World Champion Retires to Normal Life

Alexa Schillinger, three-time world power lifting champion, is now a student at BSU

By: Danni Steele

From first glance, Alexa Schillinger looks like a normal good looking teenager at Bemidji State University. The brunette with brown eyes can be typically seen in jeans and a fitted shirt. She is 5’2” and weighs about 123 pounds. Schillinger may not seem very strong at first, but take a closer look, and her defined muscles in her arms and legs become apparent. She is pure muscle. Schillinger is the three-time world power lifting champion.

Alexa ended with a deadlift of
336 pounds in South Africa in 2008.

Alexa Schillinger is from the town of Phillips, Wisc., pop. 1,675. She started her power lifting with her first competition in 6th grade. She was playing hockey on the boy’s team when her dad said she had to start lifting weights if she wanted to be strong and keep up with the boys. Schillinger’s dad, Jeff, is the coach of the high school power lifting team. He noticed her natural strength and got her into competitions. Once she was a freshman she was able to compete for state and took first place.

Power lifting took up a lot of Schillinger’s time and required a lot of dedication according to her. “It was a 24 hour affair,” explained Schillinger. She trained four days a week, two hours a day. “That was just the minimum,” said Schillinger.  Power lifting also involves cutting weight just like wrestling. Preparations for competition include protein shakes for breakfast, chugging lots of water, and going to bed early. “I always had to go to bed early even in the summer,” explained Schillinger.

Not only did she power lift in high school, but also she was very active in other things. Schillinger was in student council, choir and national honor society. She played softball, volleyball and hockey. She said she was able to participate in everything with balance. She also did not participate in hockey her senior year. “I would have gone crazy,” she explained. Schillinger said she could not have accomplished any of this with out her family. “I have always had lots of support from my family,” she said.

Alexa posing with the U.S flag after winning
the gold metal in Brazil in 2009.

Schillinger won state all four years of high school. She was the second in Wisconsin history to do so. In order to qualify for nationals all three lifts have to add up to a certain total to advance. To qualify for the world’s team, you have to have the best total lifts in your weight class. The three lifts needed to qualify are squat, bench and dead lift. Dead lift was Schillinger’s specialty. She holds the “unofficial record” of 405 pounds. It is the unofficial record because it was not done at the world’s meet.

Schillinger is the three-time world champion. She has traveled all over the world to do so. Her first world’s competition was in Le Guard France. Her second was in South Africa and her third was in Brazil. Schillinger said her favorite experience was in South Africa. “The team was so close we were just like family,” said Schillinger, “everyone represented the united states in a respectable way.” The girl’s team, consisting of eight girls also won that year. The boy’s team consisting of ten, also traveled with the girls. Schillinger’s dad was asked to be a world’s coach and he was able to travel with her.

Extensive fundraising was how Schillinger was able to attend worlds. “I had to fundraise my entire way there,” she said. “Power lifting is a very popular sport, but there is no money in it.” Schillinger was unable to be sponsored because she would have lost her amateurship and would not have been able to play other high school or college sports.  “I literally just wrote letters to companies and families we were close with. We were really proud that I was not only representing the U.S, but our tiny town as well,” said Schillinger. “Everyone was very supporting.”

Alexa's squat in 2008 was 330 pounds
at a body weight of 115 pounds.

Schillinger could have gone to an Olympic training center, and attended college in that town but decided not to. Olympic lifting and power lifting are different lifts and she did not want to relearn everything. Schillinger said she just wanted a “normal college experience.” She chose to retire from power lifting. “I was burnt out, it was my entire life in high school.” She chose to participate in softball at Bemidji State University. “I wasn’t ready to give up athletics all together, it would have been a huge culture shock,” said Schillinger. For her, softball is a “happy medium between a normal person life and a happy athlete.”

Schillinger’s roommate Bronwin Boid, another freshman and athlete at Bemidji State University explained her first thoughts about living with Schillinger. “I thought she was going to be a super healthy person and do nothing but lift weights,” said Boid. “I was proved wrong. Alexa is down to Earth and very humble.”

It is now almost the end of Schillinger’s first year of college. She is no longer on the softball team and has decided to do choir instead. “Softball ended up not being for me, I didn’t have the passion as I did for power lifting to dedicate my time,” she said. “I am very happy with doing choir.”

Schillinger lives by a quote her father always says; “The only thing you can control is you.” She said it is applied to power lifting because you weren’t interacting with your competition. “All you could do is keep your mind on what you had to do and go from there,” said Schillinger. She went on the explain, “it was a very good thing to keep in mind not just for power lifting, but in life.”

Proficiency test is given to BSU students

Skewed results are inevitable.

By: Ciarra Paulson

It’s 8:00 a.m. on a Friday morning. Presentations are due and must be given today. The entire class is dressed up and shaking with anticipation. As the last of the students shuffle in, the teacher announces, “presentations will be postponed, I’ve volunteered you for a test.” The classroom explodes in confusion and panic. The teacher says, “this test doesn’t count for a grade, it’s just a proficiency test. Just have fun with it.”

This proficiency test is given to freshman and seniors at Bemidji State University. This is to find out if our students at BSU are expanding on their education as they progress in the program. Only about 60 tests are given out total for the year. Half are given to freshman, half are given to seniors. The only benefit to the student for taking the test, is to have a chance to win an Ipad2 through a drawing. The test includes reading, grammar, comprehension, and math.

Students taking a proficiency test at Bemidji State University. 

Barb Hanus, a professor at Bemidji State University in the design technology program, has always volunteered her classes in the past to take this test. She was under the impression that the same test would be given every year like it had been done previously. This year was different. “The test normally takes about 15 minutes. This is the impression I was under. When the tests got to my classroom and they said they were going to take up to an hour, I was shocked,” she said.

Jason Lien, a student in the design technology program, said, “This is stupid, how do they expect us to remember this stuff? We haven’t taken tests like this since high school. It’s been four years since I’ve done any math.” When talking to the other students in that class, that was the general conclusion. They felt it was unfair. Andrea Bodin, another student in the design technology program said, “freshman have just taken these kinds of tests. They are taking writing and math right now for their lib eds [liberal education]. It’s been four years since I’ve taken anything like that.”

Computers in the Mac Lab where Design Technology

students do most of their work. 

The students in Hanus’s class took the test without question and complaints. After the test was given and taken away, Hanus explained, “ I’m sorry for that. I didn’t realize it was going to take an hour to complete it. It’s never been that long in the past. And so you all are aware, I informed the test giver that his findings are going to be skewed. You guys haven’t taken math in years, and probably failed that part of the section. Freshman will probably ace it. Tests prior to this one were nothing like this. I’m sorry.”

Bemidji State University gives out a proficiency test every year. Every year they say they want the seniors to beat the freshman. Is a proficiency test the best way of finding out BSU student’s education levels?

Look Out— the FYRE is Spreading

Bemidji State University’s Residential Program for freshmen is Gaining Speed

By Jake Hertwig and Jillian Cordova

College can be a very rewarding experience.  For some, it is the best years of their lives.  However, studies conducted by the College Parents of America, an organization designed to help parents and students transition into college, have shown that the chances of a student continuing his/her college career depend greatly on what their first year experience is like. 



Oak residents eating pizza before the homecoming game. The FYRE

program treated students to this and other free events throughout the year.



It can be very difficult for students to break out of their shell, make new friends, and partake in new experiences, as many older BSU students would say. Bemidji State University is well aware of this, which is why a special program was implemented in one BSU dorm back in 1995. Oak Hall is the current host to the First Year Residential Experience (FYRE) Program.  This program is geared towards freshman students who wish to have a much more hands-on experience in the social and academic aspects of college.

           

The FYRE Program has grown throughout the years.  Up until fall of 2008, the program was hosted in Maple Hall, housing about 300 residents.  The sight of this program is now Maple’s neighbor, Oak Hall, which now holds more than 500 residents.  The building consists of 10 floors: two all-male, two all-female, three co-ed, one co-ed nursing, and one co-ed outdoors floor. 418 freshmen participate in the FYRE program; the remaining residents are freshman or older students who want a quieter living experience. If incoming students wish to experience this program first hand, all they must do is sign up for it when applying for residency.

           

In a traditional dorm floor, residents would have one Residential Assistant (RA) who lives with them on the floor.  Because the FYRE Program is highly geared towards the social aspect of college, every FYRE floor has two RAs. These RAs aim to provide an overall healthy living community for residents, which includes following university rules as well as setting up programs in which the residents can partake in to better become connected to their floor and beyond. 

The second aspect of FYRE that differentiates it from other campus programs is its focus on extra academic success for residents. This is done with the addition of two Peer Academic Assistants (PAAs) who live on each floor and serve as a tutor and an overall academic resource for the residents.  The PAAs set up times to meet with the students throughout the semester to talk to them about any academic concerns, from how classes are going to how they study for tests. Freshmen do not realize how much more difficult college is than high school; having these PAAs available helps keep them academically motivated.

As Tony Hansen, Residential Life staff member put it, “There are many misconceptions that imply that college is just one big party. Some students literally enter college and do not realize that you have to keep your grades up in order to stay here.” 

             “It was extraordinarily helpful having the PAAs incorporated into my living quarters,” said Matt Volkman, a freshman who participated in the FYRE program. “It gave me the opportunity for academic assistance that I otherwise wouldn’t have had.”

The overall goal of the FYRE Program is to make sure that students get off to a good start in their college career. This is difficult at times considering the temptations that students are faced with on a daily basis. FYRE focuses greatly on planning and executing activities that are both fun and safe so that residents have an easier time meeting people and socializing in an environment that makes everyone feel comfortable.

 For example, students have the opportunity to attend a Twins game in the spring. Freshman and staff members ride a bus down to Minneapolis and get to experience a game for a mere $5. Other activities include FYRE barbeques, Family Visit Weekend, free bowling nights, and the end of year FYRE Banquet which are all funded in part by an expanded budget the program receives due to its significance. 

According to freshman Kayla Brown, “FYRE brings students together during their first year on campus, which can be an overwhelming for some. The activities they plan, such as free hockey tickets or the $5 Twins game tickets are great opportunities that are fun and help you meet new people.”

A group of FYRE students pose in front of the fireplace at the
annual Oak Christmas party. The program hosts this event in order
for students to relax just before getting ready for finals.

            Despite all the positive feedback the FYRE program has received, there are still some students who have mixed feeling about it.

“It’s been sort of helpful,” said Alyson Lehman, who partook in the program this year. “The FYRE program itself hasn’t helped me too much, but it has allowed me to help myself better. I still would have made friends this year, just not as easily.”

Gina Hurt, another resident at Oak Hall said, “I signed up for Oak Hall not really knowing about FYRE. The activities were fun sometimes, but it could have focused more on what the students wanted to do. Overall, it did help me meet people I might not have if I wasn’t in the program.”

.

Bemidji State Hockey looks for players to step up

Matt Read leaves big shoes to fill at Bemidji State 

By: Jordan George and Travis Bosch 

The Bemidji State Beavers hockey team will have their hands full next year, when they will try and compete for a national championship without star forward Matt Read.

Matt Read Celebrating one of his many
goals scored as a beaver. 

Matt Read, two-time all American senior, has been a big part of the teams success over the past four years. He has led the beavers in scoring three of the four years, contributed to three conference championships, two NCAA tournament births, and a historic frozen four appearance. “He (Read) was a big part of our program here and he will go down as one of the best players to ever wear the green n white.” Stated Tom Serratore, head coach of the team. Read signed with professional contract with the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League. With Read gone, Serratore is looking for players to step up and help fill the role Read left behind. “There is big shoes to fill, and we will have to wait and   see who steps up their game.”

Serratore points to his junior class led by Brad Hunt to take on the task.  “Hunt has been here for three years now and has learned a lot. He has the ability to lead his junior class and team to a championship.” For this junior class championships are nothing new. “These juniors have experience on winning championships, they will set the bar for the underclassmen.” This will be one of the beaver’s most challenging tasks it has ever faced. “It is never easy to lose a superstar to the NHL, but things happen in this game and we as a staff are confident these six juniors can lead to us greatness.”

Although this program relies heavily on upper classman, the beavers have some pretty talented recruits coming in who can chip in and make the program better. “We have six players coming into our beaver hockey family next year who will all get the chance to help this program out.” Serratore stated. He highlights Mitch Cain’s name, who is expected to get drafted in the NHL, according to NHL Central Scouting.

2010-2011 Bemidji State Beavers

Mitch Cain, a native of Fort Francis, Ontario, is supposed to get drafted in this year’s 2011 NHL entry draft. He finished off a marvelous year with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL (United States Hockey League) where he was third on his team in scoring with 27 points (19 goals) in 52 games. “Mitch is electric in the way he plays the game,” Said Serratore. “ He can take you out of your seat every time he is on the ice.” With most of the scoring coming from Read, the two-time coach of the year finalist is expecting Cain to deliver. “We are very pleased to have this type of player come to Bemidji State, the expectations are high for him (Cain) and we are hoping he can come in and help produce in the scoring department.”

With such a rich tradition here at Bemidji State, the fans have no doubt that this team will be in contention yet again. Todd Melrose, a long time fan of the beavers said, “This program has accepted just about every challenge it has been given and has exceeded expectations.”

The Beavers will be back in action next year at the Sanford Center where they play host in an exhibition game against the Regina Cougars on October 2^nd. For farther details you can go to www.bsubeavers.com

Falls High School Cheerleading Dispute

By Emma Pavleck, The Daily Journal

April 26, 2011

Falls High School varsity cheerleading tryouts were held in International Falls on March 18^th. This year, due to lack of participation, the tryouts were open to next year’s seventh through twelfth grade students. This was the first time this opportunity was made available to upcoming seventh and eighth grade students.

Bronco Cheerleaders Supporting the Falls High School Hockey Team

After getting the go-ahead from athletic director, Don Rolando, try-outs were held. While girls from all grades participated in the try-outs, about half of those chosen were in the seventh and eighth grade age bracket.

It was not until after the new Bronco cheerleaders were chosen that concerns were raised.

“I think a lot of people felt like the spots were taken unfairly because the coaches who judged the try-outs had family competing,” said Derek Smith, a student at Falls High School. “Coach Crosby’s daughter and three of her friends were chosen for the squad and they are all currently in sixth grade.”

Coach Jessica Crosby could not be reached for a comment.

Once questions were raised about the appropriateness of allowing seventh and eighth graders to join the squad, it was soon discovered that the student handbook clearly stated that cheerleading was only offered to students in ninth grade to twelfth grade.

At the school board meeting on March 21^st, student representative Joseph Toninato voiced his concerns.

“Many students feel like those spots should be filled by upperclassmen. The seventh and eighth graders who made the squad will not know the players they are cheering for,” said Toninato. “It is a big deal for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.”

Yet there are many other students and parents who feel that the students who initially made cheerleader rightfully got it.

“They all tried out together; some made it and some didn’t. It is just how it works,” said a Falls High School student. “It doesn’t seem fair to tell those students that they made the cut, but then take it away from them later.”

Jeff Peura, the ISD 361 Superintendant stated at the school board meeting, that he would reevaluate the policy with the support of the board members.

The 2006-2007 student handbook will soon be reviewed to resolve the issue along with several other inconsistencies in the manual. An updated activities handbook will soon be in the works.

Bemidji State University’s Art Program is Dwindling

Programs being cut this University has some Choices to Make
By Miranda Milless


 The art program at Bemidji State University is located in a four floor building covering the two bottom floors. This is where students are molded into understanding and mastering art in many ways, but with budget cuts hurting so many other programs, cutting this program has been a thought from the start.

Photographer: Jenny Smith

The program is not being cut completely; more or less shrunk and combined with design technology. Many teachers have seen a sad day and have been asked to part ways with BSU. This leaving only three teachers left in the art department, not including the design technology teachers. This will limit classes for students that want to pursue an art degree. With limited teachers there will be limited room in classes as well.

Along with most of the art program, the theatre program has been cut. People are not happy about it and have been protesting to save these departments. “They seem to have been able to find enough money to build a new facility for hockey and other things, but they can’t put it in their budget to help out the fine arts?” said Jennifer Kennedy, a student majoring in art. Students have taken action and made groups suck like on Facebook to discuss their feelings on such acts by BSU.

On a positive note, one teacher has been given a great opportunity after losing her job at BSU. Linda Brown has been given the chance to go back and get her Master’s degree. Upon deciding to go back to school, she had received great news about getting a scholarship. “I am just on cloud nine right now, I was just going to go to a meeting and checked my email before and got the news about this scholarship.” Brown had mentioned while talking to a few old colleagues. She will start her studies in Italy and pursue her dreams. Of course, other teachers won’t be so fortunate in recovering from this blow.

Photographer: Jenny Smith

“I think it’s pretty sad what they’ve decided to do with the arts. I lucked out being a senior this year, but I feel really bad for the underclass who are being let down by the university.” said Lindsey Luberta, an art major at BSU. For those who are juniors and seniors this year will be able to finish out their degree but others are not so fortunate. Some people will probably transfer or maybe just give up with the school and change majors. Others will probably just go along with their plan to join the art program with design technology and see what they can get out of it. Art is a pretty important piece that will soon be gone for some majors and minors here at BSU. What will be cut next is what many are asking. Art is some people only way of life, and with this cut will change a lot of things.

SAFAC Budget Increases With High Student Enrollment

Impressive Budget Cannot Satisfy All Student Organizations

By Brandon Miles

Bemidji, MN- With the 2010-2011 school year coming to a close at Bemidji State University, the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee, better known as SAFAC, received a $630,725 budget for the 2011-2012 school year. The budget is more than SAFAC has worked with in the past couple of years and this is due to the increased enrollment at BSU. Although SAFAC’s budget is a large number, they were unable to grant all of the requested funds.

According to BSU Today, the student enrollment is at an all time high, with a 33% increase in freshman enrollment over the past five years. The boosted enrollment has increased the amount of student organizations, which ultimately leads to an increased budget.

“In terms of funding, our current SAFAC budget is not large enough to support all of the requests,” said Bill Maki, vice president for finance and administration. There are over 40 student organizations and if they all receive the requested amount, SAFAC’s budget would be in a $150,000 deficit. 

 The American Indian Science and Engineering Society, an organization whose goal is to increase American Indian interest and participation in science and engineering, was only approved to receive $1,297. The approved funding amounts to 25% of the requested $5,082. A number of other programs are taking only a slight cut in funds such as the Talley Gallery, which had its request cut only by $20.

The University Theatre program is expected to take the largest cut in funding because of the recent university budget cut, which is not associated with SAFAC’s budget. The current approved budget is $17,868, roughly 50% less than the requested $41,000. This means less money for actors, equipment, professors, and other costs associated with producing plays. The program will be completely ceased after next year, due to the fact that the University Department was one of four departments at Bemidji State that will be dropped entirely from the curriculum.

Leah Palmer, Chairman fo SAFAC Takes Part in Student Senate Meeting

“The loss in funding is based on the fact that the University Theatre has been removed from the curriculum.” Said Leah Palmer, chairman for SAFAC. “The theatre will not be involved with the university, so we will be unable to provide them with funds.”

 Other programs either took zero cuts or were recommended to receive more than their original request. The Rugby Men's team, Ultimate Frisbee Club, and Habitat for Humanity will receive exactly what they requested, while the program for international students will receive an additional thousand dollars, according to the proposed plan.

Student Senat Discuss SAFAC Budget
Photo by Brandon Miles

"The budget plan may appear tight on money because some student organizations did not receive their requested amount,” said Palmer. “But we are working with more money than we’ve had in the past few years, which gives us the opportunity to have a multitude of student organizations.”

Although some student organizations did not receive their requested budgets, SAFAC reserved $20,000 for emergency funding and new student clubs that emerge during the year. Regardless of the organization that receives funding, the reserved money will be spent entirely on student organizations. SAFAC will have the ability to grant money toward any student organization that exceeds the given budget, runs into a financial dilemma such as the Northern Student, or funding new organizations

The Northern Student ran into financial troubles earlier this year after suffering from a budget cut and a failed business relationship with The Pioneer, SAFAC stepped in and provided emergency funds to keep the paper going. The Northern Student still was only approved for considerably less than requested. However, if the student paper or any other organization ran into this same dilemma, SAFAC could be more than capable of stepping in to lend a hand.

The budget plan created by SAFAC has yet to be approved by the Student Senate. Once the Senate approves the plan, whether it is the current proposal or one made in the near future, the budget has to be approved by Bill Maki. If the budget plan were to be approved, it is reviewed by the Board of Trustees in the early summer to get the final approval. If this were to happen, then all students of BSU will be notified via email of the budget plan that will be in effect for the last year.

"Hopefully, with the approval of our comprehensible budget plan, we can keep as many programs here at BSU as possible," says Palmer. "Everyone isn’t happy, but we are dealing with the situation the best we can with the resources given."

FY 2012 SAFAC RECOMMENDATIONS FY2012 Request FY12 Approved Art Association 3,000 3,000 Advising success center 11,000 7,000 AISES 6,379 1,297 Biology Club 2,064 1,224 Campus Recreation 383,946 360000 Child Care 0 0 Chi Alpha 2,319 2,029 Club Mud 1,000 750 CMENC 3,994 1,190 Concert Choir 13,791 11060 Concert Series 7,000 7000 Computer Science Club 2,219 547 Council Ind. Students 7,000 6400 Dance Show 7,700 6000 Dance Team 1,687 919 Design Guild 1,609 901 Ducks Unlimited 470 259 Habitat for Humanity 1,233 1233 CAB 63,765 47411 InterVarsity 8,625 3636 International Students 2,100 3100 Jazz Band 3,900 140 Lifestyle Educators 5,760 4144 Math Club 2,999 442 Northern Student 51,164 22631 Opera Theatre 5,175 3695 PEHS 2,988 1393 Phoenix 6,727 5557 Pre Law Society 4,189 2764 Rivers Meeting Club Roller Derby Rugby Mens 3000 3000 Rugby Womens 8137 3053 Social Work Club 1,500 725 Students for the Environment 1560 605 Student Senate 18,941 15867 Symphonic Band 1,800 1625 Talley Gallery 9,040 9020 Theater Unlimited TOTO - EM 2,181 537 Ultimate Frisbee Club 1,028 1028 University Theatre 40,842 17868 Varsity Singers Wind Ensemble(Univ Band) 8,954 7175 Clubs 4,000 4,000 Security 5,500 5,500 Sales Tax Assistants at activities 7,000 7,500 General Admin 26,000 27,500 Total Students Activities 753,286 610,725 Budget 603000 630725 Net Budget -150286 20000 Group Revenue Goals Special Request Reserve 20,000 Total Net Budget 0 Consider Carry Forward