the vitruvian - lourdes university · 2019. 6. 14. · the vitruvian will create the necessity of...

The Vitruvian

November - 2016 Issue 9

Lourdes University’s Premier Arts & Sciences Journal

November 2016 The Vitruvian Issue 9

Mission StatementAs a Lourdes University student organization, we will strive towards the same excellence in written and visual communication that is the goal of the university learning outcomes. The content of the Vitruvian shall reflect the integrity, intellectual curiosity, and service to global society that is inspired by the evangelical pursuit of truth inherent within Franciscan ideology. The Vitruvian is born of the necessity for awareness and will spark interest on campus and ignite global conversation.

PurposeThe Vitruvian will strive to empower the individual with knowledge of both the local and global communitites and create a stronger individual and community at large.

The Vitruvian will create the necessity of awareness and in turn will spark a movement of readers who begin on Lourdes Campus and take their thoughts around the world.

The Vitruvian is born of the necessity for awareness and will spark an interest on campus and ignite a global conversation.

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Just Vote!

by Katherine Melick Page 3

The 2016 Election and a Rigged System: TheFaculty Advisor's Take

by Noah Roderick Page 3

History’s Firsts

by Dominic Esposito Page 6

Burgers With the Drs by Dominic Esposito

Page 6

The Afterparty Begins: Four Underlooked Wii U Games

by Syd Klem Page 8

A Different King of Election: ARepublican Perspective

by John Sco� Page 5

Pokemon: A History by Kaitlin Schroeder

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As a registered Democrat, I strongly believe that Hillary Clinton should be our next president of the United States. She stands as the most qualified and experienced candidate to have run for this office. Hillary has spent her life and career helping to improve the lives of children around the world through educa�on and immuniza�ons. Hillary has always sha�ered the glass ceiling for women, proving �me and �me again that gender is not a qualifica�on for success. In the words of our First Lady, Michelle Obama, “[Clinton] has more experience and exposure to the presidency than any candidate in our life�me. Yes, more than Barack, more than Bill. So She is absolutely ready to be Commander in chief on day one. And yes, she happens to be a woman.”

Though the 2016 Presiden�al elec�on has been mired in nega�vity. I strongly believe that Hillary Clinton is the best and brightest choice for our future. The many problems facing our na�on need a highly intelligent and a calm and steady hand at the helm. Hillary Clinton by far exceeds these a�ributes. Secretary Clinton comes with much controversy, but my concerns were diminished when I reread Theodore Roosevelt's speech known as “The Man in the Arena”:

It is not the cri�c who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them be�er. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short

again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devo�ons; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, an and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Therefore, on November 8, 2016 I wil l confidently cast my vote for the most qualified candidate to seek the office of President of the United States. I will vote for the woman who has spent her life daring greatly, I will VOTE HILLARY!

Just Vote! by Katherine Melick

The Vitruvian is a young publica�on, and we have not been around to cover any previous presiden�al elec�ons. And so we're par�cularly excited to have both Republican and Democra�c perspec�ves from Lourdes students in this issue. We're grateful for our contributors, but we would love to see more poli�cal wri�ng in the future.

As faculty advisor to The Vitruvian, it is not my role to editorialize or to endorse a candidate. In this most conten�ous of elec�ons, however, I feel compelled to offer one endorsement: The Vitruvian itself.

Many people in this elec�on cycle—from both the Right and the Le�—have been talking about a rigged system. And they're absolutely correct. But to be clear, there is absolutely no evidence of widespread voter fraud, nor is there a shadowy cabal of the super-rich pulling all of the strings in the media and government. The truth is infinitely subtler than that. While many of our policies and ins�tu�ons do indeed favor the most privileged members of our society, the rest of us

The 2016 Election and a Rigged System: The Faculty

Advisor's Take by Noah Roderick

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are also complicit in this rigging every single day. We complicit whenever we choose the the path of least resistance. The system is rigged to make it easy for us to seek refuge from the moun�ng pressures of twenty-first century adult life in our own social bubbles and material dreams. In the short term, this is a much less stressful way to live one's life. But the long term consequences are an increasing feeling of powerlessness and a growing certainty that the system is indeed rigged.

Not everyone is lucky enough to a�end college, but for those who do have that privilege, it can be a �me where one consciously decides whether or not they will spend the rest of their lives in their comfort bubbles where their rela�onship with wider world exists on a need-to-know-only basis. And if you're lucky enough to a�end Lourdes University, you should know that the faculty and staff here pour their hearts and souls into making sure that you are able to make that decision consciously.

But there again, the system is rigged. Your personal future is murky; your financial outlook is shaky, and college is more expensive than ever. The path of least resistance is to think of college as a transac�on in which you give your money and your �me, and in return you receive skills and a cer�ficate. But if a�er four or five years, all you have are skills and a cer�ficate, you should demand your money back from the ins�tu�on and your �me back from yourself. If the authority figures in your life have convinced you that a university educa�on is about acquiring skills for one par�cular job, then, I am sorry to say, you have been duped. Even in the professional disciplines (e.g. Nursing, Business,

Educa�on), only about 10% of what you'll be learning is skills; the rest of it is ideas. Which means that if all you have graduated with is a skill set for a job, then somewhere along the way you will have lost 90% of your university educa�on. That hardly seems fair. That seems rigged.

Whe re a s s k i l l s a r e l e a r n e d t h ro u g h demonstra�on and repe��on, ideas must be cul�vated far and wide. Skills can be passed down from one person to another, but ideas need whole communi�es in which to grow. And your family, your circle of friends, and your Facebook network cannot be that community. Those groups tend to reinforce what you already know and believe—they offer the path of least resistance. They cannot foster the sort of intellectual curiosity and compe��on of ideas that come with a real educa�on. Your classroom can be that community of ideas, but you need more than that. You need to take an ac�ve part in crea�ng the community of ideas.

That's where something like a student news publica�on comes in. When you contribute your ideas to a publica�on like The Vitruvian, you get to decide what you want others to know, rather than being told by someone else what you need to know. We happily accept wri�ng on all kinds of subjects, and you do not have to think of yourself as a skilled writer in order to contribute. All that we ask is that, instead of resigning yourself to your place in the rigged system, you take the small but courageous step to dare yourself and your community to know. Sapere aude, Lourdes!

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The elec�on of 2016 is unlike any other in history, America will either elect the first female President or the countries first non-poli�cian to the most powerful office in the world. However, what this elec�on could mean is a fundamental change in Americas foreign and domes�c policy. What the next President has to deal with is rising infla�on, crippling debt of more than nineteen trillion dollars, and a rising threat from ISIS, so whoever gets elected will certainly have a tough job to do. Now the ques�on is what is what kind of President do the American people want to have, given the general dislike people have with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

The last �me character became the central issue in a presiden�al campaign was in `1976 The republican s�ll splintered by the fallout from the Watergate scandal the democrats were able to run Jimmy carter a state Senator and one term Governor of Georgia because his character was his best a�ribute and people viewed him as trust worthy. In the elec�on of 1976 character meant more than poli�cal issues because in the wake of the Watergate scandal the republican party lost the trust of the American people. There was something to be said about the fact that Jimmy Carter being apart from the scandal riddled Washington poli�cal establishment which made him the perfect candidate in 1976. Fast forward to the elec�on of and America is in a very similar situa�on to that of 1976.

Hillary Clinton is the Washington establishment's Presiden�al candidate but she is marred in scandal because of her private email server that had state department informa�on on it and leaked classified emails that give Americans a window into the extent to which this elec�on has been rigged in her favor. Super delegates gave Hillary Clinton a massive advantage of over three hundred delegates on Bernie Sanders before the primaries even started. Although Bernie Sanders confirmed himself as a socialist, he ran as a democrat and a�racted enough people and won enough primaries to come within a stone's throw of winning the nomina�on only a couple of months before the conven�on. In the elec�on of 2 0 1 6 t h e r e i s a n o t h e r a l t e r n a � v e t o establishment candidate just as there was forty years ago and that is businessman Donald Trump.

Donald Trump has never been a poli�cian, but he is a successful businessman with companies all over the world and a net worth of more than three billion dollars. Trump's campaign has been self-funded to a large degree and more so than any major party candidate in recent history. What Donald Trump brings to the table is an understanding of finance and turning debt into surplus as he has done for himself. However, Donald Trump does lack an�quate foreign policy experience foreign policy experience because he is not a poli�cian which limits his understanding of the military. The new President whoever it will be does not understand all aspects of issues that is what advisors are for, and that might help Trump broaden his understanding of foreign policy. Donald Trump has made offensive comments regarding women and i l legal immigrants that a seasoned poli�cian would not make. Donald Trump has a lot to learn but he has not been inves�gated by the FBI for espionage. The ques�on now is who does America want to be the next President?

A Different Kind of Election: A Republican Perspective

by John Scott

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Recently, I came across one of the greatest mysteries of our universe. One that I think has been ignored for far too long. When did hugging people become socially acceptable? It is such a strange prac�ce of the human race. We see someone we like or someone in emo�onal distress and our first ac�on is to get as close to them as possible and wrap two of our limbs around them. Logically it makes no sense, but the weirdest part is that it works! We normally feel be�er a�er hugs which just makes the whole thing extremely strange. I can see the idea that maybe hugging has always been normal but it s�ll doesn't get rid this scene in my head of a bunch of Roman soldiers si�ng around and discovering the wonders of hugs.

Centurion 1: Hey Arthri�s come over here a second. Centurion 2: Yea what's up? Centurion 1: (Wraps arms around the other) Centurion 2: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh What are you doing? Centurion 1: Trust me this is going to awesome. Speaking of people who were the first to do something, who was the first guy to eat a chicken egg? Some random peasant was running around trying to live past 22 and just saw white spherical object come out of a chicken's rump and just thought “I'm gonna eat that”? Or even kissing. Who was the

first person to think of that. All I can imagine of is a husband and wife in some form of igloo or mud hut and one day one of them looks at the other and thinks “Hmmm I wanna show affec�on to my significant other but I don't know how to do it.......Maybe if I smack my jaw against their jaw they will get the message.” Maybe someday in the future people will look back at what we do today and think “Who was the first person to take a picture of their food and show it to their friends?” It will probably go along with the ques�on “Why are people named Dominic Esposito so darned awesome?”

History’s Firstsby Dominic Esposito

The students slowly filled the Lourdes Campus Ministry House on Wednesday at around 6:30 in the evening, gathering in celebrate one another and star�ng new friendships while con�nuing old ones. Dr. Dwayne Beggs, a professor of History at Lourdes University and director of the First Year Experience program, was a generous host. Dr. Peter Sibilio, professor of Theology, also hosted.

The professors created this func�on so that students and their professors could get to know each other be�er and share a community. This event is a great idea for First-Year Experience students to par�cipate in, and a fantas�c opportunity to make new friends. The event was also fun for people who like history and/or theology. The event brought many people together, and students found a lot in common with each other. They talked about poli�cs, video games, football, and their Lourdes experiences with each other.

This event was so much fun, and I eagerly await the next get-together in the future. All are welcome!

Burgers with the Drsby Katherine Melick

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When it comes to the video game scene, very few games have become quite a phenomenon like Pokémon. First released in Japan in February 1996 by companies Game Freak and Nintendo, they became a major success almost instantly. 2016 marks Pokémon's 20th anniversary, and with Pokémon Go being a massive hit over the past summer and with Pokémon Sun and Moon coming out on November 18th, it's safe to say that Pokémon is s�ll very relevant in today's world. Pokémon games are a childhood favorite of many adults and high school and college students, so it's also safe to say they create a lot of nostalgia as well. Overall, it has sold over 279 million games according to the gaming website Kotaku, and according to the website Nintendo News in 2014, the Pokémon Company makes 1.5 billion dollars in just one year. So in honor of Pokémon's 20th birthday, and just in �me for Sun and Moon's release, let's take a look at the roots of the series.

Before any of the games were released, there was a lengthy development period involved with Pokémon Red and Green in Japan. Produc�on had started in 1990 and lasted a total of six years, mainly because the developers needed to work on other games to ensure they had the money necessary to complete the project. Game Freak, the company that developed Pokémon, almost went bankrupt due to the Pokémon games, and several workers quit because of the situa�on. However, these efforts

were rewarded because according to the Pokémon themed website Bulbapedia, the Japanese Red and Green versions, along with their Blue version, which was released a couple of months later, went on to sell 10.23 million copies altogether in Japan alone. Bulbapedia also states that in North America, our Red and Blue versions sold a combined 9.85 million. So just between Japan and North America, the original Pokémon games in their respec�ve regions sold just over 20 million copies.

When Red and Green were released on the original Game Boy in Japan, two of the biggest complaints about these games were all of the glitches found in the games and that some of the Pokémon sprites didn't look so great. To fix this, Game Freak released Pokémon Blue Version go Japan in October of 1996. In the Blue version, Pokémon were also found in different spots than in Japan's Red and Green. However, when Pokémon was released in North America in September 1998, there were a couple of changes from the Japanese versions. Americans had received Pokémon Red and Blue as our first two versions. Even though it would be easy to say that we didn't receive Japan's Green version, that isn't exactly the case. Our games used the Pokémon loca�ons from Japan's Red and Green while taking the fixed bugs and sprite art from Japan's Blue version. So in a way, we received completely different than Japan did, as our versions didn't have some of the bugs that Japan's Red and Green did, and the Pokémon in our version were found in different places than in Japan's Blue version. Later in both regions, Pokémon Yellow was released. It had more

Pokemon: A History by Kaitlin Schroeder

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similari�es with the anime, which was first released in Japan in 1997. This version had very few changes between its Japanese and North American counterparts.

Part of the reason these games became so popular is because they are very accessible and easy to understand. Unlike having a complex, hard to follow plot line like other role playing games, the main goal of Pokémon is to catch every single species of Pokémon and to become the Champion. While some people might cri�cize the simplicity of this, it makes the games appealing to kids and to newcomers of the genre. On top of having very accessible gameplay, these games have become famous over the years for the glitches that can be found within them. Even though Japan's Blue version was created to fix the bugs that could corrupt save files, there were s�ll some bugs found within it and therefore the American Red and Blue versions. Some of the more famous examples include MissingNo and the Mew glitch.

Very few video games series have been as successful as Pokémon has. Even though development of the original games might have been long and rocky at some points, the efforts of those at Nintendo and Game Freak have been recognized. As stated earlier, the games have sold 279 million copies, and to top that off, there is also an anime, a trading card game, and manga have also been based off the video games. There is also a market for Pokémon plushies, figurines, and toys. Not a lot of video game franchises can say that, making the popularity of Pokémon very impressive. Seeing that Pokémon can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike, it's safe to say it is going to s�ck around for a while.

Are you interested in finding out even more informa�on about Pokémon? Bulbapedia is a great place to start looking, and there are several YouTube channels that offer tons of facts on Pokémon, like T h e J W i � z , T a m a s h i i H i r o k a , a n d DidYouKnowGaming.

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The Afterparty Begins - Four Underlooked Wii U Games

by Syd Klem

The Wii U, first launched in 2012, is on its way out as Nintendo prepares to launch the Switch in early 2017. Though plagued by weak sales and a poor marke�ng campaign, the console has assembled some of the best games of the eighth genera�on. Here are four of my personal favorites that I would highly recommend if you can find a Wii U for cheap.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions (2016)

RPGs are frustra�ngly scarce on the Wii U. Tokyo Mirage Sessions might appear a shallow, candy-colored concession, but manages to provide a sa�sfying 40+ hours of turn-based enjoyment. The main draw of the combat system is the “Session” feature, which allows for characters to perform a�acks in sequence with one another for myriad effects. With a party that expands to seven by the end of the game and a host of specialized techniques that can be performed between individual ac�ons, Tokyo's flashy ba�les are a joy to watch.

The story never deviates significantly from JRPG tropes, but the character dynamics make the side quests genuinely enjoyable beyond farming for EXP. Some are rousing and exci�ng, others are emo�onal and touching, and the best are hilarious in unexpected ways.


Bayone�a 2 (2014)

Probably the best-known �tle on this list, but based on its lacking sales it s�ll needs to be experienced by more. As the �tular Umbra Witch, you'll ba�le the forces of Heaven and Hell with an arsenal of menacing weapons and flashy combos. With the original Bayone�a (2009), developer Pla�num Games created a combat system so cathar�c that they've iterated on it in every ac�on �tle they've developed since. That incl ina�on towards refinement shines through in the sequel's blockbuster produc�on values and silky anima�ons, all running at a mostly smooth 60 FPS.

If the joyous lunacy of the opening sequence- in which Bayone�a engages a platoon of angels atop an out-of-control fighter jet careening through Manha�an- doesn't at least rouse a smile, then something must seriously be wrong with you.

FAST Racing Neo (2015)

a lack of gimmicks like items or arbitrary progression systems. The finer aesthe�c details have not been ignored either. The game boasts gorgeous visuals and a thumping electronic soundtrack, along with the ecsta�c announcer from F-Zero GX, the greatest racing game of all �me, who screams bloody murder every �me you take first place.

On top of everything, there's the “Neo Future Pack,” a DLC pack with eight addi�onal courses for only $5 alongside the generous $15 tag on the base game. Both prices are insul�ng to a game this good. I am willing to trade mul�ple internal organs for more content in FAST Racing Neo.

The Wonderful 101 (2013)

That's not a typo. “FAST” is just how developer Shi’nen chose to display the �tle. A�er rocke�ng through the 16 chrome-gilded courses this futuris�c racer offered, I would be surprised if they didn't capitalize the word. FAST is a beau�fully simple game: razor-sharp controls, face-mel�ng speed, and

The Wonderful 101 lives up to its name. In an all-out-war against an invading alien menace, you will control a team of one hundred superheroes who combine their bodies into “Unite Morphs” to form enormous weapons. The simple premise is held together by superb execu�on. The sense of scale is immediately apparent, with gigan�c enemies looming over a mob of �ny heroes. Firm but fair difficulty will force you to learn the game's deep combat mechanics inside and out while tes�ng your strategic adaptability.

All that aside, The Wonderful 101 is a game about moments. Moments like figh�ng a dragon while falling from a skyscraper, boxing with a giant robot in an erup�ng volcano, or blas�ng off into space to confront a final boss that's bigger than the planet you're defending. That's not a spoiler because nothing can prepare you for actually experiencing it yourself. This is a game you will remember for years a�er comple�ng it.

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Come to Game FestaNovember 19th At the Den!

Looking for a place to rest and unwind before finals? Luckily for you, Gaming Society will be hosting Game Festa on November 19 from 7:00pm - 10:00pm.

The event will see contestants competing in six different games, including table tennis and foosball, along with video games like Mario Kart 8 and Injustice: Gods Among Us.

Each contestant will have one chance to earn points from each game. In the end, the top three players will be awarded with $30, $20, and $10 respectively. There is noentry fee, and food and drinks will be provided free of charge.

Please join the Gaming Society for a night of pizza, prizes, and fun! Join us on Facebook for updates on events and meetings, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/662271517273067/

The Vitruvian is a student run journal that is always seeking further input and opinions from faculty and staff here at Lourdes University.

We are always accepting articles in the form of interviews, reviews, and editorials. Additionally, we would love to invite art students to submit their work. At the Vitruvian we wish to showcase all forms of expression including photography and design.

If you would like to contribute in our upcoming issues, please contact either Dr. Noah Roderick ([email protected]), or Sydney Klem ([email protected])

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the vitruvian - lourdes university · 2019. 6. 14. · the vitruvian will create the necessity of...

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