THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 VOL. 68, ISSUE 1

VantagetheSTUDENT VOICE OF NEWMAN UNIVERSITYsince 1968

Construction poses problem for pedestrians

By DELANEY HIEGERTManaging Editor

The big orange cones are out in full force at the intersection of Kellogg and West street – which means backed up intersections and crowded side roads.

The East and West Kellogg on-ramp closures on West street are causing problems not just for motorists, but for Newman pedestrians trying to cross

McCormick street as well.The closing of the West street ramps

is part of a three-phase plan set to rebuild the I-235 and Kellogg inter-change to improve safety and conges-tion. This first phase, called the Red Project, won’t be completed until June 2019.

The construction isn’t causing headaches for commuters, though; it’s also affecting Newman students walk-

ing across campus. The detour route for those wanting

to get onto Kellogg runs right through McCormick and the west side of cam-pus and intersects with one of New-man’s two pedestrian crosswalk areas.

Morris Floyd, Newman’s directory of security, said this increase in traffic on campus poses a problem for New-man students.

WWW.NEWMANVANTAGE.COM

This Letter to the Editor was sent to us from President Noreen Carrocci, who has been in office since 2007, in regards to ru-mors about her health problems during last semester.

This is to extend my great gratitude to our students, faculty and staff for the outpouring of support for me last semester as I dealt with a significant health issue. As most of you know, I had lung surgery last August 18 to re-move what proved to be a cancerous tumor and my upper right lobe. Be-cause two of 17 lymph nodes that were

taken tested positive, the diagnosis was Stage II lung cancer, and the prescrip-tion was to take four chemotherapy treat-ments three weeks apart once I healed from the surgery. The first chemo treatment was Oc-tober 9 and the last was December 11.

During each of the daylong sessions, I was wrapped in the prayer blanket

that so many of you signed, and it re-ally helped me to rest comfortably. Thank you all for that and your many cards, prayers, and kind words that I received on a daily basis.

On January 6, I met with my on-cologist to review CT scan results, and he shared the wonderful news that I am now in remission! I will continue to participate in a clinical trial taking pills daily that are either a placebo or a drug being tested for possible preven-tion of recurrence of cancer. As an ac-ademic, participating in this research study just seems the right thing to do.

So, again, thank you everyone for blessing me with your prayers and many kindnesses. Through it all, you helped me greatly to trust that all will be well, and it is. May each of you find blessings this semester in your work, play, and prayers in the wonderful community of our Newman Univer-sity.

Sincerely,Noreen CarrocciPresident

Newman ASC named Sweet Humanitarian

See “Construction” on Page 2

WEST STREET CONSTRUCTION closed the on-ramps for Kellogg, causing detour traffic to travel through New-man’s campus. Hank Griggs, Photo Editor

See “Humanitarian” on Page 2

Carrocci appreciates support during cancer treatment

By ELLEN HEALYStaff Writer

Sister Tarcisia Roths, a former pres-ident and history professor at New-man University, is the recipient of the 2016 Sweet Humanitarian of the Year award, which is given to individuals who have made significant contribu-tions to the community through lead-ership and other selfless acts.

Dr. Donna Sweet is internationally known for her work in providing care and resources for those affected by HIV and AIDS. In the award ceremony pamphlet, it said that Roths was given the Sweet Humanitarian of the Year award for her devotion to the Catholic Church, her service to the community, and for the education of others.

Roths will be formally recognized at an award ceremony at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 6, at the Abode Venue, 1330 E. Douglas. Tickets are $100 a person and proceeds will benefit HIV and AIDS patients through the Sweet Emergen-cy Fund.

Sister Roths first came to Newman as a student, when the school was called Sacred Heart College. In 1954 Roths graduated with a bachelor’s de-gree in elementary education. Her ed-ucation continued at Saint Louis Uni-versity, where she earned her Ph.D. in modern European history. Roths came

West street closings bring more traffic to Newman, affect crosswalks

Dr. Noreen Carrocci

Photo courtesy of news.newmanu.edu

WEST STREET WOES

News BriefsTHURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 NEWS 2

Stay on top of the Newman news!

Go to newmanvantage.com to get caught up on all your campus news.

From “Humanitarian” on Page 1

Final Friday showcases NU student

Newman senior Emi-lie Levian’s photography will be showcased in this month’s Final Friday art crawl.

Levian’s photography exhibit, “Focal Point”, will be on display starting at 5 p.m. Friday at Delano BBQ, 710 W. Douglas Ave.

Java Jets kicks off semester

Java Jets, an event the Student Government As-sociation sponsors once a month, will start again this week.

All drinks at Scooter’s Coffeehouse will be half price from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. today.

The first 25 Newman students in line will receive a free coffee travel cup courtesy of SGA.

From “Construction” on Page 1

Sloppy Joes hold first spring show

Newman’s improv troupe, the Sloppy Joes, will hold eight shows this semester.

The first show will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in the Jabara Flexible Theater.

Admission is free con-cessions will be sold during intermission.

back to Kansas in 1959 to teach history at Sacred Heart, a profession she says is her truest passion.

“I was born to be a teacher,” Roths said. “After I started with the Adorers, I came to the idea that I would use my gifts to teach. Edu-cation is the key to empowering peo-ple. And education is critical to social justice and to be an active citizen.”

Roths continued teaching until her promotion in 1991, where she was appointed president of Sacred Heart College. For nine years, Roths created a successful learning environment, which helped students seek their full potentials through new buildings and new programs, said Sis-ter Therese Wetta, Newman’s direc-tor of development for sciences and health sciences.

“During the time she was presi-dent, De Mattias and O’Shaughnessy

were built, Eck was built, and the Dugan Library Student Center was undertaken,” Wetta said. “She is one of the favorite former teachers among alumni. She is most deserving of this award, because she is the most wel-

coming person and passionate about empower-ment and social justice for all.”

In 2000 Roths retired, but con-tinued serving the community through various

service organizations, including Cent-er of Hope, a homeless prevention program, and Wichita Circles Net-work, which helps family members move out of poverty.

Roths’ ability to give and keep giv-ing has made her the perfect recipient of the Sweet Humanitarian of the Year award, said Sister Charlotte Rohrbach, Newman’s director of mission effec-tiveness and archives, and close friend

and former colleague of Roths.“She is known by so many because

she has served on so many social jus-tice committees and organizations,” Rohrbach said. “To be a humanitarian means that you have been of service. You’ve reached out to individuals and made a difference in their lives. That’s what Tarcisia has done for so many people and for so long.”

Roths said that she is honored by the award and in awe to have been chosen.

“I was very humbled when I re-ceived recognition because there are so many individuals who are deserv-ing of this award. But I am especially proud to be a part of that group, of Dr. Sweets’ Humanitarians. I am pas-sionate about her work and what she stands for in the community. One of our key passions as the Adorers is to help the community, to make a better life for those in need. So I hope this might inspire others to a life in social justice. I am deeply honored to be this year’s recipient.”

“You have knuckleheads out there that decide they’re late for work or need to get somewhere in a hurry and they’re just not paying attention,” Floyd said. “So the stu-dents at the crossing need to pay attention.”

The crosswalk on the west end of campus is frequented by students who live in New Hall and Fugate Hall because it’s the only means of getting onto campus from either building.

Floyd said that he has already taken precautions to prepare for the heavy traffic on McCormick.

“What is going to happen is they’re looking at putting up signs alerting motorists that Newman students will be crossing the street,” he said.

The signs, Floyd said, will be per-sonalized with Newman logos and will let drivers know there is a heavy pedestrian traffic in the area.

Aside from signs, Floyd said he has asked the Wichita Police Department to run radar on McCormick near the Newman campus.

Though action is being taken to alert motorists, Floyd said it is still important that students are observant when crossing McCormick.

“We can put as many signs and lights up as we want, but if people aren’t going to pay attention to them, then they aren’t. So, we still need stu-dents to pay attention,” Floyd said. “We know they don’t all cross at the pedestrian crosswalk, so they need to get their noses out of their smart phones and look both ways. It’s basic pedestrian safety, you know.”

Newman freshman and New Hall resident Adrienne Esposito said that detour traffic is worrisome to those who frequent the crosswalk.

“It’s scary when it’s early or at dusk and drivers can’t see you as well,” Es-posito said. “The drivers don’t seem to notice the crosswalk and they just fly through.”

Though the West street ramps won’t be closed for the entire three-year pro-ject, traffic will remain heavy on Mc-Cormick during the first few months, Floyd said.

“I know no one likes dealing with construction,” he said. “But every-body needs to pay attention until this mess is done.”

“I hope this might inspire others to a life in social jus-tice. I am deeply honored to be this year’s recipient.”

SISTER TARCISIA ROTHS

FINAL DESIGN for the I-235 and Kellogg interchange. Illustration courtesy of Kansas Department of Transportation

Junior theatre major Trevor Farney is taking steps toward his future ca-reer within the Newman community as well as within the Wichita commu-nity.

Farney was nominated for an Irene Ryan for his perfor-mance in Newman alumnus, Chelsea Smet’s play “Fair De-parture” in April of last year. The Irene Ryan is an Acting Scholarship Com-petition part of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Last week, Farney competed against over 300 other nominees spread over the entirety of KCACTF’s Region V, which includes Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and North and South Dakota and was selected as a one of the 64 semi-final-ists. This is the first time a Newman student has made it to that level.

Farney performed with Smet as his

partner in scenes from “The Last Night at Ballyhoo,” “The Bachelorette,” and “Macbeth.”

Farney said he and Smet spent the weeks leading up to the competition rehearsing their scenes.

“They said it came down between me and these other two groups,” he said. “My acting style is so small and

cinematic so they said they were worried it would get eaten up by the big stage. It was a bum-

mer, but it was really uplifting because they said it was great and asked me to come back next year. It was uplifting.”

Farney said he got a lot out of par-ticipating in the competition because he got the opportunity to attend vari-ous workshops, receive valuable feed-back and watch the winning perfor-mances.

In addition to performing in New-man shows last semester, Farney also took part in Mindfire Academy’s

student-directed films. Farney audi-tioned in November and landed roles in two films. He played one smaller role in one film and the leading role in “Conscious Decision.”

The film, which reflects cell phone addiction and what Farney described as “devolving into mediocrity.”

“It was just a really fun experience,” he said. “That was my first experience getting to jump on a film set and do a scene like that. It’s very different than theatre. It was super low key and laid back and I just had a blast.”

Farney said he plans to spend the rest of his time in Wichita doing as much acting, specifically film work, as he can. Post-graduation he said he plans to start auditioning in bigger cit-ies.

“I’ll just start going to auditions and doing the ground work to try and get my face and my name out there as best I can and see if I can’t be a big mov-ie star one day,” he said. “That’s the dream.”

a&eTHURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

3

ACTION!

By LAUREN SPENCERStaff Writer

TREVOR FARNEY stars in the student-directed short film “Conscious Decision.” Courtesy Photo

By KATI BUSHA&E Editor

Theatre major makes the cut

You may have noticed the large, square sculptures on display out-side the De Mattias Fine Arts Center. The sculptures are the work of artist and adjunct professor Mike Miller, who has taught at Newman for three years. The sculptures were erected toward the end of last semester and sophomore Carlos Sanchez said he really appreciates the addition of more artwork to the campus.

“I think it adds diversity and quality to the campus,” Sanchez said.

Miller, who teaches printmaking and sculpture, said he was inspired to create these sculptures when he thought about the concept that ev-erything in the world is made up of waves.

“Different colors are different size waves of light, and music is dif-ferent size waves of sound,” Miller said. “The economy goes up and down in a boom or bust cycle that forms waves; everything is defined by waves.”

The sculptures are not the only art pieces Miller has on display at New-man. Miller’s photographs, which hang on display near the Steckline Gallery in De Mattias, were done when he was attending classes at Wichita State University in 2007.

Miller said the photographs are also part of a series he did dealing with wave and rhythm, and that if you walk around them the eyes are able to see “interference patterns” as a result of the background light coming through.

The photographs first went on display in a gallery at WSU in a small room where there hung a sin-gle clear light bulb that would move up and down, projecting shadows on the walls of the gallery, thereby creating waves of motion on the wall. Miller said the effect actually gave some viewers motion sickness.

But Miller didn’t always have a career in art, and in fact, he worked

Art adjunct brings sculpture to campus

Student receives positive feedback, leading role

See”Sculptures” on Page 4

“It was a bummer, but it was really uplifting.”

TREVOR FARNEY

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 A&E 4

The Vantage is looking for writers for this semester.

Email us at vantage.nu@gmail.com if you’ve got a passion for writing and want to work for an award-winning paper!

Theatre students prepare for semester of shows

The Newman University Theatre Department is already preparing for its Spring season of shows which in-clude a historical piece, a spring mu-sical production and other student-fronted productions.

This spring’s theater production, Robert Bolt’s “A Man for All Seasons,” will be performed March 3-6. This will be the second time Theater Director Mark Manette will help to tell the sto-ry of Sir Thomas More.

“When I was in the play in under-grad, it had a profound impact on my life. I am still very close friends with the director of that production and a lot of the cast members, even though we all live in different states,” Man-nette said.

Mannette said the play touches on elements relevant to Newman Univer-sity.

“There are a lot of theological ques-tions,” he said. “It deals with the inter-play between King Henry the VIII and Sir Thomas More. This is a great mix between history and theology, and even philosophy, in a sense.”

Manette will incorporate aspects of the production he was in during his undergraduate education that he felt aided in the storytelling.

“We had a unit set, so we weren’t worried about moving scenery around. I wanted to do that again, so

I talked to [Technical Director Jamison Rhoads] about that, and it’s one big set that we can use for all locations,” he said.

Work is already underway on the set, and Technical Director Jamison Rhoads said he is looking forward to adding his own piece to the puzzle.

“The long shadows cast on the set are symbolic of the Church and the State casting long shadows across the story, across the life of Sir Thomas

More. There will be fog and water ef-fects. It will be very theatrical. That’s what good tech does: it helps to tell the story.”

“A Man for All Seasons” will run at 8 p.m. on March 3 – 5 and at 2 p.m. on March 6 in the De Mattias Perfor-mance Hall.

Other theater activities for the spring semester include: The 17th Annual LitFest: Sports in Literature, March 31- April 2, the Fifth Annual 24

Hour Theatre Project, Feb. 20-21, the Student-Directed One-Act Festival, the Spring Musical Production which will be April 28-30

The Sloppy Joe Improv Troupe will perform this Friday at 7 p.m. in the Jabara Flexible Theater. The troupe will also perform on Feb. 19, March 24 and during LitFest. Times and perfor-mance locations will be announced.

By ANDREW REGOLIStaff Writer

could attend WSU. “I always new I wasn’t a business

man but then again it was the fam-ily business and it was the way to get an income and insurance and all that good stuff,” Miller said. “But then an opportunity came to sell the business and go back to school, and it was al-most instantly, ‘Okay, I know what I want to do. I want to be an artist.’”

Miller said his professors chal-lenged him to focus more on the un-derlying layers of his work and less on creating something that’s nice to look at, and that up until that point the main goal in his art was to create something pretty.

“The challenge for me is that it is re-ally, really hard to do art, and art if it’s good art, has got these layers of sub-tlety underneath just what you see, and getting all those layers in there the way they’re supposed to be is the hardest thing to do,” Miller said. “It’s easy to make something look pretty, the subtlety of meaning in art is the hardest part.”

Miller said he believes art is on the front lines of progressing society and culture.

“If you don’t have new stuff being created constantly, you stagnate, and eventually evolution grinds to a stop, art plays a huge part in moving civili-zation forward.”

TREVOR FARNEY AND JUSTIN RALPH perform in “Hamlet,” last year. Kati Bush, A&E Editor

From “Sculpture” on Page 3

MIKE MILLER’S SCULPTURES stand outside De Mattias Fine Arts Center. The sculptures are on loan to the university. Hank Griggs, Photo Editor

sportsTHURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

5

MEN’S BASKETBALL (11-7) WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (9-8)

PAST GAMESJan. 21vs. Rogers State, L 67-81 Jan. 23vs. UA Fort Smith, L 78-79

UPCOMING GAMESTonight at 7:30 p.m.at Texas A&M International

Saturday at 3 p.m.at St. Mary’s

PAST GAMESJan. 21vs. Rogers State, L 50-55 Jan. 23vs. UA Fort Smith, L 68-84

UPCOMING GAMESTonight at 5:30 p.m.at Texas A&M International

Saturday at 1 p.m.at St. Mary’s

this week in sports...PAST MEETJan. 24Kansas Cup, Fugate Gymnasium4 Titles, 8 Placers UPCOMING MEETSSaturday at 7 p.m.at Nebraska Kearney

Thursday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.at Pratt Community College

PAST TOURNAMENTJan. 23-24at McKendree Baker, Fairview Heights Ill.Men: T-3rdWomen: T-5th

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTFeb. 6-7Crusader OpenDubuque, Iowa

WRESTLING (1-6) BOWLING

@newman_jets

Avila named as head women’s soccer coachFormer Barton Community College coach to start this semester

Newman University appointed a new women’s head coach on Jan. 21, former Barton Community College men and women’s head coach Aaron Avila.

Avila joins the Jets after four sea-sons with the Barton women’s pro-gram and two with the men’s. During his time at Barton, Avila accumu-lated a record of 46-22-5 and multi-ple national rank-ings at the helm of the women’s program. He led the men to the NJ-CAA Region IV quarterfinals and semifinals and finished two seasons with a record of 21-8-4.

Avila was born in Mississippi, where his mother is from, but shortly after his birth his family moved to El Progreso, Honduras, where his father originates. Growing up in Honduras Avila said he had an early exposure to

the game of soccer and that helped to foster a love of the sport.

At the age of 12, Avila returned to the United States where he attended West Jones High School in Laurel, Miss.

Avila went on to play soccer at Me-ridian Community College and then Mississippi College, where he majored in mathematics and secondary educa-

tion.Avila started

his coaching ca-reer at his alma mater, West Jones High school, and then went on to take his first head coaching job with Jones County Community Col-lege.

Avila, who has been coaching for

10 years, said he’s enjoyed coaching men and women and is glad he’s had experience at many levels.

“I’ve worked with guys and girls all throughout my career so I’ve never re-ally focused on one specifically, I think that’s helped me as well,” Avila said. “So I definitely took the long way, sort

of paying my dues and what not, but I believe that made me a better coach, experience and all that, it made me a better coach.”

Avila said he was first notified of the opening position at Newman by one of his former players, Dania Rod-riguez.

“Dania was actually the one who

informed me that the job was avail-able, she was the one that told me they would be looking for a new head coach and that’s kind of what got that on my mind,” Avila said. “Talking to her a little bit more about it and learn

JUNIOR MADISON DECKER races toward the ball in a game last season. The Jets finished with a record of 6-8-2 in 2015. Hank Griggs, Photo Editor

By KYLE MAZZAStaff Writer

See “Soccer” on Page 6

“I’ve worked with guys and girls all throughout my career so I’ve never really focused on one specifically, I think that’s helped me as well.”

AARON AVILA

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 SPORTS 6

ing a little bit more about the school is why I put in my application.”

Newman Athletic Director Vic Tril-li said that Avila stood out as a good candidate during interviews.

“He is a very successful coach, he’s

done a great job at that part,” Trilli saidAvila said he is in the process of

hiring his assistants and he’s already thinking about the fall season.

“We’ll start next week. We’ll start lifting three times a week and then we’ll be on the field,” he said. “In April, we’ll play some spring games so

that will be fun and I’ll get to watch the girls play in game situations.”

Avila said though he is excited about seeing the girls’ play, his imme-diate goal is to build relationships.

“The biggest thing is just spending time with them right now,” he said. “Sitting down with all the players in-

dividually, getting to know them as people not just as soccer players. Get-ting to know them on and off the field, building those relationships and then they’ll get to know me.”

This will be Avila’s first season at the Division II level.

From “Soccer” on Page 5

grown,” Trilli said. “Our new coaches and athletes are going to be a part of the big strong unit here at Newman, and now we are getting bigger and I kind of like that.”

Debuting in the Olympics in 2000, triathlon is a relatively new sport and Newman’s team is the first institution-sponsored program in the state.

“We are a trend setter,” Trilli said. “Newman is stepping up and I’m ex-cited when universities around us do the same.”

Coach Coble says that Newman is a part of a growing trend in the United States and that by adding a college program the school is helping the sport grow.

“Triathlon is a new sport to the world,” Coble said. “There aren’t many university teams yet but it’s growing.”

Trilli hopes to have a 15-member team for the program’s inaugural sea-son, but plans to add to that number in the coming years.

After first being announced by Ath-letics in the fall, the triathlon program has a coaching staff.

Jeff Lovgren and Heidi Coble will lead the new team, which will first compete this fall. Athletic Director Vic Trilli said he is excited in the direction that Newman is heading with the ad-dition of the triathlon program.

“This is a chance for Newman to

“Coach Lovgren and I are current-ly recruiting heavily for the coming year,” Coble said. “We have had a lot of interest.”

The Jets will join as part of the Mid-west Region, competing against teams from Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The team will compete at the Olympic distance, which features a 1,000-meter swim, a 24-mile bike ride, and a 6.21 mile run. The team will aim for the Collegiate Club National Champion-ships in April.

Triathlon program as coaches begin to recruitNU starts to build new program, set to kick off in the fall semesterBy JOSIE JENKINS-STANKIEWICZStaff Writer

placers during this stretch.Though the team isn’t finding the

success it wants in duals, sophomore wrestler Dalton Weidl said the team is persevering through the slow start to the season.

“Our team is closer than it has ever been,” Weidl said. “We are bringing a new mentality to the mat and giving it all we got 24/7.”

Weidl said he feels the team is refocused and ready to answer to the wake up call it got from the start of

the season.The wrestling squad is coming off

of a second place finish in the Kansas Cup on Sunday, where it had four wrestlers take home titles, each go-ing undefeated. Junior Dustin Reed, senior Colton Duhr, freshman Heath Gray and Weidl each won out their weight class. Reed, 20-1 on the sea-son, is on a 14 match winning streak.

The team’s next time appearance on the mat will be on Jan. 30 against Nebraska Kearney in Kearney, Neb.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALLThe Newman women’s basketball

team, who started Christmas break with a stretch of three road games, went 4-4 over the break.

Junior Natalia Hausmann said the team had a tough game against Lub-bock Christian, but overall did well over the break.

Hausmann said the Lady Jets seem to get everybody else’s best game and that means she and her team need to bring their best as well.

“Coach says that our strength should be our defense,” Hausmann said. “When we have good de-fense, we have good games. When we take good shots and play good defense, we don’t lose.”

The team, 9-8 overall, will play its next game on Jan. 28 against Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas.

There was no break for the winter athletes between semesters. Here is what you missed:

WRESTLINGThe Newman wrestling team, 1-6

on the season, competed in two meets over Christmas break and has had seven duals and a tournament since the start of the spring semester.

The Jets claimed six titles and 14

MEN’S BASKETBALLThe men’s basketball team, 11-7

overall, snagged its first two con-ference wins over Christmas break against St. Mary’s University and Texas A&M International University.

Head coach Mark Potter said the team is trying to figure out its chem-istry.

“We’re at the time of the year where we are at a cross-roads,” Potter said. “It’s not always about the wins and the losses.”

Potter said he’s looking for his team to focus on each game and know that every one is im-portant.

“Everybody can put the goal down that you want to win the conference, you want to go to the NCAA tourna-ment and all that stuff, but what we’re trying to do is be the best that we can be as we continue to the end of the year,” Potter said.

Potter said he is optimistic about his team’s second half of the season.

“We’re just trying to get the guys to stay focused,” he said. “They have done what they need to do to get bet-ter and now they just need to continue to do that day-in and day-out to get better, embrace the grind.”

The Jets, 4-6 in conference play, hit the hardwood again on Jan. 28 against TAMIU in Laredo, Texas.

Winter break recap: teams find mixed resultsMen’s, women’s basketball, wrestling stay active over winter breakBy TAYLOR MANNISStaff Writer

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL rallying together before the start of a game. The Jets went 4-4 over winter break. Hank Griggs, Photo Editor

As Christians, we are called to serve our neighbors and aim to make the world a better place for all. As college students, we learn ways to accomplish this, whether we are biology majors, English majors, or the ever so desired history of 18th cen-tury French litera-ture majors. But as a Newman student, we are given the chance to do both.

The week before classes resumed, I went to Santa Fe, N.M., as part of the Campus Ministry winter service trip. There, we worked with the mentally disabled, under-privileged and homeless of the com-munity.

We helped clean the facilities of Casa Milagro, a group home for high-functioning mentally disabled indi-viduals that incorporates art into their daily lives. We were able to see the in-teractions between the residents and

the workers and see how grateful they were to have people doing the jobs that otherwise may not get done.

We also helped the Casa Familia shelter, a recovery center for women, which included some mothers and their children. Here we helped reno-vate their living area while also help-ing organize the donations that they had received. Seeing the outpouring of support for this shelter reminded me how lucky I am to have a steady source of income and to be able to af-ford clothes.

The project that I enjoyed the most was working with the Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity in building a house for a family in need. As a theatre major who works in the scene shop, it was awe-some for me to be able to apply what I have learned here at Newman to help someone in the community. Working in the cold New Mexican air helped me to appreciate housing in a new light and I was happy to help someone get out of the cold and into the warmth of a new home.

While the week was full of hard

work, there was plenty of time for fel-lowship as well. We attended optional masses, toured beautiful locations around Santa Fe, and spent an after-noon skiing at Angel Fire. This was a

good way to get to know the group better and make new friends.

This trip helped me appreciate what I have in my everyday life and

opinionTHURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

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Winter service trip a reminder to embrace gratitude

Rain or shine, the Jets for Life march onWhen several members of Jets for

Life signed up for the March for Life, we knew we were signing up for a very important pilgrim-age, but we had no idea we would be facing a blizzard.

Our group of elev-en began this trip of a lifetime by flying from Wichita to Dal-las, and then finally ending up in D.C. For many of us this was our first time flying or riding the Metro, but with Father Fogliasso and Monica Borger as great tour guides we never got lost.

Our group had a blast playing tour-ist the next day! Some went ice skat-ing while others traveled the capital to experience sites such as the Smithso-nian Museum and the night tour of the capital.

Though the day had gone well so far, Father informed us of the bad news: right after we marched, D.C. was going to get hit with a blizzard of such magnitude that the whole city would be shut down. He asked all of us if we would like to try to leave early in order to try to make it back on time. I could not be more proud of our New-man group because we unanimously decided that though we had home-work and other pressing matters to take care of, we wanted to march.

All of us knew the real purpose of the trip was not exploring D.C, but rather to be a voice for those who could not speak for themselves. Deciding to March for Life in such conditions was our way of saying that not even a bliz-zard could stop us from telling the world about the need to end abortion.

This year’s March for Life was themed “Pro-Life is also Pro-woman.” It was very inspiring and included

Rebecca Bergkamp

It’s good to be home!

Wesley Williams

What a trip!

JETS FOR LIFE members march in Washington, D.C., before Winter Storm Jonas covered the capital in almost 30 in. of snow. Photo courtesy of John FogliassoSee “March” on Page 8

See “Service” on Page 8

STUDENTS on the Winter Service Trip worked with the Santa Fe Habitat for Hu-manity to build a house for a family in need. Wesley Williams, Sports Editor

on the weatherThursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

SunnyLow:57° 34°

SunnyHigh: Low:64° 33° High: Low:62° 39°

Mostly SunnyHigh: Low:55° 34°

PM Showers/Wind

High: Low:50° High: Low: 21°

Mostly Sunny/WindHigh: Low: 17°

forecasts from weather.com

Partly Cloudy Snow/Wind

High:

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 OPINION 8

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(316) 978-3688 | careerdevelopment@wichita.edu | wichita.edu/careerdevelopment

YOU’RE INVITED TO THEAll-University

Career FairWichita State University Campus

Tuesday, February 9, 20162 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Koch Arena

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marchers of all ages and religions. However, as soon as the March ended, the blizzard came as expected.

We immediately went back to our hotel and due to the generosity of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, we were ensured both a place to stay and food to eat.

While we were in the hotel, there were many activities to keep us en-tertained with the best being a talent

show. Once again we were blessed to be

grouped with the Catholic Diocese of Wichita because when our flights home kept getting cancelled, several of the buses made room to make sure we all made it home safely.

I can 100 percent say that this was not only the best March for Life I have ever been on, but also I am thankful for the snow storm because it truly made me prioritize life and stand up for what I believe in.

makes helping those in need more of a priority than I had it before. The ser-vice trip was a way for me to help get the most out of my time at Newman University and my only regret is that I hadn’t gone on the other trips.

From “Service” on Page 7From “March” on Page 7