“Our l i be r ty depends on the f r eedom of the p re s s , and tha t canno t be l imi t ed wi thou t be ing lo s t . ” — Thomas Je ff e r son

Vol. 1.7 • June, 2014 • Dayton, Ohio • www.facebook.com/themillennialpaper • themillennialnewspaper.com

Boko Haram Violence and Kidnappings Sow Instability in Nigeria

Nigeria’s extremist Islamist group Boko Haram is fighting to overthrow the government to establish an Islamic state. Since the group was created in 2002, they have abuducted more

than 200 schoolgirls and carried out spates of bloody attacks on Nigerian communities.

by Audrey LegrandStaff Writer

Nearly 300 girls aged 16 to 18 were kidnapped from their beds the night of April 14 from the

Chibok Government Girls Secondary School, a boarding school in the north-eastern Borno State of Nigeria.

Their captors, armed men in uni-forms who first identified themselves as government soldiers to the frightened girls, revealed their true identities after gathering the girls outside of the school and setting fire to their room, according to a 16-year-old girl who managed to escape the abductors.

“They cried ‘Allahu Akhbar’ (God is great), and we knew,” she told the Associated Press via telephone, as was later reported by the Washington Post.

The armed men were not, in fact, government soldiers, but members of the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram. The group, whose name figura-tively translates to “Western civilization is sinful,” emerged from a Nigerian ultraconservative Muslim group in 2002 and became a jihadist organization in 2009 by then-leader Mohammed Yusuf.

Since the day of the kidnappings, news sites report that 276 girls are still missing, at least two girls have

died from snakebite and about 50 have escaped.

On May 4, AP reported that the extremists kidnapped 11 more girls, aged 12 to 15, from the northeastern villages of Warabe and Wala. The next day, a Boko Haram member identify-ing himself as the current leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau, released a video obtained by the AFP News stating that the group planned to sell the girls, presumably into sexual slavery. Several girls have reportedly been forced to convert to Islam and marry some of the jihadists.

“God instructed me to sell them. They are his properties and I will carry out his instructions,” Shekau said in the video.

AP reported that it wasn’t certain whether the video had been filmed be-fore or after earlier reports that numer-ous captors had been forcibly married to members of the group for a nominal bride price of $12.

The Nigerian government, headed by President Goodluck Jonathan, has been globally criticized for its slow reaction to the kidnappings.

Continue reading on pg. 4

Cuba Enters Global Economy Side-Stepping American Embargoby Samantha HaubStaff Writer

Since the Cold War, relations between the United States and the Republic of Cuba have been

strained, if not non-existent. In 1960, the U.S. imposed a trade embargo on Cuba, isolating Cuba’s economy and contributing to the Cuban economic crisis of the 1990s. After Fidel Castro stepped down from the Cuban presi-dency in 2008, his younger brother, Raul Castro, has continued the rule of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) through the communist state.

Despite the ongoing political and economic standoff with the United States, Cuba is beginning to open itself to foreign trade and relations, which could lead to improved civil and social rights.

Cuba has recently seen economic advancement despite the U.S. em-bargo. According to the CIA website, Cuba has continued to receive an es-timated 100,000 barrels of petroleum products daily from Venezuela on preferential terms or greatly reduced prices. In exchange for subsidized oil, Cuba has provided Venezuela with a skilled labor force, including 30,000

medical professionals. Recently, however, the constant

supply of petroleum products has been threatened by the violent pro-tests and political unrest in Venezuela.

Despite the discounted petroleum that Cuba receives from Venezuela, Cuba’s economic growth has been idled by excessive foreign debt. The tide may be turning though, as Cuba was newly relieved of large portions of its debt owed to both Mexico and Russia. The Havana Times reported in November of 2013 that Mexico agreed to pardon 70 percent of Cuba’s $487 million dollar debt to foster a closer economic and political relation-ship. Mexican Finance Secretary, Luis Videgaray, noted that the remaining 30 percent of the debt will be repaid over a period of ten years. In addi-tion to the debt write-off, Mexico and Cuba furthered bilateral relations by establishing an extended line of credit for trade and investment, a treaty of extradition and legal cooperation, tourism agreements, as well as a mu-tual recognition of higher education degrees and coursework.

Continue reading on pg. 4

Looming FDA Regulations Threaten E-Cigarette Industryby Thomas KilburnEditor-in-Chief

We all know history has a knack for repeating itself. Although cigarette smok-

ers enjoyed a great deal of time puffing wherever they pleased, the fixation was eventually regulated and banned in some places across the country.

Likewise, electronic cigarettes, a multi-billion dollar industry and trend that is sweeping the globe, are now slated to be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the com-ing weeks.

Most electronic cigarettes, more commonly known as e-cigarettes, are curious devices barely larger than a pen. While they come in all shapes and sizes, each is comprised of the same basic components. To smoke, you press a button that fires up a rechargeable battery which then produces a current to power a tightly wound coil in a hollow chamber. This part of the device holds a liquid nicotine solution that is absorbed by wicks attached to the coil.

As you inhale, you are essentially heating up the liquid nicotine, which produces a thick cloud of water vapor.

Continue reading on pg. 6

III: Letter to the Editor, Michael Sam

IV: Cuba Enters Global Economy, Boko Haram

V: Fair Trade & Economy, Crime Report

VI: E-Cigarettes

VII: Moonshine Jesus, Meditation of the Month

VIII: Gabriel García Márquez, Fitness

IX: Editorials

X: Music

XI: Puzzles

XII: Poetry

The Millennial aims to serve the collegiate communities of the

Dayton region in an informative and thought-provoking manner;

To rally political and social involvement, foster civic

engagement, combat apathy, and increase

global awareness;

To act as a reliable instrument for criticizing corrupt

institutions and ideologies;

To meet the information needs of the collegiate communities

with journalistic integrity.

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We are looking for contributors!

The Millennial is currently seek-ing out writers, photographers, artists, graphic designers, and aspiring activists! Let us know via email (themillennialnews-paper@gmail.com) how you

can help with the cause. Editori-als and letters to the editor are

always welcome. No paid posi-tions are offered—all contribu-

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photograph by Chelsea Hall

To my beloved community,

The 21st century has witnessed some of the most remarkable leaps in tech-nological innovation since mankind’s first fire. Look in any direction and you’ll have no trouble spotting a portable screen that is capable of displaying the entire database of human knowledge. Powerful processing speeds bring this boundless trove of information to you just short of instantly.

As with any advance in technology, however, the human condition has changed and adapted accordingly. Having the access to what we need to know, exactly when we need to know it has worn our collective patience thin. If a smart phone takes longer than a second to display that cute cat picture you want to show your girlfriend, the natural response is groan until it loads. In so many ways, we have been conditioned (some would even say spoiled) to expect tech-nology to operate on our time.

The exact same could be said for the consumption of mass media. If we are absent from our online communities or disregard the news headlines for just one day, we tend to feel out of the loop and uninformed. When something goes wrong at a celebrity wedding, we need to know. When microscopic debris floats to the surface of the Indian Ocean, we need to know. To think that media outlets aren’t aware of and perpetually fostering this dependency is flat out bullheaded and ignorant. All over the world, news teams are working to cover stories as quickly as possible, so as to deliver their content to those who claim to need it. As many of us know, though, this rapid speed comes at a price—ethics are compromised.

For example, over the past few months, CNN has tirelessly tried to provide the most in-depth and comprehensive coverage of the Malaysia Airlines Flight

370 crash. Wall-to-wall reporting has saturated the news network, leaving little to no airtime for other stories. In lieu of the heavy cover-age, the network has been widely criticized for doing nothing to advance the story or inform their viewership. Instead, CNN offered a disturbing amount of conjecture and speculation. Despite a month of so-called “coverage,” the plane remains presumably at the bottom of the ocean with all 227 passengers dead. End of story.

To go further than this is a 21st century travesty that does more harm than good. Who’s to say how much emotional trauma CNN’s reporting caused unto the families of those killed in the accident. Moreover, consider how much false hope CNN instilled in their viewers when they would claim a “breaking development” has occurred when a tiny piece of flotsam washed ashore. A news network as heavily relied upon as CNN has a civic duty to uphold journalistic integrity and they, without a doubt, failed to the Nth degree these past few months.

As a commitment and a promise, The Millennial’s staff is dedicated to providing the most accurate and ethical coverage of the stories that matter the most. No speculation, no presumption, and no unfounded statements. Priding ourselves in accuracy, all of our news articles have thrice been fact checked.

The Millennial has always stood as a reliable news source for those who need it the most: Generation-Y. With an objective bent, we strive to provide the best possible coverage of the stories that matter. And since we come out with a new issue only once a month, perhaps The Millennial could work to restore your greatest virtue: patience.

Yours bluely and truly,

Editor-in-ChiefThom Kilburn

Senior EditorJulius Eason

EditorRebecca MacFarland

WritersHenry MannEvan MillerHugh RoidSamantha HaubAudrey LegrandLiam Duncan David A. PertemanFrancesy Hardy

ArtistsChelsea Hall

NEWS 3 Millennial THE

Dear editor,

I am writing this letter in response to the article entitled “Quad God Bingo” that was printed in the most recent issue of the Millennial. While I admire the strides that your newspaper is taking in informing and enlightening the millennial genera-tion—to which I belong—I must say that I found the article and the activity detailed in it unbecom-ing to the nature of the newspaper.

Though the Quad Gods are known around Wright State’s campus as a provocative and often offensive group of Christians, I do not see the activity as an effective way to halt the messages of hatred that are being propagated. In fact, the bingo activity serves only to perpetuate the unkindness and disrespect that so many people associate with the words and actions of the Quad Gods. Whether or not the activity indirectly acted as a means of informing people, I would argue that it appears only to be a forum for mocking and belittling the religious beliefs of others.

Before proceeding, I would like to empha-size that I and many Christians do not support or adhere to the religious postulations of the Quad Gods. However, oftentimes ALL Christians are wrongly consolidated into the same assembly as extremists, such as the Quad Gods.

In our society today, Christians as a whole are seen as “queer-hating,” anti-feminist, close-minded, un-scientific and backward-thinking. The stereotype is only perpetuated with articles, graph-ics and activities like Quad God Bingo; with these unjust stereotypes come overwhelming prejudices against a particular group of people.

While I am hardly defending the Quad Gods’ message and manner, I am vehemently defend-ing their right to express their opinion in a public space. In fact, I will even admit that their courage to communicate and defend their beliefs to univer-sity students who are significantly in opposition to them is commendable.

Universities are supposed to present individu-als with situations in which they are challenged and forced to THINK for themselves. The Quad Gods adherence to their religious beliefs, though frightening to some, has only been expressed in WORDS in the courtyard. Rather than taunting and belittling the Quad Gods with silly games, why not engage them in a discourse? It is such unwillingness to discuss in an open and peaceful manner that leads to ACTIONS of violence and hatred. Is this what we, as the millennial genera-tion, desire for our world as we prepare to take the lead in a country currently torn by partisanship and close-mindedness?

Therefore, I issue a plea to the millennial generation—embrace kindness when approach-ing those whose beliefs and ideas differ with their own.

I encourage us all to dedicate ourselves to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

In a solitary defense of the Quad Gods, A Concerned Millennial

Michael Sam Makes History at the NFL Draft

Photo courtesy of L.G. Patterson / AP Photo

by Liam DuncanContributing Writer

At this year’s NFL draft, defensive end Michael Sam made history by

becoming the first openly gay football player to ever enter the NFL when the St. Louis Rams selected him as the 249th pick of the draft.

Despite the fact that his first season in the pros has yet to begin, it seems that Sam has also man-aged to solidify himself as one of the most famous players to be selected in the 7th round of a draft in NFL history.

Videos that capture the emotional reaction he had upon learning he had been drafted into the NFL have been circulating the social media world nonstop, and his story is still being followed relentlessly by all major sports and news networks.

TV icon Oprah Winfrey has even purchased the rights to make a reality-TV documentary about Sam’s journey from the draft to the NFL regular season. However, at the request of the St. Louis Rams, she has agreed to postpone the making of the film.

Ever since the ESPN program Outside the Lines covered Sam’s public announcement of his sexual orientation following his final sea-son at the University of Missouri, the professional football commu-

nity has been polarized about the prospect of a gay man becoming an NFL player.

Some players stated that it would be extremely uncomfort-able knowing that a teammate was gay. Many others stated that this would not be a problem for them, though they seemed right-fully concerned that having a gay player in the NFL would result in distracting media frenzy.

For his part, Sam stated that all of his teammates at Missouri knew of his sexual orientation during the full length of his tenure with the team, and this fact never impeded them from performing successfully on the field.

While most of the reactions to Sam’s selection in the draft have been quite positive, with messages of congratulations pouring in from other sports stars, celebrities and even President Obama, there have been numerous detractors as well.

For example, current Miami Dolphins defensive back Don Jones referred to the Rams’ deci-sion to draft a gay player as “hor-rible” on Twitter.

Also, numerous critics sug-gest that if Sam were straight, he wouldn’t have been selected in the draft at all.

Indeed, despite being named an All-American and Co-SEC player of the year during his last season at Missouri, where he was also the leader of a very successful defense, many NFL scouts dis-missed Sam as being undersized and too slow to play at the profes-sional level, which undoubtedly led to his very late selection.

Additionally, players around the league have expressed their frustration at the fact that Sam’s public image has seemingly guar-anteed him a spot on the Rams’ 52-player regular season roster, an achievement that most 7th round selections will have to spend years playing on practice squads to earn.

In spite of all these accusations against Sam and against his team, the Rams’ general manager Les Snead stated, “We are aware of the magnitude of the decision but at the end of the day that was a football decision [to draft Sam].”

Likewise, Sam vowed not to focus on the media circus sur-rounding him since his selection, and promises all of his energy will be focused on becoming a player that can make an impact on the NFL not only in press conferences and media reports but also on the football field.

CHANGE THE WAY OUR GENERATION CONSUMES MEDIA

The Millennial is seeking motivated and politically driven writers, artists, photographers.

themillennialnewspaper@gmail.com

“All of his teammates at Missouri knew of his sexual

orientation during his tenure with the team, and it never

impeded them from performing successfully on the field.”

NEWS4 Millennial THE

Cuba Enters Global Economy— story continued from cover—

In addition, Russian ITAR-TASS News Agency reported that in De-cember of last year, Russia reached

an agreement with Cuba that resulted in Russia pardoning 90% of Cuba’s $35 billion debt to Russia, leaving only a $3.5 billion remaining balance.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated, “The part of the debt that isn’t written off—and that’s 10% of the total—will be reinvested in the Cuban economy on agreement between the two sides. We’re interested in making these investments productive to the maxi-mum.”

Russian energy companies such as Zarubezhneft, Rosneft and Inter RAO are already hoping to expand business into Cuba.

Following in the footsteps of

Russia and Mexico, France is seeking to establish an economic connection with the newly-opened Republic. At the end of last April, French Foreign Minister and former Prime Minister, Laurent Fabius, made a historic visit to Raul Castro in Havana to further improve the countries’ mutual ties. This was the first visit Cuba had received from French diplomats in thirty-one years.

“We want to push forward our rela-tions in the area of culture, education, economics and politics,” said Fabius.

“Of course, we have different points of view on certain issues, which don’t stop us from exchanging perspectives and moving forward.”

Fabius also met with Cuban counter-part Bruno Rodriguez and other Cuban cabinet members. France already had

sixty firms operating in Cuba with in-ternational trade valued at $388 million in 2013.

Since the initial visits by foreign minister Fabius, France has continued expansion of economic relations with Cuba. According to the Cuban news, on May 6 Cuba was inaugurated to the XXXIV International Tourism Fair, furthering their ties with the outside world. Cuban Minister of Tourism, Manuel Marrero, pledged that Cuba will continue to broaden the island’s tourism offerings to include sustainable recreational activities that will promote additional foreign investment. Cuba has already experienced a 5% increase in tourism since the start of negotia-tions with the European Union this past winter.

The same day of Cuba’s inaugura-tion to the International Tourism Fair, airlines Cubana de Aviación and Air France signed an agreement of commer-cial cooperation in order to strengthen travel between France and Cuba.

Direct flights from France will be extended to other Cuban cities, such as Las Antillas, Santiago, Santa Clara and Holguín. Increased number of flights between Havana and Paris are expected to further bolster French tourism and eventually branch out to other Carib-bean islands.

Led by France, other nations are continuing to improve political and economic ties with Cuba.

The U.S. still stands by the embar-go, which in turn will continue to block

American businesses from benefiting from the looming economic boom in Cuba. It may be in the best interest of the U.S. to take a lesson from France and conduct trade while agreeing to disagree politically.

As Cuba opens up to European trade, only time will tell if it will be able to maintain a communist state.

According to the Human Rights Watch, Cuba remains one of the only Latin American countries to repress groups and individuals that criticize their government. It is possible that more interaction with the European world will increase Cuban citizens’ social awareness and political desire for democracy.

Already Cuba is catching up with the modern era and is hosting the VII Conference Against Homophobia and Transphobia from May 5 through May 24 in order to ensure the protection of individuals who do not identify as heterosexual.

A new work code has also been established in Cuba that protects against discrimination in the work place based on sexual orientation and identity.

After witnessing pardoned debt, for-eign investment and civil rights strides, the world is waiting to see if the Cuban populace will overcome economic hardship and finally gain a democratic voice in their own government—even if the U.S. refuses to participate in the advance.

Boko Haram’s Major Attacks in 2014

April 10th, DikwaApril 10th, Kala Balge

April 14th, AbujaApril 14th, ChibokMay 4th, Liman Kara

March 1st, MaiduguriMarch 1st, Mainok

February 25th, Buni YadiFebruary 19th, BamaFebruary 16th, Izge RanaFebruary 2nd, WajirkoFebruary 2nd, Konduga

200 Dead

276 Missing

11 Missing

71 Dead

60 Dead

39 Dead

51 Dead

8 Dead

59 Dead

60 Dead

90 Dead

39 Dead

4 Dead

May 5th, Borno

Boko Haram Sows Instability— story continued from cover—

Amnesty International, a London-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the global exposure and prevention of human rights violations, reported on May 9, nearly a month after the kidnap-pings, that the country’s security forces had knowledge of the attack four hours before it occurred.

According to sources interviewed by the nonprofit and reported by ABC News, local civilian patrols in a neigh-boring village set off a chain of alarm calls when they witnessed unidentified armed men on motorbikes heading in the direction of Chibok. While officials warned the 15 soldiers guarding the local government area of the impending attack, no mutual aid was sent and the extremists ambushed them before mak-ing their way to the school.

“The fact that Nigerian secu-rity forces knew about Boko Haram’s impending raid, but failed to take the immediate action needed to stop it amounts to a gross dereliction of Nigeria’s duty to protect citizens, who remain sitting ducks for such attacks,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty Interna-tional Africa’s director of research and advocacy, in a press statement.

Since the nonprofit’s report was made public, the United States and the United Kingdom have revealed that the Nigerian government’s neglect to act quickly goes further, as President Jonathan refused both countries’ initial and immediate offers for aid in the first few days after the abductions.

The United Kingdom first stated their willingness to assist via a press release on April 15, the day after the attacks, and a formal offer of aid on April 18. U.S. Secretary of State John

Kerry said that the American embassy and staff agencies were in touch with Nigeria “from day one” of the crisis, as reported by the Washington Post.

Yet it was only May 6 and 7 that President Jonathan accepted help from the U.K., U.S., France, and China. Ac-cording to the U.S. Defense and State Departments, there are at least 26 U.S. officials assigned to the situation, in-cluding 18 military personnel, four State Department officials, and three F.B.I. officials, as reported by ABC News. The United States military later confirmed that they are using Predator drones to try and locate the abducted girls.

The attacks have prompted a strong global social media campaign, with the Twitter hashtag “#BringBackOurGirls” being used by First Lady Michelle Obama, among many others. The phrase was first spoken by Oby Ezekwesili, vice president of the World Bank for Africa, in a speech April 23 where she called the Nigerian government to action. The campaign led to physical protests both in Nigeria and globally, which in turn pressured President Jona-than to react to the attacks after weeks of silence.

Boko Haram released a second video on May 12, this one revealing over 100 of the kidnapped girls kneeling in an un-disclosed location, dressed in full veils and chanting, and Shekau appearing and offering to trade the girls for the group’s prisoners. Officials say that President Jonathan has ruled out negotiations for their release, as reported by the BBC.

Two days later, residents in three northern Nigerian villages repelled an attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters. An eyewitness told the BBC

that about 200 of the militants had been killed in the fighting in Borno State, and that the residents had formed a vigilante group in the wake of their government’s insufficient support.

The fight came exactly a year after President Jonathan declared the north-eastern region in a state of emergency via state radio and television networks, and promised to send more troops to Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states to fight Boko Haram and other insurgents.

“It would appear that there is a systematic effort by insurgents and terrorists to destabilize the Nigerian state,” Jonathan said in the statement, as reported by the Associated Press.

On May 17, the Daily Post Nige-ria reported that 10 Chinese workers were kidnapped in Kuzuri Village in

Gwoza State by armed men suspected of belonging to Boko Haram. The same day, news outlets reported that French President François Hollande hosted a summit in Paris for West African lead-ers to meet and agree on a global and regional action plan. Leaders from Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad joined Presidents Hol-lande and Jonathan and representatives from the United States, United King-dom, and European Union. The West African leaders pledged to share intel-ligence and coordinate action against Boko Haram. To read further into The Millennial’s coverage of Boko Haram, visit our website at

themillennialnewspaper.com

NEWS 5 Millennial THE

A University of Tennessee student party that spilled out into the residential area ended with a 21-year-old student being choked unconscious by a sheriff’s deputy on April 26, 2014. Jared Dotson was confronted by police for drinking in public at 23rd Street and Laurel Avenue. Witnesses say Dotson complied with the police and calmly allowed them to arrest him, while the police report claimed he resisted arrest. Freelance photographer John Messner captured Officer Frank Phillips, 47, choking Dotson with both hands, while two other police officers held him in handcuffs. Photos show Dotson falling to his knees unconscious. After photos of the incident gained media attention, Officer Phillips was fired for excessive use of force, following an investigation. However, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports that Phillips has since been granted early retirement and will not face charges.

Citizens have the right to record without fear of arrest. Cameras can only be seized by police for evidence if it was being used in the commission of a crime. Warrantless seizures are allowed only if police have probable cause that there are exigent circumstances involved. Despite this, police in Lima, Ohio tased and arrested Michael Davis on April 26 when he used his mobile phone to record the traffic stop and arrest of a person on drug charges. Upon finding crack cocaine in the vehicle and arresting the man, police demanded Davis’ camera as evidence. Davis refused, saying it wasn’t his job to do the work of police, and claimed First Amendment rights in documenting police activity. After attempting to walk away, Davis was grabbed, chased down by police and tased before his phone was confiscated. Davis was charged with resisting arrest and obstructing official busi-ness, and he plans to fight the charges.

Officer Casey M. Ortiz, 34, was arrested by his own police department in Cape Coral, Florida and stands accused of a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl. A report back in February by the girl’s parents claimed their daughter was having sex with an unidentified Cape Coral police officer. The teen was interviewed and identified Ortiz as the officer involved, and he was subsequently relieved of duty. Ortiz met the teenage girl when responding to a call at her home, and authorities say Ortiz has since picked her up from her home three times in his police car. In-formation found in Ortiz’s mobile phone matched details the teenager provided. Ortiz was jailed in Lee County on two counts of sexual assault with a victim 16 years of age, with bond set at $50,000.

A jury has declared that criminal charges cannot be filed against a Texas police officer who tased an unarmed 17-year-old high school student. Noe Niño de Rivera remains in the hospital, having spent 52 days in a medi-cally-induced coma that has resulted in lasting brain damage. Police were called to Cedar Creek High School in Bastrop, Texas to break up a fight between two female students. Rivera stepped in to calm one of the girls, prompting one of the deputies, Randy McMillan, to tase him. Rivera’s body slumped to the ground, his head smacking against the floor. A Texas grand jury handed in a “No Bill” ruling, meaning there wasn’t enough evidence to warrant charges against the deputies. Rivera is currently receiving care in a rehabilitation center, and the teen’s family has filed a federal civil rights suit.

Ensuring A Fair Share:An Economic Peek at Fair Tradeby Henry MannEconomics Columnist

Embrace the power of the bean. Drink coffee. Do good. This tagline, taken from the fair trade

coffee, Thousand Hills, sums up the current frenzy to buy products that have been produced, bought and sold through fair trade markets.

Fair trade is often mistakenly com-pared and contrasted with free trade, an economic policy that has been a characteristic of the U.S. for centuries and is widely practiced around the globe. Free trade is the exchange of goods or services in which both sides of the trade freely engage without interfer-ence by the government or other parties. Economists tend to agree that the more economic freedom a country enjoys, the more it prospers over time.

To clarify, fair trade once referred to policies in which the government im-posed regulations or limitations on the amount of international trade conducted between the domestic country and its international trade partners. These policies were known as protectionism and have dotted the history of the U.S. and other countries. The general argu-ment for this type of fair trade revolves around a defense of domestic workers whose jobs may be threatened by for-eign products and workers. “Sometimes foreign competition has driven Ameri-can producers out of the marketplace; more often, however, U.S. firms have responded by becoming more competi-tive,” says economist and philosopher Jay W. Richards.

In the modern context, fair trade is best defined by the authors of The Ethical Consumer as “products pur-chased under equitable trading agree-ments, involving cooperative rather than competitive trading principles, insuring a fair price and fair working conditions for producers and suppli-ers.” The goal of the fair trade initiative, spearheaded by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO), is to guarantee that the produc-ers of commodities, such as coffee, tea, bananas and sugar, are receiving more of the profits from the price paid by the consumers than they would in a free market. In order to accomplish this, fair trade products are sold at an established higher price than their competitors. The prevailing mindset is that the extra cost, which is set according to an estimate of how much the fair trade growers need to earn in order to reach a decent standard of living, is being funneled straight into the hands of the producers.

Many proponents of fair trade cite that the practice is a means of making the market more just and equitable for all of its participants, most especially the workers in developing countries. To begin with, the WFTO and the FLO seek to offer business development and training as well as establish industries that are environmentally-friendly and sustainable. Luis Fernando Vásquez, a coffee grower in Costa Rica on a fair

trade farm, shares, “Before, a tree used to be an obstacle. Now, we are coming to understand that the tree plays a role, and it can coexist with our commercial coffee plantation.” The switch from years of implementing slash-and-burn farming techniques as well as apply-ing pesticides to the crops comes with a cost. Thus, the extra cost for the fair trade products is delivered back to the producer communities in order to improve working conditions, wages and agricultural practices. As a part of a fair trade farm, Vásquez earns about 15 cents more per pound of coffee produced and sold. Though the environ-mental impacts of the farmers’ methods are not necessarily the focus of the fair trade cooperatives, they are a part of the long-term goal.

However, even the proponents of fair trade acknowledge its drawbacks.

“If you count on everyone to [buy fair-trade] because of their ideological commitments, you’re going to be stuck in a niche market that doesn’t serve a broad range of people,” said Matt Warning, a development economist and professor at the University of Puget Sound, where he specializes in issues involving fair trade.

Fair trade exchanges operate in the same “markets of empathy” as charities, which means that fair trade relies on the altruistic motivation of the consumers as opposed to the economic principles of supply and demand.

In a free market economy, drop-ping prices alert the producer that the good or service is no longer in demand. With this information, the producer can choose to reallocate resources, time and capital in order to adjust and increase the value of the good or service. How-ever, because fair trade exchanges oper-ate in a separate market sphere, they lack this information, which prevents them from responding to the changing consumer demand. Consumers may pay higher set prices for fair trade products, such as coffee, which in turn encour-ages farmers to enter or stay in the market when it may not be in their long-term advantage to do so. Bearing this is mind, many economists argue that fair trade causes prices to rise without benefiting the poor in the long-term.

Additionally, the small percentage of farmers—for example, only 3% of coffee farmers benefit from fair trade practices—who are served by the fair trade initiatives are favored over the significant population of farmers who lack access to such assistance. Arnab K. Basu, a visiting fellow at Cornell University, conducted a study on fair trade coffee initiatives and noted how difficult it can be for farmers to even be eligible to benefit from the program.

Thus, before reaching for the WFTO-labeled products at the grocery store or coffee shop, be sure to inform yourself on the nature of the fair trade initiative being supported. Challenge the organizations that are establish-ing and overseeing the projects. Ask yourself: What are the most effective means of serving the poor and reducing poverty in developing countries?

NEWS6 Millennial THE

Photograph courtesy of Chelsea Hall Photography LLC

FDA to Regulate E-Cigarettes— story continued from cover—

The liquid nicotine solution comes in a wide array of flavors. From fruity flavors like mango and

apple, to more obscure flavors like banana nut bread or Dr. Pepper, the nicotine solution appeals to consumers of all preferences—even those who still crave tobacco and menthol flavors.

“Blueberry was the first flavor I got into. For whatever reason, it just struck me,” said Tom Sergent, manager at Vaporcast, an e-cigarette retail store in Centerville, Ohio. “I remember think-ing, ‘I can really do this.’ I haven’t touched a cigarette since—a real rags to riches story.”

Sergent quit smoking November 21, 2012 after a seven-year affair with cigarettes.

“I hear the same story from custom-ers almost every single day. They’ll say, ‘Since getting this thing, I haven’t bought a single pack of cigarettes.’ The story holds up and the verdict is in: e-cigarettes help you quit smoking.”

Sergent said that he has even seen customers switch from cigarettes to electronic cigarettes at the request of a doctor.

Stores like Vaporcast that specialize in e-cigarette gear and liquid nicotine have seen a tremendous boom in busi-ness over the past few years. E-cigarette popularity has recently soared not only because they have been marketed to be a substantially healthier alternative to cigarettes, but also because few loca-tions forbid the smoking of e-cigarettes indoors.

“The e-cigarette industry is highly competitive right now,” said Sergent. “When the media calls it the ‘Wild, Wild West,’ they aren’t kidding. Va-porcast was the first e-cigarette store, but now they’re popping up all over the place. On top of that, the market is continuously putting out new technol-ogy and flavors to increase the smoker’s enjoyment of e-cigarettes.”

While the accessibility and de-creased health risks of e-cigarettes have enticed over one-fifth of adult smok-ers to at least try them, the face of the industry will soon change. The FDA has announced proposed rules that would treat e-cigarettes like tobacco cigarettes with regard to marketing and test-ing, including age restrictions barring

sales to minors and FDA reviews of each and every product.

The proposals to regulate the e-cigarettes are parallel to its ongoing efforts to cut national tobacco use.

“The FDA’s regulations won’t impact the business end of things too much,” said Sergent. “They’re really af-ter the people who make the e-liquid—they want to make sure what goes in the e-cigarettes is okay to consume.”

To restrict the use of flavors, or at least limit their contents, the FDA must establish a factual record that they pose a health risk for consumers—something the scientific community has struggled to provide. Research has shown that e-cigarettes trump tobacco cigarettes in terms of decreasing health risks, but to what extent? Are they completely harm-less? The debate rages on.

Propylene glycol is the primary ingredient for the nicotine solution as it constitutes up to 92% of the liquid. According to Sergent, this chemical serves a flavor-bonding purpose and is sometimes found in baby wipes, cosmetic products, asthma inhalers and other common products. A trace amount of vegetable glycerine is also in the liq-uid, so as to produce a visible cloud of vapor. The third ingredient is nicotine.

If the FDA’s new rules are imple-mented, companies that use variations of these ingredients to make their own blend of liquid nicotine (of which there are dozens of thousands) would have to apply for FDA approval. Currently, however, companies are allowed to keep their products on the market.

Some experts, like Bonnie Herzog, an analyst at Wells Fargo Securities, say that too much regulation could stifle smaller e-cigarette producers and subsequently fuel the tobacco industry, as e-cigarette consumers turn back to their old ways.

“FDA regulation benefits the en-trenched players,” said Herzog, refer-ring to Lorillard, R.J. Reynolds and Altria, the three biggest tobacco compa-nies that produce e-cigarettes.

While the FDA’s decision to regulate the industry is still pending, businesses, residential areas, and locations across the country have moved to impose their own restrictions.

Around Wright State University’s main campus, one can see a number of students walking around with an e-cigarette any any given point during the day. Presently, the university’s smoking policy recognizes only cigarettes, pipes and cigars. According to Casey Babbitt, since e-cigarettes are relatively new, Wright State hasn’t had the chance to pose a rule on them—yet.

Casey Babbitt was a former senator for Wright State’s Student Government, representing the Boonshoft School of Medicine.

“My research has shown that, al-though there aren’t as many carcinogens produced by e-cigarettes as there are by real cigarettes, they still produce some,” said Babbitt. “If these carcinogens are consumed in a closed environment like a classroom, it can negatively influence students’ abilities to learn.”

Babbit’s push to ban the indoor use of e-cigarettes at Wright State has recently caught momentum.

“My resolution to add e-cigarettes to Wright State’s smoking policy has just

recently passed the faculty senate,” she said. “Soon, the resolution will see the president’s cabinet. From there, it hope-fully will be implemented before fall semester 2014.”

Amid scrutiny such as Babbitt’s de-sired ban, e-cigarettes remain a flourish-ing trend that has caught the attention

of millions of smokers and nonsmokers alike. Everyday, the industry generates a monumental amount of money from those attempting to quit an old habit or those who simply want to join the fad and take an occasional puff.

Until concrete, empirical and peer-reviewed research rears its head, the FDA cannot proceed with much, if any, regulation. Like all new products, e-cigarettes haven’t been in existence long enough to observe any noticeable long-term health risks. For the time being, the debate over regulating the sale, marketing and consumption of e-cigarettes will continue to be nothing but smoke and mirrors.

“I hear the same story from customers almost every

single day. They’ll say, ‘Since getting this thing, I haven’t

bought a single pack of cigarettes.’ The story holds

up and the verdict is in: e-cigarettes help you quit

smoking.”

“If these carcinogens are consumed in a closed

environment like a classroom, it can negatively influence

students’ abilities to learn.”

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FEATURES 7 Millennial THE

Podcasts & Preachers

The bearded tag-team serve up faith and self-inflicted humor, garnished with recommendations from their own beer and liquor enthusiasm. Compared to other “religious” shows, they promote an inclusive message that respects all other religions and backgrounds and encourages unity as opposed to fueling

theological, race and economic divi-sions.

So far, Sandlin and Henson have covered a variety of progressive topics ranging from gay rights to the Cosmos and anti-intellectualism to modern rac-ism in pop culture to the legalization of marijuana.

From their debates over the inter-pretation of scripture in their lectionary casts, it is evident they encourage criti-cal thinking as opposed to just top-down preaching. Henson mentioned, “I am a pastor, and I still actively question my faith. If we have all the answers, then what’s the point?”

The most uplifting message I gath-ered from listening to their podcasts was the encouragement for unity through social activism over religious identifica-tion.

When asked about their views of why Jesus came to earth and the “S-word,” or salvation, Henson responded, “Jesus came to show us how to live, a way of life that lines up with who God is. It is about standing up for and speaking out in solidarity with people who are often oppressed and marginal-ized.” Salvation is an ongoing process of restoring a relationship with God and mankind—as opposed to the single prayer sometimes presented by evan-gelicals.

In Sandlin’s words, “I believe Jesus came to teach us how to love each other, and that happy little circumstance grows us closer to God… It’s that simple for me.”

For more laughs, brew reviews and a very current and progressive perspective on the world we live in today, please listen and subscribe to The Moonshine Jesus Show at http://moonshinejesus.podbean.com/ or via iTunes.

by Samantha HaubStaff Writer

This past February, Mark Sandlin and Reverend David Henson produced their first podcast of

the Moonshine Jesus Show. The faith-based podcast examines

pop culture, politics and even a little “best” and “worst” Christian news of the week as they chat over a couple of strong beverages.

Since the start of their show, they have added hashtag games, such as #StuffWhiteChristiansSay, which has gained a life of its own on Twitter, as well as guest musician David Wimbish, who performed tracks from his upcom-ing album.

Mark Sandlin is a Presbyterian Min-ister, co-founder of The Christian Left, and writer for an online blog, The God Article and The Huffington Post. David Henson, the journalist-turned clergy-man, now serves as a pastor in the Epis-copal Church and blogs at Patheos.com. After meeting through social media, the two pastors walked into a bar and devel-oped the idea for their show, scribbling the first outline on a beer napkin.

The show was originally named

“Two Beards and a Brew”. However, both are straight and happily married, so they decided upon The Moonshine Jesus Show.

Their popularity quickly mounted, and in the first couple of weeks iTunes had featured the show as one of the New and Noteworthy podcasts for religion. They now have 25 episodes posted to Podbean and iTunes and boast over 29k hits on the Podbean site.

According to Henson, the secret of the show’s success lies in their can-did conversations recorded live; often discussion topics are only settled upon minutes before recording.

The exquisitely composed music throughout the show along with Mark’s editing skills from a past IT career combine to make it a well-polished pod-cast production. It is possible that the immediate popularity among listeners is a sign of a progressive wind sweeping some Christian churches.

Meditation of the Month:Mahayana Buddhismby Thomas KilburnEditor-in-Chief

The West notoriously miscon-strues the hallowed precepts of Buddhism. Strict veganism,

constant meditation, pacifism and shaved heads are often the first things that come to the uninformed mind.

However, to over 500 million practitioners around the globe, Buddhism is much more than these things: it is a religion that provides the toolkit to eliminate suffering and ignorance, curb the ego, and unlock the secrets to happiness and universal understanding.

To begin to understand Buddhism, we must first turn our attention to the Three Characteristics of existence, as taught by the Buddha: all aspects of the world are impermanent, every-thing conjures up suffering and dis-satisfaction, and that all phenomena lack any underlying essence, self, or soul.

The characteristics of imperma-nence, suffering and no-self operate in what the Buddha calls samsara, which literally translates to “wan-dering on,” referring to the sensory world in which one is born, dies, and wanders on to be reborn.

When one realizes the true nature of samsara and its transitory and suffering-inducing qualities, and overcomes his or her attach-ment to worldly objects (like oneself, friends, family, and possessions), that individual will have achieved enlightenment and entered into Nirvana.

Contrary to mainstream thought, however, Nirvana is not a place one reaches similar to the Christian con-ception of Heaven. Instead, Nirvana is a state of enlightened being that one achieves in understanding Bud-dhist precepts and the truth of reality. As such, Nirvana is the cessation of samsara, the cycle of rebirth.

So how exactly is Mahayana Buddhism different than other tradi-tions? Literally translating to “great vehicle,” Mahayana places a greater emphasis on the role of the bodhisat-tva than Theravada or Vajrayana Buddhism.

In the Mahayana tradition, a bod-hisattva is the ideal Buddhist prac-titioner and has trail-blazed the path toward enlightenment.

However, unlike the Theravada conception of the bodhisattva, the

Mahayana bodhisattva doesn’t men-tally depart to Nirvana. Rather, this enlightened individual hangs around the sensory world (samsara) to altru-istically help others on their paths to enlightenment.

Another key component to Ma-hayana Buddhism is the concept of upaya, or skill in means. Upaya is employed by the bodhisattva to adapt the Buddha’s teachings to best fit the individual. In essence, practitioners may use their own specific methods or techniques that fit the situation in order to achieve enlightenment. For example, a bodhisattva would show a farmer the Buddhist way by tying the doctrines into agriculture-related teachings.

Sunyata is an additional ele-ment that plays an integral role in Mahayana Buddhism. Translating to “emptiness,” sunyata expounds on the idea of impermanence. According to Mahayana doctrines, everything ex-ists without an essence because of the transitory nature of the world.

This means that each and every thing we see and experience has been conditioned by the past. The past, even, has been conditioned by what came before it.

Bearing this in mind, that all things are causally con-

ditioned, one can easily assert that each

moment we live through has arisen dependently upon the previ-ous moment. As such, each moment lacks an essence and is

therefore empty, or possessing

sunyata. While this concept seems relatively

complicated, it is a crucial component to not just Mahayana Buddhism, but all sects of the religion as a whole.

For some, looking at the world as being empty or full of suffering can induce great unhappiness or even nihilism.

For Buddhists, however, these concepts allow them to best navigate the complex world in which we live.

Their spirituality allows them to live with minimal attachment to mate-rial possessions, to lead a moral life, to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and to foster wisdom and understanding.

Buddhism teaches that happiness is not something that can be bought or owned. Rather, it challenges us to turn inward and discover the happi-ness that ultimately resides in each and every one of us.

“I am a pastor, and I still actively question my faith. If we have all the answers,

then what’s the point?”

“It is about standing up for and speaking out in solidarity with people who are often oppressed

and marginalized.”

FEATURES8 Millennial THE

Relishing Life through Literature:A Testament to Gabriel García Márquez

by David A. PetremanContributing Writer

Here’s one thing that could never fit into our imagination: the loss of Latin America’s best prose

writer, and its greatest proponent of expanding our awareness.

The “boomers” are all gone now, save one, who was not García Márquez’s friend—Peruvian Mario Var-gas Llosa, who many years ago punched García Márquez because of a complete-ly innocuous remark the latter made.

The “Boom” refers to the grand explosion of the Latin American novel during the years 1962-1977 when the entire planet was amazed, tantalized and mesmerized by the outpouring of absolutely wonderful, if experimental, novels being produced by Mexico’s Carlos Fuentes, Peru’s Mario Vargas Llosa, Chile’s José Donoso, Argentina’s Julio Cortázar and Colombia’s Gabriel García Márquez. Many critics also in-clude Mexico’s Juan Rulfo as a precur-sor to the movement.

García Márquez’s death did not come as a total surprise, since he con-tracted lymphatic cancer in 1999.

This cancer was overcome, but after it he began writing his memoirs. His death is a huge loss. Several of my former students contacted me to express their sorrow, their knowing he was my favorite prose writer from Latin America.

Everyone knows that “One Hundred Years of Solitude” was his greatest

work. It was the first of his literature that I read while I was in graduate school. During those magical years at the University of Iowa, the now-famous T.C. Boyle, as a member of Iowa’s world reknowned International Writers Workshop, wrote the horrific but great short story called “Bloodfall”, highly influenced by García Márquez’s magi-cal realism.

Many years later, I sent a copy in English of “One Hundred Years of Soli-tude” (by the way, García Márquez’s translator, Gregory Rabassa, is the world’s best from Spanish to English) to my sister and told her to read it. A few days later, she wrote and told me, “Dave, this book has changed my life.” After marriage, work and raising two children, she decided, in her fifties, to enroll in the university to pursue a college degree. A few years later she graduated with a degree in History. This is the magic of García Márquez.

More than anything, this Nobel Prize-winning (1982) writer encour-ages his readers to be open to multiple realities, to dig deeply and utilize our imaginations, and to not deny ourselves of dreams.

Sure, everyone knows him as the world’s leading proponent of the literary movement known as “magical realism”, but “Gabo”, as many knew him, always insisted that he only described Latin American reality as it is, as he saw it. He always encouraged his readers to see their own reality, also as it is, but to allow themselves to really see it, in all

of its forms, complete with its various levels, the magic within it, the spiritual within it, the irreality of reality.

He insisted that his readers tap into their imaginations, which many have ignored, or lost, or built a barrier around or closed their minds to its possibilities. In today’s super-technological world, human imagination—and instinct as well—isn’t even an after-thought for many people, and this is a tragic conse-quence of our buying into the over-use of that technology.

Gabriel García Márquez’s genius produces wonder, opens up the mind to “different” realities, magical or not, and inspires us to be mentally free.

How else could the discovery of ice be the most astonishing thing ever for an entire town? How else could an entire village experience each other’s imagina-tions come alive and their dreams soar because of the unexpected presence of an unknown drowned man? What does a rain that lasts four years, eleven months and two days do to the mind?

At the April 21, 2014 memorial to Gabriel García Márquez in Mexico City, held at Mexico City’s Palace of Fine Arts, a schoolteacher named Nelly Hernández stated: “Gabo was a water-shed in my life. He taught me to relish life through literature.”

I have one question. And its answer. How could Gabriel García Márquez’s very death cause him to come alive again in the world’s eyes? Read one of his books and find out.

Beefy to Beastlyby Hugh RoidFitness Columnist

This issue, I’m going to talk to you about losing weight. No, not putting your dumbbells

down and forgetting them. I’m talk-ing about getting shredded.

One pound of fat is equivalent to approximately 3,500 calories. To burn fat, you must maintain a caloric deficit. I use the calorie calculator from either freedieting.com or calo-riecount.about.com to determine my minimal caloric needs.

To warm up, let’s with some easy stuff. Instead of soda, drink water—it has no calories or macro-nutritional content.

Running before breakfast or sunrise—when few are awake—aids in weight loss by jump-starting your metabolism in addition to burning those obvious calories. Towards the end of your run, burn out your energy and muscles in the final 30 seconds. This extra effort holds your heart and energy consumption at an elevated rate after running.

Plenty of fat-loss supplements exist—however, their effectiveness is often dubious. They’re certainly useless without exertion. One fat-loss supplement I’ve heard good things about is MusclePharm’s Shred Matrix.

Consuming ephedrine and caf-feine increases your metabolic rate and suppresses hunger. However, ephedrine and caffeine are stimulants and vasoconstrictors—as such, they come with all the risks.

The most extreme weight loss I’ve ever done is ketosis. I lost 15 pounds in a month (160 to 145) dur-ing the 2013-2014 holiday season thanks to ketosis. It changes your body from a carbohydrate-burning metabolism to a primarily fat-burning metabolism by cutting out carbohydrates from your diet.

The induction phase of ketosis is particularly painful. It’s typically around 2-4 days, depending on your existing muscle glycogen and blood sugar as well as your enthusiasm for diet and exercise. Your diet becomes extremely boring during the first phase. No bread, no fruit, no milk. You will primarily consume leafy green vegetables, meats and some cheese for the minimum fats you need to maintain your hormones. Think: Atkins. Also: Starvation.

As your body and brain flood with ketones, you have headaches, brain haze and fatigue. Once past induction, your body adapts to keto-sis and the weight begins to fall off as your new metabolism suppresses your hunger and consumes only fat.

When you work out, drop a set from what you would usually do, or you will lose substantial amounts of muscle mass. Recall that the goal is cutting, not gaining.

Remember: You’re always faster than a couch potato. Happy cutting and joyful shredding!

Photograph courtesy of Isabel Steva Hernandez/Colita/Corbis

EDITORIALS 9 Millennial THE

by Frances HardyContributing Writer

For the past nine months, I’ve shared most of my breakfasts, lunches and din-ners with fifth graders. With demands for milk to be passed or requests for second helpings, a dining hall of 100 gets noisy quickly. The group of stu-dents with whom I eat changes weekly as they flow through the Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center.

Usually, I observe my group of students and let them carry on their own conversations about TV shows I’ve never heard of, roller coasters I would never dare to ride or the latest drama between their peers. Some picky kids only want the top layer of lasagna with cheese and noodles, others devour all of the tater tots and don’t leave enough for the rest of the table and still, others refuse to eat at all.

The kids that roll through the Glen for the residential programs come from a myriad of communities, both near and far. They are as geographically wide-ranging as they are economically diverse.

Each student comes to the dining room table with a very different opinion of the food we serve each meal, and I wonder if this might have something to do with where they come from.

Some complain about the lack of choice in the meal—there is usually one main dish and one to two sides.

Others enter the dining hall with mouths agape at the amount of food on the table.

I have noticed that economic diver-sity is reflected in the children through their varying attitudes toward the food that is set before them. Some students comment on how much better it is than what they receive at school, while oth-ers can’t wait to get back to their salad, soup and sandwich bar that offer many more options and combinations.

This leads me to wonder: What re-ally causes these differences in attitudes toward food? Do students really feel differently about food and make dif-ferent food choices if their school has enough money to offer a salad bar every day?

In 2009, the American Journal of Public Health published an article reporting that students attending schools within half a mile of a fast food restau-rant were more likely to be overweight as well as consume less vegetables and more soda than students who were further away from fast food eateries in California. However, another study funded by the National Institute of Health, found no correlation for school-aged children between the proximity to grocery stores and healthy weight and the accessibility of fast food chains and obesity.

We encourage our students to waste as little food as possible—to appreciate all the resources (time, money, energy) that go into producing, transporting, buying and preparing the food we serve.

Students are given the autonomy to choose which food to put on their own plate and are encouraged to eat all of what they serve themselves. If the goal is reached, with food waste from personal plates under a certain number of cups, a raucous cheer ensues, and the students are rewarded with the oppor-tunity to embarrass adults in the dining hall. Some students rise to the chal-lenge of “No Wasted Food,” passing completely clean plates to be taken to the dishwasher. Others don’t jump on the bandwagon, though I think this has less to do with their economic back-grounds—it seems that privileged and underprivileged kids alike can waste food or be model earth stewards.

According to the EPA, the United States wastes about 35 million tons of food each year. This figure represents about 21 percent of all of our solid

waste. From a different perspective, American households have been re-ported to waste from 14 to 25 percent of the groceries they buy. It’s a hard con-cept to get across to a fifth grader—that their little bit of wasted soup or grilled cheese has an impact on our collective waste. However, it’s an important mes-sage to get across, and I like to think that our wasted food challenge encour-ages these kids to start thinking about how they can have a positive effect on our natural resources.

Food deserts are communities with limited access to affordable and healthy foods. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where food deserts lie in the commu-nities surrounding Yellow Springs in Greene County, where our outdoor edu-cation center resides, but this area is not exempt from the plight of food deserts. In 2011, the Yellow Spring News wrote an article about a food desert in Fair-born, a city that borders Yellow Spring to the west.

According to the USDA Food Environment Atlas, there is one grocery store in Greene Country for every 7,142 residents. This means that there are fewer grocery stores in Greene County, compared to the rest of Ohio, which has one grocery store per every 5,555 Ohioans on average.

These are not good numbers, so it is not surprising that according to the ar-ticle “10 States with the Deadliest Eat-ing Habits,” Ohio ranked number eight. To actually quantify access to food, it is necessary to look at “microenviron-ments,” analyzing how close and acces-sible grocery stores are to families, how

available fresh and healthy options are and if the food is affordable.

About a year ago, New York Times reporter Gina Kolata wrote that the jury was still out as to whether food deserts correlate with obesity in the United States. On the one hand, a study by the Public Policy Institute of California found that poor neighborhoods had two to three times more fast food restaurants and corner stores compared to wealthy neighborhoods, but the study in Cali-fornia also found that the low-income communities had close to twice as many large grocery stores per square mile.

It is clear that more research is needed to understand how to promote healthy diets for kids as well as how food deserts and the proximity of fast food restaurants contribute to the plague of obesity in the U.S..

I would argue that along with pro-moting healthy eating habits, it is our duty to instill a sustainable eating ethos. Food deserts are only relevant as com-parisons between places with abundant healthy food and those places without.

If we happen to have access to nutritious and affordable meals, let us at least be responsible enough to not waste it away and to teach this ethos to our youth.

A week spent at outdoor school won’t necessarily change a student forever, but hopefully their excitement about “No Wasted Food” will last lon-ger than just their time at the Glen when they are rewarded with adults singing “I’m a Little Teapot” or proposing to a turtle.

Secession Solutionby Circe CiceroContributing Writer

When an association becomes intol-erable, it should be dissolved—wheth-er it is a couple’s abusive relationship or a subservient culture, region or people. Secession, whether by an indi-vidual or as a group, is an exercise of the right to voluntary association.

Governments are not sacred institutions administrated by gods echoing wisdom from the hallowed halls of gleaming capitals. They are political bodies composed of associ-ated individual mortals. Government is an abstraction—much like corporate personhood.

There are a number of political bodies currently discussing secession at the moment. Polling in Catalán repeatedly shows the majority voting in favor of secession from Spain with 52-57 percent for and 20-36 percent

against the separation. This is due to cultural, linguistic and financial reasons. A date for the independence referendum was set by the government of Catalonia on November 9, 2014, despite protests from Madrid. To deny Catalán’s right to secession is Spain asserting its right to domination.

Sardinia and Venice in Italy and Scotland in the United Kingdom are home to active move-ments pursuing secession for primarily financial reasons. “Financial reasons” sound greedy, but remember that the food in your belly, the clothes on your back and the roof over your head are

typically paid for using money you have worked for.

In the United Kingdom and Greece, secession from the European Union (EU) is a popular topic, as evidenced by the electoral gains of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and Golden Dawn (Greece). UKIP’s front page states that 75 percent of the UK’s laws are now made in Brussels; Golden Dawn primarily ran on oppos-ing the mandates from the EU following Greece’s debt implosion.

The tug of (hopefully not) war between Russia and Ukraine over “pos-session” of Crimea should be Crimea’s decision. Why? The decision affects Crimea first and foremost.

In the USA, Texas is home to the “Republic of Texas,” an organization promoting secession from the United States and a return to an independent Texas. A Supreme Court that dismisses National Security Agency issues and Constitution-related cases, a corrupt Congress that bails out big banks and a President that ignores constitutional

restrictions could be considered good reasons to secede.

If a nation is worried about the diminishing of power, resources or influence from seceding districts, it should be more worried about forc-ibly retaining people willing to rebel. The aforementioned secessionists want to leave because interlopers purport to know what’s best for them and treat them like pawns.

Catalán knows what’s best for Catalán, not Madrid.

Crimea knows what’s best for Crimea, not Kiev or Moscow.

Texas knows what’s best for Texas, not Washington, D.C.

Perhaps independence is a mistake for all of these examples—but it’s their mistake to make. It is immoral for a group or individual to coerce any other group or individual. While might makes fact, it does not make right.

“Secession, whether by an individual or as a group, is an exercise of the right to voluntary association.”

6/3 – Blizten Trapper w/ Parkington SistersThe Basement (Columbus)7 PM; $15

6/7 - Band of Skulls w/ Deap VallyNewport Music Hall (Columbus)7 PM; $18

6/10 – Waka Flocka FlamePark Street Saloon (Columbus)8 PM; $20

6/11 – Washed Out w/ Wunder WunderNewport Music Hall (Columbus)7 PM; $16

6/13 – Planning For Burial w/ Nyodene D, Into The BriarHouse With No Name (186 E. Hudson St, Columbus)8 PM; Donation entry

6/15 – White DenimSouthgate House Revival-Sanctuary (New-port, KY)8 PM; $15

6/18 – The FeaturesThe Basement (Columbus)7 PM; $10

6/20 – Beck w/ The Ghost of a Saber Tooth TigerLC Pavilion (Columbus)7 PM; $39.50

6/28 – The Antlers w/ Yellow OstrichA&R Music Bar (Columbus)7 PM; $15

6/6 – Sleep Fleet, Speaking SunsRumba Cafe (Columbus)

6/12 – Speaking SunsBlind Bob’s (Dayton)

6/14 – Blue Moon Soup, Speaking SunsThe Quonset Hut (Yellow Springs)7 PM

6/20 – Blue Moon SoupThe Mission (1749 10th Street, Canton)

at the hands of leader Michael Gira, the overall intensity has remained, though the band has now shifted to more drone-y, post-rock influenced work, but just as dark and disgusting as before. 2012’s The Seer was monumental in terms of span and sprawl, clocking in at two hours, and now, Gira and company have matched that and more with To Be Kind.

The album begins with the slow build that this new forma-tion of the group has brilliantly mastered, eventually layering in Gira’s mantra-esque vocals. His voice throughout the album ranges from near deadpan to distorted jabs, and always is front and center when it comes into the mix. Much of the album is the newly characteristic slow burn to ear-splitting climax the band is known for, but they also expand their sounds on this new release. “A Little God In My Hands” opens with a mid-tempo, off-kilter funk strut, and almost makes you wonder if they’ve gone a little soft, but when the ugly blasts of brass and synth shoot out of nowhere, you’ll know you’re in the right place. St. Vincent mastermind Annie

Clark makes an appearance in the track as well (and also throughout the album as backing vocalist), and other similar guests include Cold Specks, Little Annie and Bill Rieflin. The band stretches back to their noise-rock roots with “Oxygen” later in the album—by far my favorite track. The first time I heard it, I wanted to run my car off the road, but in the punk rock kind of way.

The comeback of Swans after 13 years of absence was remark-able for the sheer event of it, but the fact that they decided to create a new legacy for themselves instead of retreading old mate-rial and sounds—and succeeding greatly at it—is phenomenal. The band is three studio albums into their reunion, and each effort is an improvement upon the last. They make some of the most seething music right now, but the catharsis that results from it (Gira’s goal) is absolutely beautiful.

Swans are currently gearing for a summer tour with Xiu Xiu, and while the closest date is a drive (Louisville, KY on July 2nd), I strongly urge you to go see their show. Nothing will compare after you’ve been there. Bring ear-plugs—you’ll need them.

I saw Swans for the first time last July in Colum-bus. In the span of two weeks, I witnessed the two most intense live shows I’ve ever seen in my life: the first being Death Grips followed by Swans. Death Grips had this sort of wild, tribal energy to it, as if the crowd was moving as one. However, Swans had the crowd transfixed, hurling out these massive im-pacts from the stage that would aurally throttle you, even physically from my spot at stage front, again and again and again.

The band originally came out of the early 80s New York no-wave scene and is one of the few to survive past that (along with bands like Sonic Youth). Their early releases are some of the most pummeling, revoltingly brutal albums ever put to tape—and they are wonderful. The band dissolved in the late 90s. Since their reformation/new line-up

The temperatures are rising, tank tops are popping up in droves. With flower crowns donned and smoke clouds drifting in the air, it must finally be festival season. As great times at fests (and bad times for your wallet) come ever

closer, here’s a handy guide to some of my personal favorite events/lineups going on around North America.

FUN & GAMESMillennial THE 11

POETRYMillennial THE

Homesick by Kyleigh Jean Jones

He cuts his fingernailswith the pocket knifehis father gave him

in ‘77. He remembers thecamping trip and howhe managed to change

his name.

Now, when you see him,a trail of feathers from his

love packed pockets alwaysfollows; he collects nature:

molted snake skin,auburn leaves before they

brittle, brown, break,honeycomb clusters.

He made a home on theporch swing, the one thatwraps around. When he’s

left alone, his thoughts climbthe brick. His movementsutter, don’t fall, don’t fall,

we’re almost there.

He sleeps inanother language, almost

violently, but when he wakesup, the breeze parts his hair

just the right way.

His first steps off the porch mimic the lightning bugs

flipping on their lights, to guide him.

Through fields of wheat,of cotton of loss, shattered

glass and porcelain.

He’ll close his eyes and focus onthe way the rocks mock his

lack of dignity. He’ll laugh withthe sunrise and pretend

he’s finally home.

What to do with a Dead Angel

By David A. Petreman

Dig a hole in the back yard. The authorities will never believe

What you have to say anyway.

Wrap him like a Pharaoh,Send him down the river

With no material possessions.

Try to revive him,Move his arms up and down,

See if he takes flight.

Prop him up on the couch,Fold his hands into yours,

Talk about miracles.

Stare into the distanceAnd think about why

He died in the first place.

self-awarenessby t.a. smith

The books began to bleed out

through the black, through the back of the bookcase, wood bending, opening. They were trying to escape, the wordsof poets, the words of sailors, closet

novelists. They were trying to find that empty field, the one that shines of gold

in the hot afternoon, where friends gather for picnics, lying naked in the green grass, where children run withno shoes. The books, still planning

their escape, counted dust. They watched as termites buried them alive

amongst wood grains, dreaming of self-awareness. In the field, underneath

an apple tree, the faint voice of a woman begins to call out, raising her

plastic cup of red wine: here’s to beinglost and causeless.

A Citizen’s Proposal in a Time of Warby Martin Harold Benedict Borchers

Organized sports, theater, film and other sources of distraction will cease.Their venues and arenas will serve to house mass seances that will

awaken the spirits of collateral dead to haunt war profiteers into grisly self destruction

The president will begin each morning by reciting the names of casualties in full

while wailing and rubbing ashes into his hair. New names will be cause for the chewing of gravel.

The dog tags of fallen soldiers will be used to unceremoniously whippundits, politicians or artists who evoke the war or the soldiery as

buzz words

Land along and within Wall Street, Hollywood Boulevard, The National Mall andthe white house lawn will be allocated for the burial and/or memorialization of enemy civilian victims

Congresspeople and senators will spend every moment of leisure andsubsequent retirement writing long, personal letters to every possible person

affected by war

Spent shells and casings will be stuffed with the love poems of small childrenand placed inside the shoes of the citizenry. On days when missiles miss

their targets or anytime a miscalculated explosion inflicts damage, thorns will be worn inside clothing

Yellow ribbons and certain voting records will be interpreted as willing enlistment.Antiwar Activist will mow the lawns of active soldiers and war supporters will tendgrave sites. Indecisiveness will land you a job scrubbing the toilets at war hospitals

and places with military discounts

The fuel of predator drones will be replaced with the sum toll of the human spiritin order to discourage overuse. Commanders will wear testicle clamps for the duration

of bomb runs

The total weight of combat sweat will be matched with gold by the war departmentand donated to the VA. The children of governors will be exposed to aggravating

electrical shocks for every day a soldier has to wait for pensions and benefits to payout

Alcohol and cigarettes will finance spouse support funds with a 500% tax increase. Mistreated enemy citizens and combatants will be compensated by every American

means

The financial assets of god will be liquidated in order to buy-up all the weapons ofthe world, which will then in turn will be shipped to him via rockets deep into the

depths of space.