The Waltonian

With another year quickly approaching, the White House unveiled President Trump’s budget for the fiscal year 2021. This budget is a record $4.75 trillion.There are multiple cuts to many initiatives as well as increased funding to a few areas.

The proposed plan includes $2 trillion in cuts to safety net programs and student loan initiatives. In addition, these cuts also come with new work requirements for Medicaid, federal housing assistance and food stamp recipients, which are estimated to cut $300 billion in spending from those specific programs. The budget also includes cuts on federal disability insurance benefits by $70 billion and on student loan programs by $170 billion.

More specifically on student loans, the budget calls for eliminating the subsidized federal loans and ending the public service loan forgiveness, an incentive that allows teachers, police officers, government workers and other public servants to cancel their remaining federal student loans after a decade. It is important to note, however, these proposals were also in last year’s budget, but Congress failed to adopt them.

For Medicaid, the budget proposes changes that reduce spending on the benefits for the poor and disabled. However, the budget also has some expansions of Medicaid, allowing states the option to cover inpatient care for psychiatric care or drug addiction treatment.

In addition, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) will also see cuts by 9 percent, but there is a raise in funding levels for infectious disease activities, perhaps as a response to Coronavirus. The White House is attempting to ‘refocus’ the CDC on infectious diseases and opioid control.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is facing a 26 percent budget cut. The budget does not mention climate change, however, Republicans in Congress are planning on unveiling a climate change agenda that focuses on funding for innovation. Specifically, this involves development for carbon capture technology and batteries to store solar power. However, under the President’s 2021 budget plan, the Department of Energy that oversees research for these initiatives, would receive a 29 percent cut to all programs that are not related to defense and nuclear weapons.

Other programs that focus on foreign aid, public broadcasting and up to 50 environmental programs are removed under this proposal. However, there are increases for restricting immigration (such as $2 billion for the wall along the southern border and additional funds to develop weapons). Also, there is a budget increase for Veteran Affairs by 14.5 percent which includes suicide prevention, opiod addiction services, and healthcare.

Overall, President Trump’s budget seems to

reflect what he believes are the key issues he brought up in his own campaign such as immigration, military funding, and increased care for veterans, but cuts a lot of other programs to focus funding elsewhere.

Source: New York Times

If you walk into any Barnes and Noble, or preferably, an independently owned bookstore, you might be surprised to see that if you take a close look there might be a book on display among the hundreds that are there already. You might look inside a shiny, new and embossed cover to see a description. When you begin to read that description, you may see a quick summary about a protagonist in their early to late twenties dealing with the dramatic changes of adulthood. You might look a little bit closer at the cover, turn it in your hands and notice that it is categorized and labeled New Adult. You might think, well what exactly is this? There’s no designated section for it, but here it is.

You might be familiar with Young Adult (primarily for the age group of 12-18, although that can vary) and Adult fiction. New Adult, however, is a relatively new and emerging genre within the literary world.

New Adult is an emerging book market specifically for those in the roughly in age group from 18 years old to 25 years old. Some consider it to even go up to 30 years old. The genre was essentially created to capture the experiences of those emerging into adulthood who are thrusted into a life with a plethora of new responsibilities different than those experiences during teen years, as well as older adults who seem to have themselves a little more together with families, stable jobs etc. New Adult as a genre aims to capture the experience of those in between the stages of Young Adult and Adult.

It seems like a good idea (and it still is), however when the genre was established a decade or so ago, the plots were deemed as “Young Adult fiction with explicit sex” according to author, Kristen Kieffer. At the time, NA was filled with cliche greek life university plots and sometimes unnecessary explicit scenes where none of the characters became fully developed, failing to capture the essence of what it is like for those actually trying to adapt to adulthood in their turbulent twenties.

Although the genre started off rocky about a decade ago, it is striving in the right direction today, but it still faces a stigma for how it started, as well as push back from people who think it is too similar to YA or they think it’s an ‘entitled genre’ and too ‘millennial’. However, despite this, there is a need and a market for this type of book. Do you personally know anyone who had a very smooth transition into adulthood? Probably not. While YA does deal with similar themes as NA, the key difference in the storytelling is the perspective.

“How these themes are explored and presented from both a teen’s perspective and the perspective of someone with a well-established adult life will vastly differ from that of someone newly thrust into the responsibility of adulthood,” Author Kristen Kieffer writes on well-storied. She is personally working on a NA novel of her own, Lady Legacy, that focuses on a 24-year-old who is trying to become a physician.

Kieffer makes a point in her article, “What is New Adult Fiction?”, that this group of people also need to be able to see themselves and stories similar to theirs. NA has come a long way since its conception, and although it may not have sections for itself in every bookstore, it is sought after. She argues that diverse New Adult fiction has the opportunity to help new adults navigate their own emerging adulthoods. This fact alone is just one reason why New Adult should be appreciated more because these experiences definitely matter and are revelant to many people today.

Next time you’re in a bookstore, ask your bookseller if they have any New Adult on their shelves. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a book that speaks to you as you try to navigate your own adulthood while showing support for a genre that is struggling to lift itself up into the spotlight.

Sources: well-storied

I am not the most healthiest of eaters. When I’m stressed, I have a tendency to binge on my favorite guilty pleasure snacks: kettle cooked chips, popcorn, or cup noodles. However despite my lack of will power, I have tried as a college student to be mindful of what I eat and drink. Overtime, I have picked up healthier habits, but sometimes it can be troublesome being a broke college student access to a variety of healthy food. As a senior, I have learned a couple of tips and tricks here and there, so here are some of my own pieces of advice.

If you are looking to change your diet, it’s always best to not go cold turkey. If you gradually remove something from your diet, your more likely not to go back to it. For example, two years ago I decided to cut soda and fast food from my diet. Over the course of one summer, I progressively reduced the intake. By the time I came back for fall semester, I had phased both fast food and soda from my diet, keeping up with it even until now.

However, maintaining a balanced diet and progress you have made over breaks can be hard. If you’re someone who relies on a full kitchen to eat healthy, it can be hard to transition back to a small dorm room where it is hard to keep fresh fruits. One good practice that I would do before I had my car was that whenever I went to the Dining Commons, I would grab a couple of fruits to go, and keep them in my room. I would do this every three days. This way I always had some kind of healthy food or snack in my room.

One very important aspect of maintaining a balanced diet is making sure you drink plenty of water, and keeping a reusable water bottle with you makes this easier. During my freshman year, I’m pretty sure I drank more coffee than water, and when I would drink water I’m sure my organs were celebrating.

I think maintaining a balanced diet is always a work in progress, especially for the average college student. While we should strive to be healthier and take care of our bodies, don’t get discouraged if you slip up every once in a while. Be kind to your body, but give yourself grace at the same time.

Receiving news has changed immensely within the past decade. News used to be more accessible through physical mediums such as newspapers, magazines or television, allowing people to somewhat regulate how much news they can consume. Now, the world is under a 24 hours news cycle where you can see what’s happening anywhere at anytime on any platform. You can find news without the intention of seeking out information simply from scrolling through social media.

While it is easy to stay informed, it is also easy to get overwhelmed and triggered with the negativity that is in the news today. However, many active citizens of the world still like to know what is going on around them. This can be a challenging line to walk.

It is important to keep in mind that even the ability to ignore news is a form of privilege. Many people cannot make this choice because it is their lived reality; they do not have the privilege of turning it off. With this in mind, how do we keep ourselves in a healthy mindset, while also staying informed and aware?

We can do this specifically by practicing newscycle self-care. When I find myself feeling overwhelmed with the news, I try to do activities that will take me away from my phone, where it is easy to get sucked into the continuous news cycle. I like to go for walks, spend time doing blackout poetry, or get absorbed into a new book. Any activity that can ground a person in their present reality, instead of the latest news frenzy, can be helpful.

Another way to do news self-care is regulating how much you check your news sources a week. If you find yourself checking the news every day and find it overwhelming, try reducing your news consumption to two times a week, or take a break on the weekends. In addition, reducing your social media consumption is also beneficial because it prevents you from news that may spontaneously come up on your feed. This ensures that you will stay informed on what’s going on in the world around you and stay in touch with those important to you, but also allow you to take care of your mental state too.

In addition to regulating your news consumption, it is also healthy to talk out some of the news you may find distressing with people who you trust. Those people can perhaps not only empathize with how you feel, but can help you begin to recognize the emotions you’re feeling and process them in a healthier way.

The 24 hour news cycle can be hard to handle or manage, but it is also important to stay well-informed and aware about what is happening in the world and how it is impacting others. In order to stay well informed, but also take care of ourselves, we need to make sure that we utilize a self-care that is not only fitted to our individual needs, but helps us when we are triggered by a story in the news.

If you are interested in discovering some new and popular music, check out these top five albums on the Billboard 200 albums chart! Currently, these are the albums that are performing the best in terms of streams, physical sales and digital sales. The albums listed below are representative for the week of Nov. 9.

1. Jesus is King by Kayne West

This album by Kanye West is only about 27 minutes long, but it is doing exceptionally well due to West’s die-hard fans and listeners. On this record, West takes a more experimental route on his ninth studio album. While it still features Rap and Hip Hop (one of his staples), it has prominent Christain themes.

2.Hollywood’s Bleeding by Post Malone

This is the third album by Post Malone featuring many artists such as DaBaby, Future, Halsey, Meek Mill, Lil Baby, Ozzy Osbourne, Travis Scott, SZA, Swae Lee and Young Thug. This album so far has been on the chart for 8 weeks, showing phenomenal success in terms of sales. This body of work proves that Post Malone is a music powerhouse that is not going anywhere anytime soon.

3. Pony by Rex Orange County

Pony is the third studio album by this British singer and songwriter. The album falls into the indie category and debuted at number three this week. This album was released after several single releases from the singer. It features the songs “10/10” and “Pluto Projector.”

4. Al YoungBoy 2 by Youngboy Never Broke Again

This Rap and Hip Hop album is the 14th mixtape by Youngboy Never Broke Again. The mixtape featured the singles “Self Control” and “Slime Mentality,” which were also both in the EP titled, The Continuance. Although it falls to number four this week, it debuted at number one, and it is YoungBoy’s first album to top the chart.

5. Over It by Summer Walker

This album is by an upcoming R&B and Soul singer. It is Walker’s debut studio album. It debuted at number two, but after a few weeks has fallen to number five. The album has spawned the notable singles “Playing Games” and “Stretch You Out”. It also showcases a remix of Walker’s “Girls Need Love” featuring Drake.

Sources: Billboard, Genius, Wikipedia

Ever since the tragedies of Parkland and El Paso, and the many gun violence related incidents before them, tension is mounting in America. Many people are calling for mass gun reform, especially younger people who are frustrated with lawmakers for not putting legislation for this on the forefront. According to the Atlantic, America has 4.4% of the world’s population, but almost half of the world’s civilian-owned guns. More than ever before, people are losing their lives due to unprecedented violence that can most likely be reduced by common sense gun reform. However, gun reform itself is complex, and different forms of it are needed for different areas. While gun reform is important, there tends to be more of a focus on urban or suburban gun control, but rural reform is just as important and dangerous, and unfortunately less discussed.

People in rural communities tend to have more benefits of gun use. According to Vox, “People in rural areas are far more likely to grow up with guns, and to use them for hunting and recreation. They might also face longer police response times, and so feel an increased need for a firearm in the home as a matter of personal safety.”

Due to these reasons, guns are way more accessible in these areas. Gun accessibility, though, can have its consequences. For example, death by suicide using a gun is more likely to occur, and it accounts for most gun deaths in rural areas. Unfortunately, this has been largely disregarded in the public talks about gun control. While these incidents are not usually declared national tragedies like mass shootings, they are still lives lost that may have been prevented if there was more gun control in rural areas.

Although there are not a lot of proposed solutions to this particular rural issue, there is some push for “firearm choice” laws which allows for people to voluntarily put themselves on “do not sell-to” lists. This is a popular choice because it allows for people to make their own decision to waive their own rights. It is an option that people may take if they believe they are a possible risk to themselves or others.

For the future when people consider gun control, especially on a national scale, it is important to consider the lives of not only specific communities but all communities, and how they may be impacted by gun violence differently.

Sources: LA Times, Vox

On Oct. 12, many Eastern alumnx, parents, and current students gathered on campus to attend Homecoming, a weekend filled with dancing, fundraising and celebrating.

During the week of Oct. 6, Eastern graduates and current students gathered to celebrate the homecoming of the alumnx. To start off the festivities, the weekly chapel on Wednesday was homecoming themed with alumnx, Ruth Gilson Fox ‘78, Mar ‘84, taking the lead. For 18 years along with her husband, were missionaries in Thailand. Ruth is now the Regional Consultant for Education to Southeast Asia, India, China and Japan, showcasing just one example of what past Eastern graduates are up to today.

Later in the week on Friday Oct. 11, The St. Davids Golf Club inducted new members, while there was also an Eastern Arts showcase, which is one of the more popular events for Homecoming, which featured spectacular performances by Music, Dance, and Theater students, alumnx, and faculty.

To start off the weekend, there was an alumnx reunion brunch to honor the Alumna of the Year, Barbara Burger ‘71, and the Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year, Jonas Dorsett ‘16. There was also a Fab 50+ Reunion for alumnx from the 1950’s and 60’s. All these events led up to the Homecoming Fall Festival, where Over 20 student organizations set up a variety of booths.

Some included food and baked goods, while others offered merchandise. It was also family friendly, including a moon bounce and games. The Eagle mascot, Beaker, was also found flying around for cute and funny pictures. This festival allowed for alumnx to support the current student organizations through donations and sales that were and currently still on campus, allowing them to take a fun trip down memory lane. Some notable tables included the Encatus table with Chick-Fil-A, Refuge selling club shirts, as well as a table selling jewelry for and by Black artists. The funds raised will help support the clubs for the remainder of the year and into the spring semester.

Along with the festival, some sports games were happening during the same time, allowing home goers to enjoy a field hockey game VS. Kings, a women’s soccer game VS. DeSales and the men’s soccer game VS. DeSales. While the event was lively to some extent, the festivities seemed to have less attendance than previous years, probably due to Fall Free Days which occurred the following weekend, lessening the amount of attendance for parents who currently have students enrolled.

Overall, Homecoming was a success, attracting alumnx from far and wide, who all came to celebrate one shared experience: their unforgettable time spent at Eastern University, that undoubtedly shaped who they are today, and what they still hope to become.

We have to face the facts—America is fueled with more hatred than ever before (even though it never really left to begin with). In 2016, a president was elected by means of perpetuating hate and ignorance not only in light of actual policy, but of people.

We currently have a president in office who believes that is okay to ostracize minorities in the United States, which in turn, gives his followers reason to believe that it also acceptable for them to exert the same kind of behavior. In the year following Trump’s election, hate crimes increased by 17 percent according to the New York Times, and have steadily increased each year since. It is also important to keep in mind that a vast amount of hate crimes go unreported, so the percentage may actually be a lot higher than what is reported.

As a Christian, I am appalled by the mass mistreatment of other people groups. I also believe that all Christians are not doing everything that they can to rectify this issue, but instead are using their privilege to avoid it (I am primarily referring to white Christians).

When we look at the Bible and look at Jesus’ life, we see a son of God who embraced the ostracized: The poor, tax collectors, prostitutes and even the disabled. When we look at the Bible, we see a son of God who loves all kinds of people for who they are, their identities and all. Jesus told us to “love thy neighbor”, so what does it say about Christians if we condone hateful behavior towards other human beings? Are we really following Jesus’ example?

In light of the recent case of Jussie Smollett, who staged his own hate crime, we have to be sure not to discredit the experiences of minorities. His actions are not to be condoned, however, we have to make sure not to invalidate the experiences of others as well.

It is important to remember that Jussie Smollett does not represent all hate crime victims, and Christians, nor should anyone, use him as an excuse to ignore or protest other instances of hate crimes. When victims come forward, we should always believe them. Most of the time when Black LGBT people come forward, they are not believed. Jussie Smollett may make it harder for victims to come forward and be believed, but the truth of the matter is that not enough of us try to hear the stories of the marginalized to begin with. This is something that everyone in the country can improve on, as well as Christians.

In order for more people to feel safe in America and the world, Christians have a responsibility to step up and use their privilege for change. If you are a Christian and these acts of injustice are not bothering you, or making you twitch, are you really a Christian? Can you honestly call yourself a follower of Jesus Christ, a person who stood against injustices like these during his whole lifetime, and sit still? I know I can’t.

Sources: New York Times

On Friday, Feb 15, The Student Activities Board (SAB) hosted another one of their famous Coffee Houses for Eastern students to enjoy after the first week back after Spring Break. Events like the Coffee House provide a carefree and relaxing environment for students who are trying to unwind after a hectic week of classes, homework and campus life.

The event started at 7 p.m. in the Jammin’ Java, and SAB provided refreshments, such as water and cookies for attendees to enjoy while watching the show. However, despite being dubbed a Coffee House, there was sadly no coffee to be found. The stage, equipped with everything needed to accomodate performers, was decorated with red curtains and string lights.

The tables were also adorned with little teacup lights and plant decorations to create an aesthetic experience. In total, thirteen Eastern students decided to showcase their various talents, which made for an amazing and fun filled night.

The performances consisted primarily of poetry, singing, and instrumentals. Sarah Sweitzer, a Music major, opened up the show. Sweitzer performed a cover of two songs, and then sang one original song titled “Outside Your Window.” While she was singing, she also skillfully played guitar, making her a stand out opening performer.

Following her, Mariella Distefano, showed her talent with piano and guitar playing. Distefano also engaged with the crowd, telling attendees she was starting with a slow song with a more hopeful tone at the end. She also covered a classic favorite by Ecosmith titled “Bright.” As she sang, one look around the room and anyone could tell that everyone was enjoying themselves and immersed in her performance as students sang along and bobbed their heads to her melodic singing.

There were also a couple people who performed poetry, such as Cait Wooten and Sashaine Clark. Wooten was the first poetry performance of the night, she performed three original poems. Clark performed two original poems and followed them with a powerful and moving performance of Andrea Day’s “Rise Up.”

There was also one refreshing rap performance by Allen Mitchell, with a chorus sung by El-Fatih Chase. Mitchell explained that the original song was inspired for his love for Jesus. At his confession, the audience hooted in support, as one would expect from a Christian community such as Eastern. Chase also performed a solo song.

Another memorable performance was Morgan Leavy and Rainey Backues. Leavy, who has been featured in The Waltonian before for her active involvement in Eastern’s drama community, performed “Smoke Signals” by Phoebe Bridgers, an indie artist. Backues accompanied her with electric guitar, and also followed her performance with a solo performance. The Coffee House as a whole featured mainly singers and instrument players. There were several other performers who also performed throughout the night, showcasing their talents.

Toward the night’s end, Shawna Bratton, a member of SAB, concluded the event by singing an acapella of “Ordinary People” by John Legend, and “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys. Before she started she asked the crowd to sing happy birthday to one of her fellow SAB members, Colton Domblesky. Of course, the crowd cheerfully sang for him.

As Bratton began her performance, it was cut off by her shock to the raging storm outside, which threw her off. She expressed her surprise to the audience, and they laughed, helping to end the night on a more carefree note. Overall, the event was a success, showcasing not only the talent that lives at Eastern, but the care-free, kind and easy going community that we all know and love.

In the month of Feb., there are multiple events that were held or are being held to celebrate Black History Month. The events ranged from panel discussions, presentations from professors and even a trivia night. However, included in the line up of the events was a Unity Paint Night (this is also apart of Unity Week), which is hosted by Black Student League (BSL) and Multicultural Awareness Advisory Committee (MAAC) as are all the other events. Providing a Unity Paint Night is not only a fun and interactive way to engage students in the message of this important month, but it allows students to creatively express themselves in way that also celebrates diversity. On Friday Feb. 21, this event was hosted in the Gough Seminar room beginning at 8pm.

At the start of the event, several coordinators for the event brought in brand new canvases for everyone to paint on. They also included a huge container filled with supplies that were needed such as paint, paintbrushes and water cups. Several tables were put together to provide all the attendees with a roomy painting space. Thaliah Sicard, who is a guest of MAAC, provided with an example image for everyone to paint and led the event.

The example painting was that of a young Black girl with an afro and a crown placed on top of her head. The example started with a very colorful background with a mash of different colors. The body of the girl herself was painted with thinner lines of black paint. This more silhouette style of painting was a relatively easy choice for people who are beginners at painting. The simple choice of painting allowed for painters of all varieties be able to create something beautiful and something that they would be proud of.

Guests of the Unity Paint Night were also free to paint a variation of the example, or create something completely original. There were several attendees who decided to alter some details on their own paintings. Some changed the hair to be in a bun, while others added more intricate backgrounds and even phrases or words. As the event progressed, Sicard and Abigail Slater, a club leader of The Society of Art and Illustration, offered advice and guidance to those struggling with certain painting techniques, such as texture, color choice and how to fix little mistakes in the painting process.

Overall, the Unity Week Painting Night, was not only a fun and interactive way to celebrate diversity, but it was also held on a Friday night, one of the best times to destress and relax after a busy and hectic school week filled with classes, work and assignments. Not only that, but the core element of this event was remembering that the arts also play a part in representation. In art, whether it is painting, writing or photography, all types of people should be able to see themselves and relate to it.

This Unity Week Painting night was one of the last and final events planned during the course of this month. It was a fun way to finish off the month filled with events that emphasized the importance of Black representation. If you are interested in the last remaining event relating to Black History Month, on Feb. 27 in the Walton Prayer Chapel, Lexi Dunbar will host “Prayers for Social Justice” at 12pm. If you can make it, check it out, you definitely won’t regret it!