Budget cuts cause a shift in the mental health services at SMC
By Kiera O’Hara-Heinz News Reporter After almost a year and a half of primarily online classes, September marked Saint Mary’s return to in-person instruction. Despite being celebrated by some as a mark of “returning to normal,” the return to campus has brought upon new mental health challenges for some SMC students. Students seeking mental health services on campus may find that their offerings have changed since last year. Due to budget cuts brought on by the pandemic, CAPS was forced to decrease the number of appointments offered to students. Founded this year, the Mental Health club aims to fill this void. According to Cynthia Cutshall, the Associate Director of Clinical Services and Operations and Outreach Coordinator at SMC’s Counseling and Psychological Services, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted students' mental health and caused some students to seek services who hadn’t previously sought them. “During the pandemic, students who were already struggling with mental health issues noticed an increase in their symptoms,” Cutshall said. “The folks who had never, you know, struggled with mental health stuff before were noticing some symptoms. And that's just been the broader context in which we're operating.” This trend has been examined on a greater level, with many researchers interested in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. A CDC study conducted in July 2020, found that 40.9% of the 5,470 respondents surveyed reported adverse behavioral or mental health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 30.9% of respondents reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was three times higher than it was in a similar study conducted before the pandemic in 2019, and the prevalence of depression symptoms was four times higher. Cutshall says that with the return to campus, many students have reported that although it feels good to be back in person, they are also feeling very overwhelmed. Christina Giosso, the Public Relations Officer of Mental Health Club, believes that there is an increased need for mental health services on campus with the return of students to campus. “The past two semesters everyone was online, either zooming from home or from their dorms, which was completely isolating,” Giosso said. “I think there has been a large adjustment with the transition from online to in-person, not only academically, but socially as well.” Natalie Totah, the President of the Mental Health Club, agrees and cites the transition back into in-person learning, and the large adjustment first and second-year students may be facing being on campus for the first time this year, as reasons for an increase in the demand in mental health services. Despite this perceived increase in demand, Cutshall says that the demand for services that CAPS is facing is quite average. “I just ran the numbers last week, we're pretty comparable to what we were two years ago during the last sort of normal non-pandemic year. So we've seen a similar number of students compared to 2019,” Cutshall said. Cutshall says that budget issues caused by the pandemic led to college-wide staffing cuts. She says that these staffing cuts have caused CAPS to reduce their session limit from ten sessions a year, to eight sessions, in order to meet the needs of the student population. “So last year we offered 10 sessions, and before the pandemic, it was 12. We had some significant staffing cuts,” Cutshall said. “We've had to reduce our session limit in order to meet the needs of all the students who need these services.” The exact figures of these budget cuts are not publicly available information. When contacted to comment on the issue, Susan Collins, the Vice President for Finance and Administration, said that as a matter of policy, Saint Mary’s does not provide information about specific departments’ budgets. Cutshall emphasizes the importance of supporting the mental health needs of students during what she describes as a particularly difficult time. She hopes that once the college finds itself on firmer financial footing, CAPS will be able to refill the vacant positions. According to Totah, although the budget cuts faced by CAPS were unavoidable, they have a detrimental effect on the student body. “I have heard comments around campus before the pandemic surrounding the lack of supply with high demand at CAPS, so I cannot imagine her students might be struggling with this major change,” Totah said. Giosso echoed a similar point. “Already students have a hard time with scheduling appointments and it can take a lot of courage to do so,” Giosso said. They should feel supported and know that these services are there for them.” Giosso also notes that other mental health services are often expensive and can be inaccessible for many individuals. The reduction in sessions offered by CAPS has motivated Totah to promote the Mental Health Club’s mission of supporting students. “This major change gives me more motivation and drives to expand our club on campus,” Totah said. “To give students an alternative if they are not able to secure a regular appointment schedule or an appointment at all at CAPS.”
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Local puppy Falkor is a popular face around the Saint Mary’s campus.
David Garza News Reporter Although Falkor may appear cute and harmless on the outside, he has a distinct purpose: to provide physical and emotional support to former combat veterans. His owner, Stephen Eberly, wants everyone to know about the benefits of a service dog, how they support veterans, and Falkor’s impact on the newly-opened Veterans Resource Center. You’ve probably seen him around campus. He’s friendly, and good-looking, not to mention an aspiring IG model. The only drawbacks are that he’s a little short, very furry, and not terribly talkative. Meet Falkor, the service dog of SMC. Falkor belongs to Stephen Eberly, 43, a former Iraq War veteran and current SMC student. Falkor’s journey with Stephen began back in March 2019. Stephen met Falkor through the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) for Vets in Walnut Creek. But being paired together didn’t mean that Stephen could take Falkor home right away. “The way it works is that they have to test the dog to see if he has the aptitude to get trained” Stephen explains. “He has to go through tests to make sure that he’s able to perform the tasks that are asked of him. He has to go through a public access test, where we take him out in public to make sure that he’s well-behaved and doesn’t act the way other dogs would in public. The entire process takes about a year.” Once the arduous process has been completed, Falkor is left with a wide array of skills. Falkor’s main responsibilities are to identify, alert, and alleviate. Falkor helps to calm down Stephen when he’s agitated, and reminds him when it’s time to take his medications. “The way it works is that Falkor pays attention to what I’m doing” Stephen says. “They key in on your pheromones and start to figure out what’s going on. Service dogs chemically know when you’re getting to the point that you need their help.” When Falkor performs a skill properly, Stephen captures it by rewarding him so that he can know to repeat it. But Falkor’s closest activity has quite the calming effect on his owner. “This is a process known as deep pressure therapy, and basically, that’s where Falkor lies down on top of me, and the pressure is meant to alleviate stress” Stephen says. “Where other dogs might run away, Falkor stays close by. Currently, I’m training him so that he can alert me when people are close by. But that one’s a work in progress.” But Falkor’s impact on Stephen’s far surpasses practical needs. Falkor’s biggest effect is emotional. “I like when you’re walking around campus with a dog, and it’s like he has a softening effect on you. Suddenly, you’re known as the guy with the dog” Stephen muses. “And it’s a great sign for other veterans to see when they’re on campus. Falkor tells them they can hang out, that they’re welcome.” As Vice President of the Veterans and Military Affiliated Gaels (VMAG), Stephen works to make sure that student veterans feel supported after they return to the rigors of school and civilian life. Their designated hang-out spot is the Veteran Resource Center (VRC) in Filippi Academic Hall, which opened a mere two weeks ago. “Veterans aren’t usually the type to advocate for themselves” Stephen admits. “But it’s good for them to be surrounded by other vets, who can relate a lot better to what they’re going through than the typical college student.” Veterans at SMC often face unique challenges that can’t always be answered by the school. “One of the guys who came in here, the admin told him he didn’t have to take another Jan Term course because he was in his fifth year, but the other vets were like ‘No, you have to take Jan Term to count as a full-time student and get your maximum benefits’.” Stephen appreciates the school’s efforts to set up a space for veterans, but feels that the VRC is still in its infancy. “Eventually, I want the VRC to be like the next IC [Intercultural Center],” Stephen says when pressed on what he wants the ultimate vision of the VRC to look like. “You know the IC started out as a club back in 2009. And eventually more people got involved and it became what it is today. I’d like to see the same thing happen to the VRC.” For now, Stephen’s main objective is to spread awareness of the VRC and to bring in other students to help set up events. “We’re welcome to anyone who is good at events or wants to help out, or spread the word to other students” Stephen says. “I was talking to one of the younger vets who comes in, and he says that everyone’s on Instagram now. Maybe we could make Falkor the face of the VRC Instagram” He adds with a laugh. Artist Kari Marboe responds to artist William Keith; currently displayed at the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art
By Kamryn Sobel News Reporter As of September 15th, a new exhibit is on full display at the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art. This exhibit explores the artist Kari Marboe responding to the site-specific work of 20th century artist, William Keith. The artwork presented at the museum explores questions of what has changed and what has stayed the same. Starting with the inspiration of Kari’s work, William Keith is known for creating large, majestic paintings of the American west. With these paintings, he helped advocate for the conservation of the land, as many people in the surrounding cities didn’t have access to these given landscapes. In an interview with the MOA manager, Britt Royer, she explains a particular painting of Mount Tamalpais that is currently on display: “Here, there is a very dramatic sky with the lighting and the mountains in the background. Approaching this painting once again gives us questions on what has changed and what has stayed the same.” Looking more closely, the Mill Valley Air Force Station was built on one of the mountains shown in the art piece, which physically changed its structure. Next to this painting are ceramic forms of Kari’s thought process on how to respond to what it would look like if the peak were to be restored. In terms of Kari’s ceramic forms, her style as an artist is minimalistic and very interested in simple shapes and forms. She explores materiality, such as the brightness of the soil. Kari takes soil dirt samples of the earth or the places she explores and incorporates the material into the clay sculptures. Another area that is currently on display is Conversations with Strangers at Stinson Beach. In this part of the exhibit, Kari interviews strangers on how this particular beach has changed for them since before the pandemic and now. Within these stranger inquiries, it explores how one place can have multiple meanings to different people. Subsequently, Kari says, “I went over to interview strangers about their experience in what had changed and what had stayed the same since they first visited. I gave each person a ceramic ring in exchange for their stories.” Below this text is a net of ceramic rings which describe the number of people and their experiences that they have had at Stinson Beach and how this landscape can bring a connection amongst its visitors. As for the ceramic ring art piece itself, the way in which it’s displayed represents the coastline alongside each narrative. Unfortunately due to COVID, Kari’s original idea to explore Yosemite was no longer accessible. From this point, she restructured her narrative and began thinking about the aesthetic elements of the moon. In this section of the museum, another artist had sent Kari bowls which inspired the interest in the moon due to the shimmer of the glaze and how they showed a dark mysteriousness. To connect to the work she was creating, Kari contacted a professor to start this process of creating soil that is on the moon. With the seven ingredients she already had in her studio, she was able to replicate the soil for her artwork. Kari also “remaps the boundaries of shifting fence lines surrounding Lake Lagunitas.” Throughout this part of the exhibit, she shows her fascination in how the fences reframe Lake Lagunitas and what it would be like to navigate in that space with the fence lines. In response, Kari created fence sculptures, as it speaks to the notion of what it would look like if it were to be restored. This portion of the display features an email correspondence between Kari and a mountain biker sharing photos of Lake Lagunitas. Connecting to the Saint Mary’s community, towards the end of these displays is an area in which students can think about these larger questions and how it can be self-applied as students return to campus. With notecards and double-sided tape, students can draw a picture about how their relationship with the campus has changed or stayed the same. To see more of the work on the Keith + Kari exhibit, head to the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art. Available for viewing until December 12th. Sources: https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/saint-marys-college-museum-of-art/fall-exhibitions-2021 Images Courtesy of Britt Royer, MOA Manager Britney Spears continues to battle the conservatorship implemented by her father Jamie Spears.
By Annika Henthorn News Reporter After a grueling thirteen years of her father’s and many others’ dictatorship over her life, pop star Britney Spears has inched her way closer to freedom. The campaign to free Britney Spears from her conservatorship has begun to truly take shape this year with the advocacy of her dedicated fans. Not only has this issue been covered on a variety of media platforms, but even in the windows of De La Salle hall. The phrase “FREE BRITTANY” is plastered in pink duct tape across two windows facing campus, proving the tenacious and widespread support of her following. Britney Spears claims her father, as well as others overseeing her conservatorship, have controlled and manipulated her life, disregarding her humanity in the process. Big life decisions like children, marriage, and even medication were all made for her. She was disallowed from having any more kids, from marrying, and from removing her IUD, all under a legal premise (Rolling Stone). Additionally, she was forced to take Lithium without consent (Rolling Stone). According to Rolling Stone, she has compared her experience in the conservatorship to sex trafficking, an inmate in their legal lockhold. This devastating analogy is a testament to the unthinkable horrors that Britney has faced over the past 13 years. Pop singers like Mariah Carey, Pink, and Christina Aguilera have all continued to show their support in the fight for her freedom. It was recently announced that Jamie Spears, her father, will no longer be in charge of Britney Spears’s estate (CNN). This position has been bestowed upon CPA John Zabel as a temporary conservator of her estate (CNN). Matthew Rosengart, Brittany Spears’s attorney has revealed the “cruel, toxic” nature of her father, and how the movement to free Brittany has greatly contributed to their success thus far. According to CNN, Rosengart thinks “the support of the #FreeBritney movement has been instrumental. To the extent that it allowed my firm to carry the ball across the finish line, I thank them as well." Not only has the #FreeBritney movement propelled Britney’s story, but also the documentary “Britney vs. Spears,” which Netflix aired on September 28. Erin Lee Carr, the filmmaker, has revealed that his intentions were not to exploit the mental struggles she endured in 2008, but to “move the story forward” and center it around one of the biggest “legal mysteries of our time.” Too many times Britney was dragged through the media for people’s amusement. This documentary targets the enigma of her conservatorship and uncovers the disturbing truths that have been concealed for far too long. The next update that is still being awaited is her trial on November 12th. This is to determine the status of her conservatorship and potentially a full extermination of it all together. “Grindadrap”: The fight between tradition and animal rights
Benjamin Noel News Reporter The Faroe Islands have caught the eyes of animal rights activists this year, as their whaling tradition hit record high numbers this month. This hunt, known as “grindadrap” or simply, “the grind,” involves surrounding a pod of pilot whales on boat and coaxing them into a fjord where they are killed on the beach. This year, in a one-day hunt, fishermen participating in the hunt killed nearly 1500 long-finned pilot whales. This tradition dates back to 9th century Norse settlements in the area. The Faroes, now a territory of Denmark, have allowed this tradition to continue, adding regulations through the years such as who is permitted to partake in the hunt and when the whales may be killed. The whale was a staple in the Norse diet, as the meat could be distributed throughout settlements and the blubber could be used as oil or for medicinal purposes. The skin of the whales was used to make ropes and even the penis was dried and used to make shoes (Marine Hunters). The early Norse did not allow a single bit of the animal to go to waste, finding a use for the entire whale. Since the 9th century, while the concept and methods of the hunt have remained the same, the tools have greatly advanced. Now, fishermen use modern boats and communication devices, allowing them to more efficiently maneuver and capture larger pods. The government now requires whales to be killed in a certain way, banning harpoons for not being humane. Instead, a rod is used to sever the spinal cord when a whale is beached, making for an instant death. Given the advances in technology, the numbers from the hunt constantly increase, this year being the largest one-day hunt in recorded history, dating back to 1584. In the last century, the Faroe Islands have been split into whaling districts, and after each hunt, the meat is distributed equally amongst the households of the district. But no longer is the entire animal used, as people now mainly consume just the meat for food and use the blubber for oil. The tradition is still maintained to an extent, however, whale is no longer a staple for anything other than food now. The battle between tradition and animal rights brings to mind the case of Spanish bullfighting. This long-standing tradition predates the grindadrap by two centuries, having roots in gladiator battles. Bullfights involve a picador or matador who confuse, taunt, and spear the animal in front of an arena. Some believe that these fights are a staple to the culture and thus must be kept, others argue that the practice is cruel to the animals. This has led to the ban of bullfighting in certain regions of Spain, while it is still practiced to this day in others. Now, a key distinction must be made between bullfighting in Spain and whaling in the Faroe Islands. The whales killed in the grindadrap are killed humanely and are not taunted before their death, nor are they kept captive for long periods of time like animals in factory farms. Additionally, this is not a spectator event, as those on the shores are the very men who kill and butcher the animals. The grindadrap to this day provides meat and resources to the people of the Faroe Islands, but due to the sheer volume of the latest hunts, has raised serious concerns as to the extent the fishermen may go in efforts to preserve tradition. |
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November 2023
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