they were all on the higher end of the spectrum technologically speaking, but they didn't appear to be priced over what I would expect to find at Best Buy or Office Depot. While it is true that the selection is not gigantic, sometimes a small selection of higher quality items

ing this article I heard several times that book prices have dropped roughly 6% over the past year. The is a better way to market. more profitable the bookI researched three lapstore is, the better value at tops and one tablet that are a lower price they can offer all readily available from their customersus! the bookstore. The lapIn addition to supporttops range in price from ing our campus bookstore, $499.99 to $799.99, the we as a student body have most expensive includthe power to let the team ing a $200 Dell gift card know what we would be included which I assume willing to spend money on is for a future purchase. I in the future. Voice your did a quick comparison of opinion on things like a the bookstores campus-owned available makes 1. Where does my money go after I make and- operatand models and my purchase, and why should it matter to ed version of found that while me? the Geek Squad there are some 2. What types of support and service are , refurbished slight variancoffered after I have made my purchase? technology, or es in price, they 3. Is the price difference worth the addibuy-back creddont appear it on technology large enough to tional cost and time of travel to make a trip toward future warrant a drive elsewhere? 4. Am I getting the same quality from one purchases. across town. At the end of The biggest dol- location as another? the day the delar amount difcision is yours. ference that I Our campus bookstore The dollars you spend have found is on the Dell Inspirion, which, at $799.99, is owned by the universi- greater value than that is priced $100 more than ty and therefore is a not- which is stamped on them. Best Buys website. Fac- for-profit business. All the You have the ability to imtoring in the cost of gas as profit made from the book- prove your college experiwell as the $200 Dell gift store goes back into the ence, widen selection, and card makes our university university for the benefit make life better for your of the students. Choosing peers by doing a little rea better choice. The lone tablet avail- to buy on campus directly search and choosing not able at the bookstore is the affects the quality and cost just the best bargain, but Velocity Cruz T510. At of your own college expe- the best value for your fu$299.99, it costs less than rience. Our campus store ture. the new iPad, but unlike is actively trying to lowApples tablet there is an er prices; while research-

expandable memory option as well as the ability to play Flash Media content. This fair piece of hardware is worthy of a second lookor possibly a first. Even though most students are on a fixed income, there are other factors beside price that are important to consider. Here are some keys to being an educated consumer while shopping at the campus bookstore or anywhere else:

Jackets & Co. carries more than just books they also have a small selectionoftechnologythat just might fit your needs, including these laptops ranging in price from $499.99 to $799.99. If youre in the market might as well save yourself a trip to a big-box store and check out what they has to offer you.

In your best interest: ASMSUB

By PATRICIA HAMPTON

News & Campus Life Writer

let's use this column to answer those questions, and keep up with the goings-on of our student government. Our student government is called the Associated Students of Montana State University Billings (ASMSUB). These students are responsible for allocating the student activity fees that you pay as part of your tuition and fees each semester. They representusthroughoutthe community and state. So

e know that there IS a student government here at MSUB but who are they? what do they do? How does this group affect our experiences at MSUB and in the Billings Community at large? In short, we all need to know about why the matter - and they truly do, there is no question about that. So, why shouldn't everyone have access to the answer to these questions? In this bi-weekly paper,

let us begin the year by getting to know who the members of ASMSUB are... President: Isaiah Garrison Vice President: Nik Wong Business Manager: Navin Marimuthu Student Resolution Officer: Sonja Choriki Sustainability Coordinator: Steven Kirby Political Action Director: Ryan Shore

Sentators: Dustin Ahrens Kristen Amstutz Daniel Barnhart Derek Brown Lisa Dallapiazza Jessica Hahne Jordan Jones Quincy Linhart Rebecca Morgan Richard Nixon Mary Owen Rebecca Olson Sarah Schied Jamie Slaugh Ashlee Rangitsch Sonja Volz Forest Westwood

Dear Tiff, My best friend really betrayed me recently and Im having a hard time getting over it. He doesnt think he did anything wrong and thinks we can still be friends. I want things to be the way they were before but at this point Im having a hard time trusting him. How can I get over this? Your pain is justified. Being betrayed is one of the worst things a person can go through. It can even be worse than losing someone to death because the loss is by choice. The key word here is choice. Your friend chose to betray you and if that friend does not see that what he did was wrong; then, without remorse what would stop him from doing it again? The answer is nothing. Without him feeling remorse and apologizing, you simply cannot trust him. That is not to say you should not forgive him. Forgiveness is not for him, it is for you. You need to forgive so you can heal and move on. As for the friendship, things simply wont be the way they were. If you cant trust someone then you cant have much of a friendship. It is your choice to let him be in your life and how much. But before you make that decision, I would recommend reading two books. The first is Boundaries and the second is Safe People, both books are by the same coauthors, Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. These books will give you the tools to help you with your current situation as well as other relationships. Dear Tiff, I gave away my virginity to my first boyfriend when I was 14. Since then, sex has been a major part of all my relationships with men and I feel it gets in the way of making a real connection. How do I have a healthy relationship when all Ive known

in a relationship has to do with the physical? I applaud you for your self-awareness and desire to make positive changes in your life and relationships. It is often hard to make those changes on our own. It is good to have a support system in place so that we have encouragement and accountability to help us. I would recommend asking two close friends to help you with making this change in your life. Have them help you figure out some healthy boundaries to set for yourself in dating relationships. I would also recommend reading the book Boundaries as well so you have a better understanding of them. A few examples I can give of boundaries would be choosing to only kiss when things start to get more serious and then when you begin to kiss, just sharing short kisses until maybe you have been together a year. You can also alter your dating style by going on public dates rather than spending time alone at each others houses. There are lots of different boundaries you can set and lots of fun dates you can do to avoid temptation; you can do a movie night by finding a couple to double date with or go out to a movie or drivein. You can also go mini golfing, take a cooking or dance class together, or just go for a drive. Also, I would recommend talking to the guy you are dating. Dont be afraid to talk to him. You dont have to tell him about your past, but you can tell him you have some dating boundaries. One way you could approach this is to ask him if he has any dating boundaries and then after listening to him, share yours. This is a good way to see what kind of guy he is - and if he is a good guy who is worth dating he will respect you and what you want.

Harper & Madison, Cute and hard to pass up

By SERENE CRESS

Arts & Entertainment Writer

andwiched between the hospitals and MSU Billings, there is a cute little caf that is hard to pass up. Located at 3115 10th Avenue North, Harper & Madison is the perfect escape when you have the munchies and need to get some homework done. It is quiet, quaint and just far enough off the beaten path that you wont be constantly interrupted by friends and acquaintances as you would at other hangouts around town. I needed just such an escape the other day. I was fleeing the campus after dealing with the inevitable financial aid office fun I seem to encounter every year on top of having to sign away my firstborn just to buy my books for the semester. Yes, I was in DIRE need of some comfort food! As I walked into Harper & Madison, I was pleasantly surprised at how roomy and homey it felt. Decorated in an elegant yet eclectic way, the smells make the place warm and inviting. As I approached the counter to order, I was greeted warmly by a teenage boy manning the register. I glanced up and around, still taking it all in, and since it wasnt busy I had a lot of time to mentally devour the menu. There were lots of different sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads to choose from and everything sounded scrumptious. It took me a while but I finally decided on the Thai Wrap. I was intrigued since I had never heard of Thai food being prepared in a wrap. As I was waiting, I received a phone call. Since I was alone and the caf was fairly vacant except for the staff and one other customer about to leave, I took the call. I wasnt overly loud, but since the place has mostly hard surfaces, the sound must have carried, much to the displeasure of one of the kitchen staff. In other words, when entering Harper &

Second Life Teaches Real-Life Lessons

By MARCUS MORRIS Contributing Writer
Some days, the real world can just be too much to deal with. We all have those days from time to time. Life, sadly, isnt a choose your own adventure novel, where it is possible to make a life-altering choice and save the page number before doing so. You dont get do-overs very often. Wouldnt it be great if there was a way to live your life, test out choices, and explore what makes you the amazing person that you are? Linden Labs, a California-based company, created a world that answers the question that I pose above. As a company they decided to try a new business model for gaming: instead of a monthly service charge, they would make their world free. Instead of creating a world for their users to explore, they gave users the power to create their own worlds to share. On June 23, 2003, a new world, powered by the creativity and ingenuity of its users, was born. Welcome to your Second Life. Most people who have heard or experienced Second Life only know about the sexual side of that world. If you give someone complete freedom that is not constrained by religion, ethics, morality, conscience, or the ability to create an income, and offer the ability to be anonymous as well, then the obvious happens. The truth is sex that sells. Welcome to the real world, even when it is digital. No inhibition and no obvious consequences make for a volatile and profitable mix. I would love to be able to say that widely-held viewpoint is the exception and not the rule but in the interest of honesty, even the best of people have to go through their rebellious, experimental phase in the start of their Second Life. I would say that it is part of the human experience, exploring novelty in perceived safety. That perception doesnt last long, and most become jaded in a matter of weeks or months. Pushing past that top layer of smut, sex, and debauchery, however, you find so much more. What I found was a world that I was accepted in. I found a place where my disability, while still limiting, didnt control me. I found a place where I could create friendships, relationships, and a life that was so impossible for me to imagine in the real world. It was not easy to find. I had to go through my own experimental phase. I had to beat myself bloody against the walls of my own morality and then try to live with myself after. The guilt, the hurt, and the anger dont go away just because you log out. The pain that you cause and experience is very real. No consequences? That has to be one of the most enduring lies of the virtual world. There are always consequences, even if only you are aware of them. That shame is yours alone. I acted out for months in this virtual world. I went from helpless apathy caused by my diagnosis of being high-functioning autistic in my real world to trying to yank control of others to empower myself in this world. I tried to control others, and in some ways succeeded. I convinced myself it was with the best of intentions that I manipulated and influenced others. The reality is that I had felt powerless and hopeless in my real life and here, in this world, I felt strong and confident. The path I took in Second Life wasnt the same as any other. Each person has their own hidden motivations, needs, and desires. I see Second Life as my stint in purgatory. It was a time to live, fail, relive and fail again until I finally understood what it was that I was doing wrong, what I could improve upon. Because of the lessons I learned, I was able to repair my marriage and save my family. I grew up, and that was worth all the heartache. I know many others that live their Second Life not as a social experiment as I did, but as their main life.

Madison pretend you are entering a movie theatre: Please turn off all cellular devices at this time and enjoy the show. Since my food took quite a while to be prepared (perhaps due to my cellular distraction?), I continued to look around. I was admiring the items in the dessert case when the most exquisite morsel caught my eye! A triple layer chocolate mousse with Oreo crust. I dont have much of a sweet tooth but it looked so enticing that I HAD to have it. And I did! I took my food to go and walked out into the sunny day, excited to try the delectable creations I had just purchased. When I sat down later to enjoy my food it was divine! The Thai wrap was filled with mixed greens that had been tossed in a Thai peanut dressing. There were chunks of chicken that had been grilled with wonderful seasonings mixed with shaved carrots and kimchi, all wrapped in whole wheat spinach wrap. I was very impressed at how flavorful it was without being too

Summer Reads
DELI SANDWICHES MARKET CLUB turkey, bacon, avocado, provolone, cilantro cream and mixed greens CHICKEN SALAD chicken salad with grapes, tomato, and sprouts HARPER hummus, apples, carrots, mixed sweet peppers, sunflower seeds and sprouts TONNO PESCE white albacore tuna, celery, bell pepper, scallion, cheddar, mixed greens CHELSEY tomato, avocado, cucumber, sweet bell pepper, sprouts and brie ZORBA oregano spread, roast beef, thinly sliced red onion, feta and Greek dressing

The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club, a Real Page-Turner

By SERENE CRESS

Martels Latest Novel Misses the Mark but Worth the Read
By LEAH CAMPBELL Editor-in-Chief
Raking the shelves at the bargain section of the book store, I was thrilled to see the latest work by one of my favorite authors, Yann Martel. Having read his captivating novel Life of Pi the year before, I was curious about Beatrice and Virgil and at the bargain price of $5.99, I really couldnt say no. Life of Pi, for me, was the type of book that, after I finished, it literally left me staring at the wall, glossy-eyed, for quite some time. The novel overflows with a variety of topics given in great detail that are believable and interesting. From marine biology to basic survival skills, Life of Pi is a book that flows like the waves the character Pi is entrapped in and I am hard-pressed to forget in my mental literary library. Martels Beatrice and Virgil is a whole different animal from his famous former work. Like Life of Pi, I was speechless after I read it. Though, after a few moments of contemplation, I did allow one word escape my lips: Huh? The story follows the main character and narrator Henry, a struggling writer recovering from the sudden fame of a prior award-winning book (strikingly similar to Martel himself.) In the story, Henry is working on a new piece: a fiction and non-fiction flip book about the Holocaust. His idea is met with outright rejection from his publishers and Henry is left to lick his wounds in the comfort of a small town in France with his wife and dog. Following his move and a period of writers block, Henry receives a fan letter with an enclosed manuscript detailing the strange dialogue between a donkey named Beatrice and a howler monkey named Virgil. Incidentally, the author of the writing turns out to be a local taxidermist in Henrys town. Following their initial awkward meeting, over the course of months, Henry offers advice and critiques of the play to the strange, emotionless taxidermist. I will spare you the details of the long, exhaustive descriptions and dialogue from the manuscript and in-depth discussions regarding the moral implications and general process of taxidermy that Henry discusses with the taxidermist. As I approached the end of the story, I anticipated a final twist that would flip the entire story on its head in the same way that Life of Pi did. And boy, was it a twist. In many ways, the ending scene seemed forced and ineffective yet wonderfully unexpected as well. In many ways, it was my anticipation for the twist at the end that made the story such a compelling read - despite the endless descriptions of fruit and stuffed animals. Since its publication in 2010, Beatrice and Virgil has received more negative reviews than positive. Martels use of the story within the story lacks overall coherence making it difficult to keep reading at times. What many are calling Martels Holocaust Allegory, Beatrice and Virgil explores a number of artistic, cultural, historical and literary aspects that may be overlooked by readers offended by the subject matter. Other events in history, including horrifying ones, had been treated by artists, and for the greater good. To take just three well-known instances of artful witness: Orwell with Animal Farm, Camus with The Plague, Picasso with Guernica Henry explains in the story. The connections, characters, allusions and symbolism are rich and abundant yet I still feel Martel missed the mark on this one in some way. Odd and provocative, Beatrice and Virgil will undoubtedly leave you thinking.

Be sure too check out Harper & Madisons webpage, go to www.harperandmadison.com. There are plenty of pictures -Photo by Serene Crees to drool over! salty. The wrap was moist yet crunchy and not dry or soggy like other wraps Ive tried. The desert was also divine, truly a taste of heaven. There were three different types of chocolate and it was so creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. Combined with the Oreo crust, it sealed the deal; this was without a doubt the best desert I had ever tasted! It goes without saying that it is going to take some SERIOUS willpower not to go back every day! So, despite the wait and glances from the kitchen, I would say I had a very pleasant dining experience at Harper & Madison. The atmosphere is clean, quiet, and inviting. The food is ethereal and though it may be the most expensive wrap and desert I have bought in a long time, I would say it was worth the quantity for the quality!

Arts & Entertainment Writer

who just lost his wife and is raising their baby on his own, a biker with a painful past, a preachers wife trying to escape, a troubled teenager who isnt what she appears to be, and a couple trying to save their rocky marriage. As the story unfolds, you get to know each character and their story. The author does an amazing job at showing the correlation between learning to stitch a quilt as well as the pieces of their lives back together. There are some interesting twists and turns in this book. It is surprisingly unpredictable, which I love. I hate reading a book when you can guess the ending. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has an Amish fascination like me, likes to quilt, or just wants an interesting book that takes you on a journey and leaves you with a smile on your face. Though most would think this book would be just for women, I think many guys would enjoy it as well. There are men in this quilting class, too!

Due to various real world disabilities or issues they have turned to Second Life as their way of living the full and happy life they deserve but cant quite reach in the real world. Designers of amazing clothing, architects that bend reality past breaking and come up with new methods of construction and design that push the boundaries of what we believe is possible, jewelers who create world-class designs that are lifelike enough to garner real world interest and approval. The limits upon you in this virtual environment are entirely of your own making. You can decide to be the best version of yourself, to remake yourself, or sometimes to delve deep into the darker side of yourself that you try so hard every day to keep hidden. The reality of the virtual is that it is a mirror that many have trouble looking into, and more have trouble looking away from. In your adventures exploring the creations, cultures, and

mindsets of others, you are, in reality, exploring who you really are. Second Life may have been built and created as a fun game, but what it ended up being is a window into the soul. You choose your own adventure in that world. You decide what you want to learn, how you want to learn it, and, in my humble opinion, the most important choice: how you will treat others. At the end of the day we are all real. That person you just spent the day with in Second Life is a living breathing human who is most likely far away from you. The feelings you generate are real, and so is the heartache. Who will you choose to be? Will you try to change lives, or control them? Will you create works of art that inspire, or will you be a consumer that finds their enjoyment in shopping the wares of others? Will you take anything away from this world that doesnt exist except in the minds and hearts of those who inhabit it? Its your Second Life, make the most of it.

have always had a fascination with the Amish and have also really wanted to learn to quilt. So, when I saw this book AND it was on sale well, I simply had to get it! From the moment I opened The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter, I couldnt put it down! Emma, an older Amish widow is facing financial challenges that she was not prepared after the death of her husband. She deeply desires to keep her independence and not be a burden on her family so she decides to give quilting lessons. She advertises all over and gets quite a few responses. On the day her class is to start, as she prepares for her students, baking cookies and tidying up, she wonders what her students will be like. The truth is, she has NO IDEA what she has gotten herself into! All of the people who come for her class are going through a personal crisis in their lives and are deeply hurting. There is a young man

Sparks The Last Song very unlike film version

By PATRICIA HAMPTON News & Campus Life Writer
Miley Cyrus role in the motion picture version of The Last Song may make some hesitant to pick up Nicholas Sparks novel and dive into Ronnie Millers Oceanside summer with her estranged father. But Ronnie is not Miley in fact, it is possible to read the entire novel and only be reminded of the Pop star when looking at the cover of the novel. In this novel, Sparks sheds a light on the non-existent relationship between a daughter and the father that she avoided contact with for three years. When Ronnie arrives in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, her anger toward her father, Steve, is palpable. After three years of estrangement, Ronnie wonders why she has to spend an entire summer with the father who abandoned her, in a small seaside town away from her best friend and life in the city. Ronnies initial callous reaction toward Will Blakelees charm and kindness, and her acceptance of Blaze and her dangerous friends and lifestyle, clearly portray the figurative walls built to protect oneself from extreme pain. All Ronnie can think about upon reaching the small seaside town, is how much she does not want to spend the summer living with the man who abandoned her. Little does she know that Steve himself was not the reason for her parents separation, and it is almost too late before the truth is revealed. The initial pain and evolving relationship between Ronnie and Steve are essential to understanding these realistic characters, but in addition to the father-daughter relationship is what Nicholas Sparks novels are often known for a love story. Will Blakelee is the young man who appeals to many a young woman. Will is persistent in his pursuits of Ronnie, considerate and self-less, protective of others, and a loyal friend. He sees through the phony faade of his ex-girlfriend Amber, and sees the kind strong-spirit of Ronnie. Near the close of Ronnies summer in Wrightsville, she learns of the terminal illness of someone very close to her. The pain that she feels reflecting on the time that she lost and not having known of the impending death sooner are described so vividly When Ronnie needs Will the most, he sacrifices that which is important to him for her sake, and understands the anger that she has toward him, but is not meant for him. During the illness, Will maintains his distance despite the fact that he still loves Ronnie, so that she may spend time with the family who will not be with her long. The love and loss of that summer are shown as neverending, [e]ven if summers do come to an end.

September-October 2012
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Could you Write That Down, I Cant Read Your Face: Living With Autism
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5pm-10pm : YAM $10 Farmers Market : Every Saturday: Downtown Billings

By MARCUS MORRIS Contributing Writer

a home, without parents, and without a family for a great deal of my childhood. I consider myself blessed. Had I not lived that experience I would not be as prepared as I am to be the father that my sons need and deserve. Had I not hurt and been alone as I was as a child I might not have become the person I am today, a person who is passionate about the welfare of others. Becoming jaded is far too easy as I am sure anyone reading this knows. It is my personal belief that not knowing was far worse than getting an accurate diagnosis that I was stuck with for life. I recently attended an autism conference at MSUB and I heard a parent repeatedly say they did not want their child to know they were autistic. They seemed to believe that somehow knowing would make it worse. I tried to tell them a bit of my story and to show them that knowledge is power over fear, but I am not quite sure I got through to them. How does living with autism affect me? I would most likely respond to this question with a wry grin and some dark humor along the lines of, It isnt being autistic that is the problem, its that everyone else isnt! I dont catch on to nonverbal cues. For the most part facial expression, body language, and even inflection in how you speak are lost on me. This might not sound horrible as disabilities go, at least until you consider that roughly 80% of human interaction is nonverbal.

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Oktoberfest @

It isnt being autistic that is the problem, its that everyone else isnt!
I am charming at first meeting. The little missteps take time to add up. Forgetting social niceties, taking over conversations, or not recognizing others emotional state is seen as being unfeeling, uncaring and rude, whether that perception is accurate or not. A person can forgive you a few times, but as days become months what was forgivable begins to seem intentional. This is not to say that being autistic gives one license to be rude, or crass. We may not catch every mistake we make, and cracks in our faade do show through. That much, I believe, is something that proper education for society will help with. I dont believe that anyone, regardless of social issue, mental issue or any other impairing issue, should feel that it is okay to treat others badly because you arent happy with your lot in life. I have spent the past five years since my diagnosis coming to terms with a lifetime of those mistakes. I can understand, now that I have that frame of reference that is my diagnosis, how and why others responded to me the way they had. I was no angel, but I think had I known, had they known, that many of those failed family attempts I had as a child might have been salvaged. I am a strong believer in advocacy for and independence of those with special needs. What starts as a familys love can easily turn into a crippling life for the person who could have done more with less support and more stubbornness. When I was 18 years old, my social worker told me she believed that I would need to be in an adult group home the rest of my life. Before it had even begun, my life was over in her eyes. In the case of a friend of mine, out of love her parents kept her in their home and out of school for the most part. They were so intent on protecting her that she had no chance to develop the social skills she could have through trial and error - and yes, painful failure. At 29 years old, she is just now living in her own apartment and dealing with the perfectly normal stress of paying bills. She lost so much time, because her parents, like mine, just didnt know enough about autism to be tough and fair. They gave way or gave in instead of forcing her to do things on her own because it was less energy being expended. That mindset cost me my childhood; for her the cost was a late start in her adult life. I believe that knowledge

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45 Years of Ministry at the Heart of MSU Billings @ 5:30pm : St.Vincent $40

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Running Out of Silence (see page Zombie Carnival Pioneer Park

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Columbus Day

CLASSES IN SESSION - OFFICES OPEN (exchanged for Friday, Nov. 23)

Tunes for Tuesday: Open Mic @ 5-8pm : Yellowstone Valley Brewing

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High Plains Book Fest @ 9am-5pm : Billings

Marcus Morris is the founder and CEO of Guardian Transition Services Inc. for Ausism Society of America. For more information about Guardian Services go to www.GuardianAuttie. com. You may also visit Marcus blog at marcus. morris@guardianauttie. com.

Dorthea Cromley @ 7:30 Free

High Plains Book Fest

@ 9am-5pm : Billings

SUDOKU
Stand
Smoke, Rising up, Darkening a bright morning sky The sky that makes us smile Makes us feel warm and free Now sits smothered and dark Tears, Rolling down, Staining faces that are stunned Faces, just moments ago, Smiling and bright Now stare blankly in disbelief Arms, Open wide, Reaching out to let the sun Wash away any cold left by the darkness Hoping to embrace another Who survived the evil of the day Hands, Clasped in anothers, Symbolizing our hope and strength Hope and strength of the people Who care for our nation Looking, With longing eyes, To the day when we will stand Stand against oppression Stand against terrorism Against those who would do harm to the innocent We stand for our nation And our nation stands for us Our land is a reflection of us And will not allow one person To shatter our mirror Into which we gaze with pride Our nation takes punches And we throw a few back We can be beaten, kicked, thrown on the ground But we will always Get back up and stand Stand for those, Who so long ago, Stood and fought for what they believed in A country where we are all equal And not ruled by one person solely I still believe we stand for our nation For our homes For our families and friends And for those people that have no one else to lean on We do this Because we believe in ourselves and in our freedom

arcus, I am afraid that we need to let you go. I cant tell you how many times I have heard this phrase or something similar in my lifetime. I can, however, give you a rough estimate: I have heard it at least 70 times. Before I was formally diagnosed as being a person with autism, I had attempted and failed 70 different positions. I hear people talk about autism occasionally and how as a group we seem so withdrawn. Maybethatnumber,thenumber 70, can give you some insight as to why that image exists of us. I am a 32 year-old, high-functioning autistic father of two sons. Both of my sons are high-functioning as well. When I was a child autism was barely understood and was still frequently misdiagnosed. Due to that misdiagnosis I found myself without

and pride in who we are, regardless of our different needs, is what will help those that come behind us have a better life than we started with. I believe that if I can help my brothers and sisters on the spectrum to speak your language just a bit better, and I can teach you to speak ours, that being autistic can stop being a disability and become a true strength. The miscommunication and shame are the problem, not the fact you are autistic. No one likes to broadcast that they are different. It makes life so much easier if you can keep your head down and avoid notice. That is never going to be a trick at which any person with autism is truly great. I, for one, would rather be noticed because I choose to be. I want to be noticed, and to be proud of what makes me different because I can find strength in what others might consider a failing. I want to be noticed because I dont believe anyone should have to hide what makes them different or special. Maybe if I set the right example of pride and confidence, despite my perceived failing and weakness, then others will as well. No one deserves to feel alone because they are different. No one should ever feel ashamed to ask for

help or to educate those around them about their needs. You arent an inconvenience. You are an amazing person with a lot to offer, it might just take a bit longer to help you find your method of doing so. You arent alone. I am here to help, to answer questions, or to just be your friend. I know many others are as well. Trudy at the Disability Services office (we should give them a catchier name) is a great resource. Dont hesitate to reach out to her. In closing, the original question was posed to me, How has being autistic affected your life? My answer would have to be that it improved it in so many ways. I have learned so much, not just about myself, but about others, because I am autistic. I have to work much harder than the average person just to keep up with all the signals I miss that I believe I get to know people better, faster, than many others get to. I consider those relationships, those friendships, a blessing, and if suddenly not being autistic anymore was an option, but only at the cost of those friendships, I would pass.

Jared Hammer Business Manager

James Hickman

Design Editor
Billings Montana. James has developed a deep love for Billings and can often be heard arguing with uninspired folk that have convinced themselves that theres nothing to do in this town. James is currently a student at MSUB, pursuing a business degree and is active in the student organimost vapid shows during the week and catch up on them on Thursday nights while my husband bowls. I love taking vacations and have been to 39 states and Canada and Mexico. One day I hope to travel to the Mediterranean and visit Greece, France, Spain, and, the motherland, Italy. When I grow up Id like to be a full-time editor, and an author as well. Ive started a couple of manujoin in! I am very close with my family, and I am grateful to be able to share my college experience with them - this journey could not be the same without them here. With two years remaining at MSUB, I can reflect on all that I have been a part of, from the Honors Program and Club, dance, and DVAAS, to all of the classes that I have taken and learned a great deal from - I look forward to all of the opportunities that lie ahead, and of course, to a great year here at The Retort!

am a very secretive and dangerous individual. People might think of me as an assassin...maybe. I cannot present any further information. Please stay far away from my giraffe. It is very temperamental.

Jennifer Otis Copy Editor

Ive lived in Montana since high school. Ive been married to my husband, Pat, a Laurel native and basketball coach, for six years, and we have three rescue pups that we spoil rotten. y real job is at Billings Clinic as an Information Services Specialist in the hospital laboratory, and after staring at computers all day I love to be

ames Dean Hickman was originally born in Colorado but as an infant was quickly relocated to his true hometown,

zation community. He is the former Editor-in-chief of The Rook (MSUBs student run art and literature publication for over a decade.) He has moved on to be the Design Editor of The Retort, a position way over his head to be sure. He also serves as the Business The Forge Production House, (MSUBs audio video club.) James is a poet and freelance writer. He occasion-

ally writes for The Billings Outpost, Billings360. com, and The Billings Gazette. He is currently an Editor/Staff Writer for local upstart alternative mag NOISE & COLOR. He, along with his partner Pete Tolton, started a local Slam Poetry League called Montana Slam, which holds regular competition. Pete and him are preparing to launch their art/lit rag Brushfire.

Paulina Carrillo

Contact Lenses :(
first began using contact lenses due to my terrible vision and inability to find a pair of good-looking glasses during my freshman year in high school. I have to say that although they work miracles by giving you the opportunity to not wear glasses, I have come to realize that in the long run it might be best not to use soft contact lenses on a daily basis. During my first year of wearing contacts, I experienced close to zero problems. However, after that first year, I started noticing a few things that made me regret choosing to wear contacts. The first problem I noticed is that my vision had worsened. I dont know how this happened, so I cant really say much on this, but it did. Some studies do say that contacts cant really affect your vision, so dont take my word on this. However, I refuse to believe these studies because I have noticed that every time I get my prescription increased it seems like my vision gets worse about a month after. Like I said, I do not know why this happens, especially since I do remove them after having them on for about eight hours. Another thing I realized was how often my eyes were getting irritated. I know the reason for that cant be because I did not clean them right or that I put them on with dirty hands because I have always been very cautious. Regardless of how well I cleaned them or how careful I was with them I would still manage to wake up with an infected eye every once in a while. But how do I know it is the contacts that are causing this? Well, probably because I had never experienced this until I started wearing them. Finally, contacts really tend to dry up my eye. If you have ever had a dry eye then you know how uncomfortable and annoying this can be. The worse thing about a dry eye resulting from wearing contacts is that re-wetting drops do not always work. It is kind of difficult to avoid having a dry eye from time to time when you wear contacts. So, is wearing contact lenses better than wearing glasses? I do not think so. To be honest, if I could find that one pair that looked good on me, I would say goodbye to my contacts. Sure, wearing contacts will keep you from having to hide your pretty face behind glass, but I think any of us would rather have healthy, non-irritated eyes over anything else.

Serene Crees

2016: Obamas America is Eye-Opening

of fighting. A fight that has now finally been won! This fall we are facing a new election and the need to prove equality in our country is no longer what is at stake - America as we know it is. The change that Obama has brought about in our country is not the kind of change we needed, nor the kind of change we need for our future. I am beyond alarmed at the cuts he has been making regarding our countrys protection (troops and missiles); I am completely surprised at how ridiculous his healthcare bill (with socialistic agenda) is; I am disgusted with his lavish spending (his lowest annual deficit was above $1.2 trillion); I am utterly embarrassed by his foreign policy. Altogether I believe his choices to be unwise and entirely in opposition with the best interests of the American people. So ,although I already had some opposing views, before going to watch the movie 2016: Obamas America I was not overly concerned about Obama as a person, his hidden agenda, or our country being in danger - but I DO have those concerns now. I want to clarify before I continue that I am not affiliated with any political party and that I vote for candidates based on their individual merit. I also want to assure you that I dont just believe everything I see and hear. I am well-informed and wellresearched. So, this movie

Columnist

Art & Entertainment Writer

We owe it to ourselves and each other to make wise, educated decisions.

ello all, my name is Jennifer Otis and Im so excited to be starting my fourth year as copy editor for The Retort! Im originally from New Jersey (no I dont know Snooki) but

able to stretch the creative side of my brain with The Retort. In my spare time I love to play outside whenever possible - walking my dogs, camping, boating, swimming, rafting, fishing, floating rivers, sledding, and hiking. When forced indoors, I like to read, write, watch movies, yoga, knit, bake, and play board games with friends. My guilty pleasure is reality television; I DVR all the Retort. In time as I wrote more for myself and found what I was truly passionate about where my writing was most meaningful to me my writing became my own. I love to dance theres nothing in this world that can lift my spirits like a waltz around the room. I began learning when I was in the eighth grade, and then left it behind me until my freshman year here at MSU Billings, and Im so glad that I did! So if you see me dancing around here on campus, dont be surprised, and by all means sible as well. Hes in the MSU-B University Honors Program, and is also the president of the campuss Chemistry Club. Cory says that: Writing for The Retort has been an honor! Its amazing to be able to write about something that Im so passionate about. Its a great feeling when readers give feedback on an articleor simply tell you that they liked your article. The Retort has also been a great pathway to meet new people (like some of the athletes Ive interviewed and my coworkers). Allin-all, working at The Retort has been a great experience, and my only hope is that we as a paper (and of course my section too!) continue to grow in popularity with our students.

Chris Claus Webpage Editor

ello, my name is Chris Claus and I am the web site editor for The Retort. I am a Criminal Justice major. I have been doing website coding for 12 years, ran a successful non-profit hosting company for three years and am experienced with using, and

modifying most of the popular content management systems. During the summer, with the Editor of The Retort, I worked on modifying the existing Retort website and converting it to WordPress which is still in the design process. I look forward to the upcoming year.

Amy Tackett Photographer

hind the camera, not in front of it. If you happen to see me snapping photos around campus, please try to act natural. If you dont, it makes for very awkward pictures. This is my third year with The Retort and I have loved every minute of the experience so far. I am looking forward to another exciting year of classes as I finish my time here at MSUB. I will graduate on in the Spring with a degree in History.

Patricia Hampton News & Campus Life Writer

ers again. Those things are important and help to make me who I am, but what really makes me, well, me? As an English major, I think I can safely say that reading and writing mean the world to me. I've been known to read through books like crazy and never just one at a time, that would not be enough! As for writing, my outlet early on was working on the high school yearbook staff, and now I am able to continue similarly with The

am a junior English Education major, minoring in Spanish Education. I have been a member of The Retort staff for three years now and am elated to be back in classes and writing for our read-

ello All! My name is Amy and I am the photographer for The Retort. Although I somewhat willingly provided a picture of myself to accompany this bio, I prefer to be be-

Continued from page 8

en my horizons. I hope to continue writing for The Retort as long as the opportunity is given.

Cory Lovec Sports Writer

footballthe NFL in particular. Cory watches all the sports he cans, and says that his TV is on ESPN at least 90% of the time. Cory is also a huge fan of music, and owns roughly 200 CDswith an eclectic taste in music ranging from rock and metal to country, classical, and jazzwith rock music being his favorite (Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown Hinder, Matchbox 20, and Jason Aldean are his so-called favorite 5). Cory is also a trumpet player for the MSU-B Pep Band, and attends every home Mens and Womens basketball games, and also states that he tries to go to as many of the other sporting events as pos-

Paulina Carrillo Columnist

I am originally from San Diego, California. As you can also probably assume by my last name, my first language is Spanish and I am of Mexican descent. During my free time I enjoy writing, reading, going out with my friends, eating, traveling, biking, rollerblading, and being with my boyfriend. I also love pigeons, or any other bird in general, and feeding the ducks at the lake-I know, lame (shh!). Writing for The Retort has been quite an interesting and educational experience. It has given me the opportunity to learn about right and wrong in writing, strengthen my writing skills, and also broad-

Serene Crees Art & Entertainment Writer

school (again J) to get my secular degree. Iwas a Music Theatre major but have switched to English & Spanish with aminor in Theatre and feel that I have finally found my niche!! I dont have much spare time being a youth pastor, nanny andfull time student, but when I do have some me time I love to ride my bike,sing, act, dance (hip-hop, latin and ballroom), paint, be with my family andfriends, read, and of course, write! In fact I am working on a book right nowand hope to publish it someday soon! I am very excited to start my first year majoring in English as well as writing for The Retort!

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have a Dream! This is one of the most famous phrases in history. Every time I hear Dr. Kings speech my emotions are stirred and I am touched deep within my soul. I was twelve years old when I first heard these powerful words. At my young age I had an epiphany that penetrated me to my core. I realized that if God had chosen for me to be born with merely a different amount of pigment in my skin, or if events in history had brought different countries to power instead of Spain, England and the United Sates, my ancestors and I could have been the ones fighting for our freedom and equality. To this day I am still profoundly humbled by this. It is for this reason that I was overjoyed that the dream of Martin Luther King was realized in Barack Obama four years ago when he was inaugurated as the first black president in our countrys history. Though I did not vote for him myself due to my personal beliefs, when they announced his victory I was still able to celebrate, with exuberance, this monumental occasion. I could see that his win as a culmination of the hopes and dreams of millions of people and hundreds of years

simply filled in the areas that I had already had questions about. Since I had done my own research prior to seeing the movie, I was familiar with Obamas choices in office and his political history. Yet, as I did my research, I was constantly confused as to why his choices were so contradictory and all over the place with no real direction. This movie connected the dots for me. As the movie progressed and they explained Obamas childhood, schooling, mentors, father, etc. and filled in other pieces of the puzzle, my confusion was lessened and a picture started to take shape. The picture this movie revealed shook me to my core. Truthfully, I dont think I could have been more shocked. I had never seen Obama for who he really is. There was a line in the movie that really summed everything up, We all have a past and we carry it with us. Obamas heritage, education, and mentoring are the foundation of who he is, and they are the filter through which he views the world. So, how DOES Obama see the world? Dinesh DSouza talks about Obamas autobiography and says that many of the clues lie in those pages. He explains that

Obamas education in Hawaii, a place that is still angry about being colonized by the U.S. and is actively trying break away, has considerably shaped Obamas foreign and domestic policies. He also reveals that Obama has consistently been mentored by men who are known for their leftist, communistic views. One of his mentors, Frank Marshall Davis, was even a card-carrying communist. I have heard a saying many times in my life, Show me your friends and Ill show you your future. It is proven that the people you spend your time with influence who you are and who you will be. What does that mean for our country, being led by a man who has kept such company throughout his entire life? So, I will pose the same questions as the man who made this film: What is Obamas dream? Is it the American Dream, is it Martin Luthers Dream, or is it someone elses (and if so, who)? In his autobiography Obama admits to being extremely impacted by his father, and also to seeking out friends and groups

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agreed to do for minimum wage when you applied for the job, am I right? So please, all of you who work at a place where it is expected for the customer to leave a tip, do not complain when that person decides not to tip you. We as customers are already spending money on whatever it is we are buying, so why should we spend more on you just because it is the right thing to do? Anyway, until everyone else with a job starts receiving tips from others, tipping should not be something that we feel like we must do.

Is tipping an expectation or requirement?

Paulina Carrillo Columnist

ory D. Lovec is a 20 year old junior at MSU-Billings, majoring in chemistry and minoring in both mathematics and physics, while also fulfilling requirements for pre-pharmacy. This is his 3rd year as Sports Editor at The Retort. He is a very avid sports fan, stating that he loves ALL sports, but admits to being partial to

owdy, Yellow Jackets! My name is Paulina Carrillo and I have been working as the Opinion Writer for The Retort since last Fall semester. I am currently a junior pursuing a political science degree, and hope to attend law school upon graduation. I am attending MSUB as an out of state student since

reetings & salutations! My name is Serene Crees and Iam a Junior here at MSU-Billings. I refer to myself as a career student because I graduatedBible College in 2006, interned at a church for three years, and since then havebeen doing youth ministry (which is a wonderful education in itself!!). Now, I am back to

hen you go out and eat at a restaurant, do you leave the waitress or waiter a tip? I know I do. But do I, however, believe leaving that tip is necessary? Not at all. So then why do I even bother to leave a tip if I do not feel like I should? Well, mainly because society has me feeling like it is the right thing to do, and also because I do not want to make myself look like I am cheap winnie. Seriously, though, why does society tell us it is

wrong not to leave a tip? I actually believe otherwise. If someone makes it clear that they feel like I must leave a tip, I find that pretty rude. I see the word tip as an excuse to be able to ask for extra money. Or, in other words, I find it to be kind of like the silent and culturally accepted way of begging for money. Something I strongly believe in is that if hair stylists and servers must be given tips, then everyone else with a job should too. A waiter, for exam-

ple, is already getting paid to do his job by the hour. If he does not like how much he is being paid, then too bad. That person should then try looking for another job instead of indirectly asking customers for money. Im sorry, but if I am not being tipped on top of what I am being paid already to write this article, then I do not think it is fair for you to have that advantage while I do not. A job is a job, and you will always have to do some work in order to get paid. And yes, some jobs do include refilling my cup of coffee or cutting my hair. After all, that is what you

Reliving the 2012 Summer Olympics

Cory Lovec Sports Writer
The 2012 Summer Olympics were made of compelling stories, broken records, great career achievements, and endless on the edge of your seat moments. From two hourlong swimming marathons decided in the final 0.4 seconds, to records broken in track and field, to the career medals record being broken, the 2012 Summer Olympics were indeed full of entertainment. From the complete dominance of Jamaican men and women in sprinting to the down-tothe wire battle for the top spot in medal count, it was a sporting event of obvious worldwide magnitude. Here is my somewhat short list of the major storylines of the summer games: Michael Phelps: How could a list of Olympic headlines NOT start with Michael Phelps? Entire books have been and will continue to be written about the incredible athlete. This year he single-handedly stole the spotlight during the first week of the Olympics. At first it was supposed to be between him and Ryan Lochte - maybe this would be the Olympics where Phelps passed the torch to Lochte (no pun intended) and at the start, some people believed that would happen. Heres a man who started off slow at this summers games by not medaling in his first event and getting just silver in his next two, and yet he still won gold in his last four events and managed to again capture the most medals and most gold medals of any Olympian during the games (the third time he has done so). To top it off, he is now the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals, 18 of them goldboth records that may never be broken (not to mention all of the swimming Olympic and world records he has set). Usain Bolt: Flamboyant. Party-loving. Attention-grabbing. And very self-confident, to say the least. Usain Bolt is all of these and more, not to mention the fastest man on the planet - and dare I say the fastest man in the history of mankind. Bolt: the name couldnt be more perfect. With a 65 frame Bolt is quite tall for a sprinter, and it is with those long legs that he pulls away from his closest competitors. No, hes not always clean out of the blocks, and sometimes it seems like he could work harder at his craft, but no one can get to his level without hard work and dedication. Bolt proved nay-sayers wrong this summer when he first won the 100m dash (just 0.05 seconds off his world record time) and then followed that up by being the first Olympian to win the 200m dash and 100m dash twice in the same Olympics, as well as the 4x100m relay in two consecutive Olympic games. Needless to say, Bolt is as captivating an athlete as ever, and hes not done yet; hes already said hes coming back for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Gabby Douglas: Not the tallest of the headliners - or the loudest - modest 411 gymnast Gabby Douglas was not necessarily considered one of the American Olympians to watch. She didnt medal in an individual event and she really wasnt even expected to make the individual all-around finals. In what seemed to be the theme of this years Olympics, Douglas proved her doubters wrong when she not only qualified for allaround finals, but also became the first AfricanAmerican woman to win the gold medal in individual all-around gymnastics (and for that matter, the first woman of color of any nationality to win the event). She followed that up by helping the U.S. women win the team all-around gymnastics gold medal something that the U.S. had not done since 1996 [see below]. In fact, Douglas became the first American woman to win both the individual all-around and team all-around gold medals in the same Olympics. U.S. Womens Gymnastics: Gymnastics is one of those sports where one good or bad day can really make or break an athlete. This is especially true in the Olympics, for which athletes spend four years training tirelessly, and where one bad step can literally take you from a potential gold medal to not even making the finals just ask Jordan Wieber! The 2012 womens gymnastics team (deemed the Fierce Five in comparison to 1996s Fab Five) won only five medals total - which is one medal shy of what they won in 2004 and three medals shy of 2008s haul. However, the team came away with something they had not accomplished since 1996 - a gold medal in the team all-around. Plus, with Gabby Douglas als, and never before had a duo won three medals at all - let alone all three gold! To top that off, they have lost only ONE set during their entire 12-year Olympic run, never losing a match. May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings set the standard for what teamwork in beach volleyball. These two can finish each others sentences and think each others thoughts. Both now married with children, and slightly older, they were not necessarily considered the favorites heading into the Olympics; many people thought they were out of their prime. But winning the gold medal for a third straight Olympics (against

Krista Montague to take interim role to lead athletics

extreme amount of pressure on our countrys athletes. As some forget, in 2008 host-country China captured the most gold medals of any country. This year the battle for the overall medal count was back-and-forth during the first week of events with China holding a slight edge on medal count all the way into Day 12. However, once the track and field events were underway America started to pull away, winning the overall medal count 104 to Chinas 88, and the overall gold medal title with 46 gold medals to Chinas 38. Following China for third place was Russia with 82 overall medals, 24 of them gold; host nation Great Britain and their athletes seemed to be inspired by the home-field advantage and took home the third-most golds (29) and fourth-most medals overall (65). Although the medal count rivalry between the U.S. and China doesnt quite match the intensity of that between the U.S.S.R. and the U.S., it is still an interesting and sometimes quite intense rivalry. It is a recurring theme for the top three countries (according to medal count) to be the U.S., China, and Russia, generally with countries like Australia and Germany not far behind. Look for the same countries to be in the hunt in 2016 with host-nation Brazil possibly making a run for the top as well. The Summer Olympics only comes once every four years and when they do it is major news in the sporting world, so much so that entire books could be written about the Olympiads happenings. It is for that reason that only some of the most unlikely, inspiring, and popular aspects of the Olympics were covered in this article. To learn more about the 2012 London Olympics, your favorite athletes, your home country, or to relive some of the most exciting moments, you can check out the official website of the Olympics at http://www. olympic.org/.

winning the all-around final, Ally Raisman pulling in gold and bronze medals of her own (not including her tie for the bronze medal for the all-around, in which she lost out because of a tiebreaker), this year has really been one of U.S. Gymnastics finest years. And although gymnasts have an especially short career span, this group looks like it may have the skill, will, and young age to come back and compete again in 2016. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings: The most famous beach volleyball players ever. And the most decorated. Not to mention that May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings simply ARE the reason that beach volleyball is even an Olympic sport to watch. Never before (and possibly never again) has a team duo dominated the sport like these two have. No other team has ever won two beach volleyball gold med-

another American team, no less) had to be both satisfying and relieving for the duo - who have repeatedly said that they are now retired and hope to live happy, family-oriented lives. Maybe now, like Phelps, they can pass the torch to the other Americans awaiting their turn. United States Wins the Overall (and Gold) Medal Count: Its hard to believe that this isnt the top storyline of the Olympics! The sad truth is that people have become accustomed to the United States winning the Gold medal count and overall medal count each year (2012 was the fifth consecutive Olympics that the U.S. finished with the highest overall medal count). In fact, most people have come to expect the U.S. to win - which puts an extreme amount of pressure on our countrys athletes. As some forget, in 2008 host-country China cap-

tured the most gold medals of any country. This year the battle for the overall medal count was back-andforth during the first week of events with China holding a slight edge on medal count all the way into Day 12. However, once the track and field events were underway America started to pull away, winning the overall medal count 104 to Chinas 88, and the overall gold medal title with 46 gold medals to Chinas 38. Following China for third place was Russia with 82 overall medals, 24 of them gold; host nation Great Britain and their athletes seemed to be inspired by the home-field advantage and took home the third-most golds (29) and fourth-most medals overall (65). Although the medal count rivalry between the U.S. and China doesnt quite match the intensity of that between the U.S.S.R. and the U.S., it is still an interesting and sometimes quite intense rivalry. It is a recurring theme for the top three countries (according to medal count) to be the U.S., China, and Russia, generally with countries like Australia and Germany not far behind. Look for the same countries to be in the hunt in 2016 with host-nation Brazil possibly making a run for the top as well. The Summer Olympics only comes once every four years and when they do it is major news in the sporting world, so much so that entire books could be written about the Olympiads happenings. It is for that reason that only some of the most unlikely, inspiring, and popular aspects of the Olympics were covered in this article. To learn more about the 2012 London Olympics, your favorite athletes, your home country, or to relive some of the most exciting moments, you can check out the official website of the Olympics at http://www.olympic.org/. You can also read more about some interesting past and present Olympics facts in this issues Sports Corner on page ??? secutive Olympics that the U.S. finished with the highest overall medal count). In fact, most people have come to expect the U.S. to win - which puts an

By MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES

Dr. Stacy Klippenstein, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. M o n tague takes over for Dr. Gary Gray, who is leaving Montana to take on a role as athletic director at the University of Alaska Fairbanks this month. A search process is now under way for a permanent director of intercollegiate athletics at MSU Billings. Krista is a wonderful choice as interim director of Intercollegiate Athletics and I believe she will bring great energy and enthusiasm to the position, Klippenstein said. Her experience as an MSUB student- athlete and commitment to serve the university and all studentathletes as an associate director of athletics makes

Hysham native and former Yellowjacket womens basketball standout has been selected to be Interim Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Montana State University Billings. Krista Montague, 35, who earned her bachelors degree in Business at MSU Billings in 1999 and is currently the associate athletic director, will step in as Interim Director of Athletics starting today (Tuesday, Sept. 11), said

The Sports Corner: Summer olympic records and facts

Cory Lovec

her a perfect fit for this interim position. I am confident our athletic department will continue to be successful on the field and in the classroom. Krista Fjelstad graduated from Hysham High School in 1995 and was recruited to play on the Yellowjacket womens basketball team. During her time as a student-athlete, she: Participated in four NCAA II West Region Womens Basketball Tournaments. Was a member of three Womens Basketball conference championship teams. Was team captain of 1998-99 team. Was a member of the 1999 Pacific West Conference Tournament Championship team. Was a member of the 1999 NCAA II Womens Western Regional Championship team. Was a member of the 1999 NCAA II Womens Basketball Elite Eight

team. Left the basketball program with the school record for career free throw percentage. After her graduation from college, she worked at Norwest Bank and then for D&D Marketing, doing corporate sponsorship work for her alma mater. She married Brent Montague and returned to MSU Billings in 2002, to take on the role of development and corporate sponsorship for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Since that time, she has taken on other roles and currently serves as the NCAA compliance officer for the university and well senior woman administrator. In her role as senior woman administrator, Montague has been closely involved with all aspects of athletics administration and decisions for the past seven years and has been involved with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference manage-

ment council. She is also Member of National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators and served last year on the NACWAAs Legislation and Governance Committee. The committee analyzes, evaluates, and disseminates national athletics governance legislation information, specifically those pieces pertaining to women and female student- athletes. In June, Montague began serving as interim director of alumni relations at MSU Billings. The search is progressing for a permanent alumni director and interviews are taking place this month. Montague said she is eager to step into this new role. It will be my goal to provide a stable and seamless transition for our coaches, staff, and student-athletes during the next eight months while the search for a permanent athletic director is taking place, Montague

said. As a former Yellowjacket student-athlete, I am passionate about this university and will work hard to help our student-athletes achieve success on and off the playing fields. She noted she learned much while working with Gray. I would like to personally thank Dr. Gary Gray for his countless accomplishments (including growing the Yellowjacket program from eight to 17 sports) in his tenure as Athletic Director, Montague said. Dr. Grays passion and enthusiasm for Yellowjacket sports will be missed. He has been an excellent mentor to me for the past 10 years. MSU Billings is the only NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics program in Montana. The university sponsors 17 sports for men and women. For more on the athletics programs at MSU Billings, go to www.msubsports. com.

Sports Writer
o you think America only wins the most medals at the Olympics because we send so many athletes? Well, that isnt completely true. American athletes won an average of 0.483 medals per athlete in the 2012 Olympics, which is second only to Jamaicas 0.500 medals/athlete; comparatively, China and Russia received 0.33 and 0.32 medals/athlete, respectively. With the 2012 Summer Olympics behind us, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on Olympic stats about the athletes who participated in the Olympics as well as some of the more fascinating facts about the history of the Olympics. Since 1896, only four countries have been involved in every Olympics: Greece, Austria, Great Britain, and Switzerland. A total of 85 countries medaled in the 2012 Olympics. The silver medal was awarded to the winner of each event starting in the 1896 Summer Olympics. The current system of gold, silver, and bronze medals was not implemented until the 1912 Olympic Games. An estimated $15 Billion was spent by Great Britain to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. Tug-of-War was an Olympic event between 1900 and 1920. Olympic champions last received solid gold medals in 1912. Currently, the composition of a gold medal is 92.5% silver, 1.34% gold (6 grams total), and the remainder copper; silver medals are 92.5% silver, with the remainder copper; bronze medals are 97.0% copper, 2.5% zinc, and 0.5% tin. There are currently 28 categories of Summer Olympic events, ranging from aquatics to wrestling; this also includes subcategories, which, when included add to 41 different classifica-

tions of events, adds up to 302 events total. If all of the former Soviet nations were still to compete as one team/country, they would have easily won the overall medal count 164-104. Figure skating was initially part of the Summer Olympics. The United States has won a total of 2401 medals (975 Gold) in their 26 Modern Summer Olympics appearances. The first Olympian to fail a drug test was actually busted for drinking beer. Over 9 million tickets were sold for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The front of the medals always depicts the same imagery at the Summer Games: the Greek Goddess of Victory (Nike) stepping out of the depiction of the Parthenon to arrive in the host city - London, this year. The top four medalists in the 2012 Olympics were all American: Michael Phelps (6), Melissa Franklin (5), Allison Schmidt (5), and Ryan

Lochte (5); Alicia Coutts of Australia also had 5. A mere 37 women competed in the 1908 Olympics held in London; this year, 4862 women athletes competed. For nearly 40 years, artists also competed for Olympic gold medals. In the 1904 Olympics, a gymnast with a wooden leg won six medals (including three gold). After the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, 73 of the current 204 National Olympic Committees have not yet won an Olympic medal. There are only three summer Olympics sports that the U.S. has not medaled in: badminton, handball, and table tennis. In 1936, American diver Marjorie Gestring (13) became the youngest Olympian worldwide to win a gold medal a record that still stands. The oldest Olympian to win a gold medal was 62 year-old Swede Oscar Swahn, who, in 1912, won a gold medal in shooting.

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that were on the fringe leftists, foreigners, minorities, etc., so when he sympathizes with freedom fighters and says in hushed tones to the Russian president that after the election he will have more freedom... I am no longer surprised. I am really glad that I chose to see this movie and I highly recommend that you see it whether you are an Obama fan or not. I also recommend that you dont just take this movie at face value. I recommend doing some digging of your own. We owe it to ourselves and each other to make a wise, EDUCATED decisions when we go to the polls in a few weeks. I believe that our country is at a crossroads. We have to ask ourselves which road we want to take. I am reminded of a line from a poem by Robert Frost, Two roads diverged in a wood, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. Four years ago, though we were able to celebrate a huge milestone on the road to equality; that choice has also had some very negative consequences. 2016: Obamas America agrees that Obama has brought change to our country, but at what cost? After watching 2016: Obamas America, I am now convinced more than ever that we need to choose the road less traveled to make the difference our country truly need. Go see 2016: Obamas America and see if you agree.

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Cooking Gourmet in the Outdoors

By TABBY MAUST Outdoors Writer
he first time we took my dear friend Presley out camping with my family, her mother sent her off with a cheery goodbye of, Have fun and enjoy eating all those sandwiches! Presley returned a few days later and when her mom inquired how those sandwiches were Presley told her, We didnt eat sandwiches. We had chicken carbonara and peach cobbler and" Obviously you can tell my father isnt your ordinary campground cook. While it may help that my father is also a career chef, that doesnt mean that the rest of the world has to survive on sandwiches alone while enjoying the great outdoors

the right tools make all the difference. If you tour any sporting goods store, surely youll find a plethora of camp cooking gear, but what is my fathers, and many other camp cook enthusiasts, first choice? The cast iron Dutch oven of course! If you have never eaten food from a Dutch oven, you have never really tasted all the flavors of your food, says Colleen Sloan, author of seven Dutch oven cookbooks and a nationwide demonstrator of all that Dutch ovens can do. There isnt anything that doesnt come out tasting wonderful. Sloan emphasizes the versatility of the Dutch oven, saying that anything

you can cook in a stove or oven can be cooked in one. They are basically a castiron, crockpot, pressure cooker and can be used for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even desert. This means that while camping, you can make everything from quiche to bread to apple cider. It is this versatility that has kept the Dutch oven around for over 4,000 years. Certainly this cooking pot has evolved since its humble beginnings as a black cauldron in Mesopotamia which served as the village stew pot. It later moved into the shape we see today, but without feet as it was meant solely for the oven and stovetop. It was the pioneers traveling across the west who added the feet for outdoor fire pit

use. These folks were particularly fond of the Dutch oven for its durabilityif a wagon tipped over, the one thing you could count on to survive was the Dutch oven! This also means it will stand up to anything you and your family can throw at it. The pioneers made the Dutch oven an iconic outdoor cooking utensil, but that doesnt mean this wonderful pot is trapped in the past or hard to use. When camping, they can be used on your camp stove (which is especially useful during fire restriction season), over an open flame, or with lit briquettes placed strategically underneath and on the lid. These handy pots even stack on one another to allow for multiple courses to be cooked in one fire

pitafter all, you don't want to have to wait hours after your chili to enjoy your chocolate cake, right? Whats Sloans number one tip for beginner Dutch oven users? Timing isnt important. The smell will tell you when its done. This means that your gourmet camp cooking doesnt have to add any stress to your trip. After the Dutch oven is in the fire, you can sit back with your friends and family until the smell of deliciousness hits your nose. Then comes the best partdigging in! While it may be hard for Sloan to pick out her favorite recipe because everything is so flavorful and tender, she does say its always fun to make a batch of ice cream. Yep. She

said it. Your Dutch oven can even make homemade ice cream out in the middle of the forest. Whats not to love? To get you started on your next camping trip with a Dutch oven, chef Allan Maust, my father, who started my love of Dutch ovens, has provided his heart-warming chicken stew recipe that you can find on our website. If you are simply in love with your Dutch oven after that, Sloan will be here in Billings again this October during the NILE, spreading her love and knowledge of Dutch ovens and selling her amazing cookbooks. Ive even heard therell be some of that homemade ice cream involved!

Dutch Oven Chicken Stew with Dumplings

Recipe by Chef Allen Maust

2 Tbs butter or oil 2-3 chicken breasts cut into cubes 5 m onions, diced 3 stalks celery, diced 3-4 carrots, diced 2-3 potatoes, diced 4-6 cups chicken brothenough to cover veggies bag of frozed mixed veggies 1 cup cold water mixed with cup corn starch Instructions Brown with chicken breast in 1 tablespoon butter or oil, until all the pink is gone. Remove from the Dutch oven and set aside along with juices. Add 1 tablespoon butter or oil to Dutch oven and saut the veggies until the onion turns transparent. Leave out the potatoes and mixed veggies until later. Add enough chicken broth to cover the vegetables. Cover and cook for about half an hour until carrots are tender. Return the cooked chicken and add the mixed veggies and diced potatoes. Cover and cook for another 20 minutes. The stew should be boiling, and then you can add the cornstarch mixture until the stew is thickyou may not use all of the mixture. Dumplings 3 cups Bisquick mix 2/3 cup milk Mix the milk into the Bisquick until it forms a soft dough Spoon dough on tip of stew mix and cook for about 10 minutes Enjoy your stew!

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