Page 2 – The Waltonian

Astrology is a touchy subject; some people believe in it, others don’t. However, not much is known about astrology by the general public. Most people are aware of their sun sign (I’m a Sagittarius), but so many people are unaware of the nuances of astrology, and I’m here to help you.

First, astrology has been around for centuries. The twelve signs of the zodiac were originally divided by the Babylonians in the 1500s BCE, but with different names (their names at the time were those of constellations). The Ancient Greeks, however, were the first to give these signs their names as we know them today. The Ancient Greek astronomer Ptolemy later popularized the signs of the zodiac in his book Tetrabiblos.

Second, while astrology is not technically a religion, it can be considered divine. Astrology, in the most basic terms, is the study of the phenomena of the planets and stars. Now, whether these phenomena means something is up to you. There is a huge debate as to whether astrology is even real, but just as Christianity (or any other religion) is unique to each person, so is astrology.

Third, 12 is a magic number in astrology: one’s chart has 12 planets, 12 signs, and 12 houses. Each planet, sign, and house has its own unique significance and meaning in astrology, and once they are combined, the results can be surprisingly accurate.

Fourth, one can easily draw up a chart online for free! Through websites like AstroDienst (Astro.com), applications like Co-Star, and other astrological resources, one can plug in three basic pieces of unique information to get a nicely drawn chart. The three things that one will need are birth date, birth location, and birth time (if you don’t know the time you were born, ask your parents or make an estimate). Once a chart is created, it may look confusing. Please don’t worry; a quick search on Google can explain the nuances of a chart.

Fifth, one’s daily horoscope should be based on the rising sign, not the sun sign. While sun signs tell us our basic identities, rising (or ascendant) signs tell us the first impressions we give off. Our rising signs rule our first house, the house of beginnings and self. Thus, rising sign horoscopes tend to be more accurate than sun sign horoscopes. If you are looking to find your rising sign, just follow the instructions in number four.

Sources: Time, Astro.com

The easiest way to tell that it’s game day here at Eastern is by the sound: there is usually music pumping onto the field that is filled with athletes who are warming up for their game. No matter the sport, athletes across campus use music as a way to get themselves ready for a game. The Waltonian spoke to over 20 different student-athletes about their experience using music as a way to prepare for their games.

While everyone has a different taste in music, all the athletes that spoke to the Waltonian said that strong beats were important to warm-up songs. “I like a lot of music that is upbeat,” said senior lacrosse player Nate Hawkins, “(it) gets me happy and relaxed.” Many Eastern athletes that we spoke to singled out rap and rock music as their go-to genres for warm-up music; artists like Meek Mill, Kanye West, and Post Malone seem to be popular among Eastern athletes as well.

For baseball and softball players, they have the chance to pick a song especially for the purpose of hyping them up mid-game. As batters approach the plate or pitchers approach the mound, an athlete’s walk-up song will be played. Some choose an upbeat song to get them ready, and others choose a joke song to get the crowd engaged. Graduate softball player Meghan Johnson said that she chose her walk-up
song, “Touch the Sky” by Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco, because “it’s just super upbeat and confident and that’s the type of energy I want on the field.” Johnson also shared her game-day playlist with the Waltonian. The five-hour-long playlist is filled with rap music, pop music, as well as some throwback music.

With all of this being said, does music actually affect an athlete’s performance? Sophomore volleyball player Trey Miller said that while listening to music doesn’t affect his overall gameplay, it “definitely affects (his) mentality and fluidity going into the game.” Miller’s teammate and freshman volleyball player Ben Sierier echoed this by saying that “warm-up music allows us to get loose and relax. It also helps us focus.” Many athletes even said that they use warm-up music as an indicator to get ready for a game since music is usually played over the loudspeakers just before the commencement of a game.

No matter what sport an athlete may play, it is important to warm up before a game. Whether that warm-up be a physical warm-up of stretches or a mental warm-up of listening to music, it is key to the pregame ritual.

I grew up in a faithfully Irish-Catholic family. My house has always been littered with Celtic crosses and we always have a five-pound sack of potatoes in the pantry. For most of the year, I live my life as any other white girl. However, March 17th is always one of my favorite days of the year.

Since I was a child, my family has always celebrated St. Patrick’s Day together. We talk about our ancestors who came from Donegal and Killarney; my maternal grandpa drinks beer and teaches the kids Irish drinking songs (which makes all the adults laugh). My paternal grandma discusses her experience being an Irish-Catholic in the days of World War II. “My father would never date an Italian” she giggles (she later married an Italian man in the nineties). My mom and I always discuss the story of the real St. Patrick: born in Britain, he was captured and enslaved in Ireland at the age of sixteen. After escaping a few years later, he became a bishop and a leader in the Catholic
Church in Ireland.

The holiday of St Patrick’s Day has become synonymous with day drinking, loud parades, and hedonic behavior. Yet, the holiday’s formation hundreds of years ago was not for that reason. As my ancestors wrestled with hunger during the Great Famine, Irish-Americans celebrated their homeland in their new country and used it as a way to create pride in their heritage. In the early days of the Industrial Revolution, when many Irish people came to America to find a new life, the Irish were at the bottom of the white immigrant totem pole. Irish immigrants were turned away from jobs, taunted, and discriminated against. St. Patrick’s Day was the one day a year that Irish-Americans felt proud of their homeland.

It saddens me that my ancestral culture has been turned into a joke; leprechaun caricatures and pots of gold have become novelties in the
month of March. The rich and beautiful history of Irish-Americans has been made into a yearly gimmick that is used as an excuse to be rude and unkempt. Yet, on March 17th, I will be on Zoom

In the age of COVID, it has become easier for students to be a part of campus life while still learning remotely. Colton Domblesky, a junior Criminal Justice major, is one of those people. He is currently studying from his home in Kinzers, Pa. where he lives with his dad and puppy, and he has made an immense effort to stay active in the Eastern Community.

Most people on Eastern’s campus know Domblesky as one of the bright smiles in the Student Chaplain program. Domblesky serves many different roles in his chaplaincy; he is the social media coordinator, Hainer chaplain, and a co-leader of Sanctuary, Eastern’s new gender-neutral grow group. “The mission behind Sanctuary is to really provide that inclusive space and talk about how we can come together as Christians,” Domblesky said.

Domblesky (who came out publicly as a gay man in 2019) was approached by Faith Lauffer about starting a grow group that is a safe space for Eastern students who identify as a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. “We wanted to provide that inclusive space so that whether you identify in the gender binary, or you’re nonbinary, or even if you just want to be in a more inclusive setting, we brought Sanctuary together,” Domblesky said on the creation of Sanctuary. While Sanctuary has been struggling with attendance, Domblesky is hopeful that its presence on campus will grow once they are able to hold in-person meetings.

Domblesky continues that sentiment of being a safe place for people in his aspirations in his career. He started his time at Eastern as an education major because he wanted to work with children. It wasn’t until Domblesky took social work courses that he realized he could work with children in a space that was outside of the classroom.

When reflecting on this change Domblesky said the following: “I just love working with kids in general. I never really thought of the different ways that I could work with children. I always thought of the primary role of being a teacher.” Since this realization, Domblesky changed his major to criminal justice so he could expand his knowledge of the criminal justice system. He plans to pursue a Master’s in Social Work after he graduates in 2022.

Domblesky’s favorite piece of scripture, Joshua 1:9, is a wonderful testament to how he lives his life: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” He has constantly shown strength and love throughout the Eastern community, and he has been a huge advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community both on campus and in the church as well. Whether it be through his chaplaincy, his career aspirations, or his friendships, Colton Domblesky is a valued and loved member of the Eastern community.

Last summer, Tokyo was supposed to hold the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Due to the outbreak of COVID in the months prior to and during the set months, The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to postpone the games to the Summer of 2021. However, things are not looking too bright for the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee. Between a sexism scandal in the leadership team and the spike in COVID cases, one might not be optimistic for a 2021 Olympic Games that goes as smoothly as it was set to happen.

On March 24th, 2020, the Japanese government postponed the games that were scheduled to take place in July and August 2020. In a press meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated that the games were postponed “in order to ensure that athletes from all over the world are able to compete in their best condition, and also in order to ensure the utmost safety for the spectators.” This decision was a collaborative effort between the Japanese government and the IOC (which is headed by Thomas Bach).

However, once the Olympic Organizing Committee began having meetings again in their Tokyo headquarters, an unforeseen scandal was afoot. The Organizing Committee’s president, Yoshiro Mori (an 83-year-old former prime minister of Japan), stated in a private meeting that women should not be allowed to speak, because he believes that they waste time and they will “never be able to finish”. This caused backlash from women all over the world, and many demanded his resignation. At first, Mori refused to resign, but he eventually stepped down after the international scrutiny he faced.

Mori’s successor as Olympic Organizing president is 56-year-old female cabinet minister Seiko Hashimoto. Hashimoto is not new to the Olympic Games; she medaled in speedskating at the 1992 games in France. With a background in politics (she was in Japan’s house of parliament for over 20 years before accepting her position with the Olympics) and athletics, Hashimoto’s ascension to the top of Japanese athletics has started a conversation about the importance of women in Japan, one of the world’s most male-dominated countries.

Before Hashimoto’s appointment but the Organizing Committee, another candidate was set to take her place. This other candidate, who was hand-selected by Mori and the rest of the all-male Organizing Committee, was Saburo Kawabuchi, an 84-year-old former Japanese soccer player. However, the committee was met with yet another round of criticism for their decision, as Kawabuchi is only a year older than Mori.

While there is still no guarantee that the Olympics will occur this summer, Hashimoto has vowed to try her hardest in protecting the athletes, international fans, and Japanese fans to stay healthy and safe. Her first priority is making sure “both the Japanese people and people from abroad will think that the Tokyo Games are safe and secure.” Only time will tell if the Olympics are as great as Hashimoto expects them to be.

Sources: NBC News, New York Times, IOC

Busy is not the proper word to describe senior Kaitlin Bell. Between her full course load, three jobs (at a gym, as a nanny, and at a convenience store), clinical rotation, and track and field, she barely has any time to herself. Bell, an athletic training major, spoke to the Waltonian while driving from one of her jobs to her off-campus apartment in Conshohocken. “This is the only time I have,” she chuckled. Between pumping gas and laughing about TikToks, Bell radiates laughter and positivity in everything she does.

Bell grew up in Mansfield, NJ in a family of six. One of four girls (including a twin sister), Bell’s tight-knit family is evidently one of the most important aspects of her life. Prior to the COVID restrictions being put in place, it was not uncommon for Bell to take a trip home to see her parents, siblings, or her dog Brandi.

Bell’s journey to Eastern was a long and laborious one. Originally committed to a different Division II school for track, Bell had a completely different idea of what college would look like in 2017.

When she didn’t receive enough financial aid from the other institution, she decided to seek out other options. She eventually found Eastern, and Bell says that “God knew Eastern was the place for (her)”.

When reflecting on the change of plans, Bell said that she “would be a completely different person” if she had never come to Eastern. Between Eastern’s commitment to financial assistance, the good heart of her coaches, and the friends she has made, Bell considered Eastern to be a place that made her a better person. She considers the friendships she has formed here at Eastern some of the best friendships she has, and

On the field, Bell is a pole vaulter and heptathlete. Originally starting her track and field career in jumps, Bell made the switch to her current positions during her freshman year.

During her time on vaults, Bell has made the podium a number of times and has made Eastern proud. She placed third overall at the 2019 MAC Championships in pole vault (a season in which there was no dedicated pole vault coach).

Over the past four years, Bell has grown into a bright young woman with great aspirations for her future. She is set to take her athletic training board exam in April before she starts her career. Bell is hoping to use the sports medicine education she received at Eastern in a sales and marketing capacity.

While she still has a few more months left in her undergraduate career, Bell is an extremely hard-working and admirable member of the Eastern community, and I am proud to call her a friend.

When I joined the Eastern community in 2017, I was a wide-eyed and excited eighteen-year-old with ambitions in politics and changing the world. I would galivant across campus with my new college friends, caking on makeup and hunting for a husband. We rambled on about our
dream man; hoping that by the end of our four years, we would find our forever.

Coming to the end of my time at Eastern, many things have changed; I no longer have bright red hair and horn-rimmed glasses. I traded in my political pursuits for a career in journalism. I learned that while finding mister right is a life goal, it is not a goal that I am ready for yet, and I learned that through a lived experience that changed my world.

I met my first love in March of my freshman year. He was kind and understanding, and he had a similar “ring by spring” mentality as I did due to his career in the US Navy. Only a month into our relationship we began talking about baby names and the timeline of our engagement. At nineteen, I thought I had met the love of my life, and I thought I’d be married at twenty-one.

The relationship ended a few months after it began. It took me twice the length of my relationship to heal from the heartbreak. In the three years since that relationship, I have learned so much about myself and what I need from a relationship.

I look back at that experience fondly, but I cannot help but cringe. I was rushing into a situation because of the pressure of our social circles; mine being Eastern’s, and his being the military. During one’s college years, there is so much to learn about the world and who we are as individuals.

While I am grateful for the love I had at nineteen, I would not be where I am today if I had stayed in that mindset. I learned to love myself and grew stronger without a man by my side. I know now what I want in a partner, but I am in no way ready to buckle down and get married.

I have thrived on my own and I am still learning and growing. I have decided that before I find the man of my dreams, I should be financially independent and have a foot in the door with my career.

If you are feeling the pressure of the “ring by spring mentality” to settle down, please know that you are not alone. Do not give into this pressure for any reason; make sure that the person you say “yes” to is your forever. We all have doubts, but the love should always outweigh those doubts.

Do not be afraid to find yourself before finding your life partner. We as college students are so young and have so much time. Take advantage of your youth and live your life for yourself. You have the rest of your life to find love.

While some would assume that Eastern’s campus became quiet after the departure of students for

Morgan Pierce of Waltonian | Zime features a new, more modern café design alongside new, healthier menu options.

Thanksgiving break, the Eastern Sodexo team was brewing up their newest addition to campus: Zime. Officially opening the first week of the Spring semester, students are becoming accustomed to the new and exciting addition of healthier meal options and Starbucks coffee. I spoke with Scott Lofland, the general manager for Sodexo at Eastern, about the change and how it came to be.

A few years ago, Sodexo heard that Eastern students were not too happy with the slow wait times and greasy foods that were being served at Jammin’ Java and Eagle’s Nest. Sodexo held focus groups with Eastern students and tried their best to figure out how to better suit the Eastern population. The students expressed their desire for accessible fresh and healthy food, as well as a larger assortment of beverages. Lofland and his team began doing their research into different Sodexo brands across the country and found Zime, a healthy eating option that also served Starbucks coffee. Needless to say, they decided to bring Zime to Eastern.

Zime was originally slated to open at Eastern in the Fall 2020 semester, but due to the coronavirus restrictions put in place by Governor Wolf, construction had to be delayed. Lofland stated that due to the shutdown of construction companies in Radnor Township, none of the construction permits could be approved and Sodexo was stuck at a standstill. Thankfully, the permits were approved by the time Thanksgiving rolled around, so the team was still able to get Zime in this academic year.

While students returned to see Starbucks drinks on the menu, the biggest surprise was the updated food options that Zime has to offer. Instead of the fattening chicken fingers and turkey melts that students were used to at Eagle’s Nest, Zime offers healthier (and fresher) options like pasta, rice bowls, empanadas, and flatbreads. Lofland emphasized the freshness of the food at Zime, stating that he was proud that Zime’s service was not only faster than its predecessor but better in both quality and freshness.

The student reaction to Zime so far has been generally positive. When asked about his opinion of Zime, self-described coffee lover Michael Newman said that the new menu has impressed him. “I was pleasantly surprised not only by the new look but also by the better quality of the food,” said Newman. Senior Lindsey Thompson echoed Newman, stating that “having Starbucks (drinks) is really familiar and nice”. As a student who visits Zime on a fairly regular basis, I agree with Newman and Thompson. On top of that, the line at Zime has moved quicker than the line ever did at Jammin Java, which is a huge improvement in my eyes. Zime has quickly become the new favorite food spot of Eastern students, and we are so excited to see how Zime continues to get better.