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Spending time with family during the holidays this year may look a little different than years past—but somehow, we are still making it work. It’s a longstanding Mauck tradition for my dad’s side of the family to meet in Springfield, Illinois for a week of playing card games, eating way too much food, and taking walks in the cold. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, my family has decided to make the road trip for the first time in five years. Needless to say, I am very excited, and would like to showcase some of the places we will be visiting on the way up from Atlanta, Georgia.

I come from a family that loves good food, so our first stop will be Uncle Larry’s Restaurant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Uncle Larry’s is known for their famous fried fish, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, and pork chops. The owner, Larry Torrence was encouraged to open a restaurant by his family members in 2013 with the slogan “Fish so good it will smack you”. As a lover of all things seafood, I am excited to try the fried fish, along with some southern comfort sides.

After eating at Uncle Larry’s, we will definitely need some coffee, which brings us to Steadfast Coffee in Nashville, Tennessee. Steadfast is known for the creativity and thought they put into their coffee concoctions. Steadfast offers a variety of drinks including flash-chilled coffee, rested drinks, and matchless coffee soda. Their signature drink is called the Atlas, which is comprised of black coffee and a flavorful orange cream. I tend to be a pretty boring coffee drinker, so I can’t wait to try some unique and unusual drinks at Steadfast Coffee.

Once we make it to St. Louis, Missouri, we will be making a stop at The Missouri Baking Company to get some treats for the family. This company offers a wide variety of seasonal baked goods that are perfect gifts for the family. My parents plan on purchasing the Cinnamon Pull Aparts, along with some pumpkin muffins for the cousins. Although I have never been to The Missouri Baking Company, my grandma raves about this place, so I am looking forward to trying it for the first time.

Last but not least, once we make it to Springfield, the family will be dining at D’Arcy’s Pint. It’s a tradition for the uncles to eat at D’Arcy’s Pint, but I have been tagging along since I was 14-years-old. Their signature dish is the horse shoe, which is comprised of Texas Toast, topped with meat, a pile of fries, and smothered in cheese and toppings of your choice. It’s hard to explain how good this dish is, and I look forward to it every year.

It’s been a crazy year, and I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time with my family this holiday season. I think we are all in need of some quality time with our loved ones, so be safe, be careful, and don’t forget to make the most of this Thanksgiving break.

Sources:

https://www.unclelarrysrestaurant.com/about.html           

https://steadfast.coffee

https://www.facebook.com/The-Missouri-Baking-Company-304406429586958/

https://darcyspintonline.sslsafetech.com/menu-gift-cards

 

Written by Madelyn Mauck

Madelyn is a Senior studying Business Administration: Project Management. She enjoys writing for the blog, not only because it helps her develop as a creative writer, but because it gives her a chance to share her experiences through a platform she would not have without Student Activities.

Quarantine: a period where you probably wasted too much time on TikTok, made whipped coffee every morning, and listened to Supalonley by BENEE way too much. Another quarantine activity that my family took part in was watching The Last Dance. The Last Dance is a 10-part documentary series, on ESPN, about one of the most legendary basketball players and basketball teams, of all time – Michael Jordan and the ‘98 Chicago Bulls.

This documentary series was able to give us hope, nostalgia, and something to look forward to every single Sunday night at 9PM EST from mid-April to mid-May. In additional to that, there are a few other reasons how The Last Dance single-handedly saved my family’s quarantine season.

First, this documentary gave us a glimpse of sports when the entire sports industry was shut down. It was originally scheduled for June 2nd, however the producer decided to move it up in light of the pandemic and boy were we thankful! Most of us were too young to watch the 97’-98’ Bulls, so the games during the documentary were new and exciting for us to watch.

Even though we may have known the outcomes of the games, the documentary showed the emotions of the practices leading up to them, and the post-game locker room discussions. We were reminded of the importance of positive relationships between players, managers, and coaches as well as the factors that can lead to victory. The Bulls demonstrated how a team can come together to sweep the nation by storm and win a national title.

Second, we were given a new appreciation for Michael Jordan and the 98’ Bulls. As a Chicago native, it was so cool to be able to learn about my own city’s basketball team from a different perspective. Even though I was never able to witness Jordan play myself, I was able to see MJ through a special lens in this documentary. This documentary followed the Bulls during the 1997-1998 season, while covering the other gaps of Jordan’s career and flashing back to modern-day interviews of the team.

I never realized the amount of criticism Jordan had experienced and everything he overcame during his career, including the murder of his father. The documentary clearly showed how the hard work and dedication of the team had a cost, but that cost was worth it to win.

ESPN states, “Jordan more than anyone made the Bulls champions. His tough love likely had some effect. But Jordan in a way underestimated himself. He demonstrated plenty of toughness and mettle without verbal or physical abuse. His example — his work, his play, his gutting through injury and illness — did enough talking.” (NBA Insiders, 2020).

Jordan was able to push himself and his teammates to greatness, despite the challenges placed in front of them, which made Jordan such an influential player in the NBA. I gained a new found respect for the 98’ Bulls, and especially Michael Jordan, through this raw, emotional, and motivating documentary.

Third, The Last Dance made us feel a lot of nostalgia, and brought us together in the midst of a global pandemic. Michael Jordan could bring the country together in such chaotic and unprecedented times, even if it was only for 2 hours. The soundtrack throughout the entire documentary was incredible and made you feel like you were living in the 90’s again. The Ringer states, “The music has been the most rewarding surprise, playing an integral role in the documentary’s reexamination of history while we live through it” (Kimble, 2020).

In addition to the music, the documentary covers the birth of Air Jordan and how it became one of the most successful shoe lines in Nike’s history. According to CBS Sports, “It’s been 22 years since Jordan suited up for the Bulls, and yet in December of 2019 his brand earned its first $1 billion quarter” (Wimbish, 2020).

Lastly, this documentary made us feel so nostalgic because it told a story. Vox states, “Pro sports are never just about watching some people compete at a sport. They also emotionally invest in a story, one that’s unfolding unpredictably as we watch. Developing an attachment to a big story produced the same thing that religion or cultural tradition gives: a sense of belonging, of having a place, of moving through time in a way that’s exciting, interesting, and grounding” (Wilkinson, 2020). The Last Dance did an incredible job painting a story that we became a part of in only 10 episodes.

The Last Dance is streaming on Netflix right now and is a perfect family activity for Thanksgiving or Christmas break. Tune into history being made and the story of the most legendary basketball player of all time… sorry Lebron.

Sources:

https://www.vox.com/culture/2020/5/19/21262308/the-last-dance-michael-jordan-espn-bulls-basketball

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/the-last-dance-story-behind-michael-jordan-nearly-choosing-adidas-over-nike-explained-in-doc/

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29180240/how-last-dance-changed-way-think-michael-jordan

https://www.theringer.com/music/2020/5/14/21258231/last-dance-music-hip-hop-ll-cool-j-eric-b-rakim-pete-rock

 

Written by: Kaitlyn Skarstein

Kaitlyn loves being able to write for the SA blog because she thinks it is important to share her voice. She loves being able to express her own opinions on important subjects that are relevant for students, faculty, and many others.

The fall 2020 semester is quickly coming to a close which can only mean one thing – Christmas Coffeehouse is right around the corner. That’s right! On Friday, November 20, Student Activities will be hosting the campus favorite tradition through a virtual show on Instagram. Starting at 8 p.m., viewers will be treated to musical acts and videos throughout the night. You’ll want to be paying attention closely, because we will be handing out several prizes all throughout the week and our final giveaway during the event.

The theme for this year’s Christmas Coffeehouse is Winter Wonderland. We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the season than to create a wintery world filled with snowflakes and icicles. It may not be snowing much, or at all, down here in Virginia, but with a little imagination you can join us for a wintery night.

Unlike previous Coffeehouses, this show is completely on us, meaning you don’t have to buy a ticket to join in on the fun. Just head over to SA’s Instagram at 8 p.m. with your roommates, community groups, and maybe a bag of popcorn to watch the show. Content will be released over a two hour span every 15-20 minutes, with trivia to play in-between as you wait. If you’re by yourself, watching on a phone or tablet should work fine. For those planning on getting together with some friends, you might want to connect you laptop or mobile device to your TV for the event using screen share or HDMI.

We may not be together in person, but that shouldn’t stop you from watching along. A big part of the magic of Coffeehouse is celebrating Christmas together with everyone as one community, and that doesn’t have to change just because we aren’t with each other in the Vines Center.

So mark your calendars, and get ready to walk through that wardrobe to a land of all things snow. We’ll see you next Friday in a winter wonderland!

 

Written by Drew Snavely

Drew is an Assistant Director at Student Activities. He has a B.A. in Business Administration: Financial Planning. Drew is responsible for maintaining analytics for event surveys, social media and website, and staff development. He deals with various event logistics for all events such as filing out work orders and securing event rentals. He also helps manage monthly budgets, event finances and receipts.

With every day that goes by, the fall ushers in winter, and with that, soup season. I am a huge supporter of soups as a main course, and as such I find myself trying to make soup in every season. Now that it is finally an acceptable season to be talking about soup, I am here to share a recipe that you’ll want to keep in your back pocket.

This soup is as easy as it is affordable, and it’s incredibly versatile to substitutions if you don’t have all the ingredients on hand. As with any soup that I make, I start with the meat and veggies, and then I add in my liquids. Now that I have you on the edge of your seat, let’s get things started.

I have said it before and I’ll say it again, always prep your ingredients before you get cooking – I am mainly reiterating this because I frequently forget this step and get myself into a bind. Chop your carrots, celery, onions, and mince your garlic, then get a glass of water and wipe the onion tears from your eyes.

Heat a large stockpot over medium heat, add a few tablespoons of olive oil, and throw your sausage in. It helps if you break it up with your hands before adding it to heat to get those nice crispy browned edges, but if you have a thing about touching raw meat you can break it up with a wooden spoon.

Once you get the sausage on the heat, let it rest. We all want to stir it, but let it sit and it will get that browning we all want. The sausage shouldn’t take much longer than 7-8 minutes on the first side, then give it a stir to brown the second side. Once your sausage has browning all over it, set it aside and leave the oils for the veggies to cook in.

Add your garlic, onions, celery, and carrots to said oils. The idea here is to get these cooked just until they start feeling softer. They’ll cook more once we add liquid in and no one wants a mushy carrot. Cook these veggies until the onions are looking translucent – maybe about 10 minutes – then reintroduce your sausage.

This is where you can have a lot of fun with seasoning. I usually add a tablespoon of oregano, a couple teaspoons of rosemary, thyme, black pepper, and a lot more salt than you think you need. Let these flavors mingle for a minute or two, then add your chicken broth.

Keep this soup over medium heat and let it raise slowly to a boil. Once boiling, add your tortellini. These cook really fast, and if you cook them too long then they are prone to falling apart. It should be about 3 minutes, or until they’re all floating on the surface. Turn off your heat, and season to taste. Depending on the ingredients you use, the end product may need some tweaking with salt and black pepper. Recipes like this are so simple and can easily be a weekday meal as the whole process only takes about 45 minutes.

Serve it up and enjoy a bowl of warmth that will heat you from your head to your toes. This soup will leave you wanting to curl up with a blanket and watch a few episodes of that TV show you’ve been binging.

Ingredients:

1 lbs – Italian Sausage (I use hot, but use mild if you don’t like the extra spice)

1 – 20oz bag frozen cheese tortellini

4 – Large carrot sticks (rough chopped)

3 – Large sweet onions (rough chopped)

4 – Celery stocks (rough chopped)

2 – 32oz chicken broth containers

1 Tbsp – Oregano (season to taste)

1 Tsp – Thyme

1 Tsp – Rosemary

Salt – To taste

 

Written by: Clayton Copper

Clayton is the Marketing Coordinator of Student Activities. He has a B.S. in Business Administration: Economics and an M.B.A. Clayton oversees the graphic and video team as well as assisting in various event logistics.  

On October 9^thI celebrated my 22^ndbirthday and got a plethora of messages from high school and college friends, relatives, coworkers, camp friends, and even a few people I did not really know or remember (your memory gets rather hazy as you age). But at two separate times throughout the day, I had lengthy Facetime calls with girls I once dated or went out on dates with. They were not awkwardly compelled to text me just to keep up social niceties, we are in regular contact with one another. Numerous people have described this dynamic between my exes and myself as being “odd”, or “peculiar”, or even “counter-cultural”. But for me, it seems like a logical conclusion rather than an exception.

If I liked being around them enough at one point to ask them out and go on dates with them, then it should make logical sense that I would like being around them even when we are not going on dates. The old mantra of “date your best friend” reigns true, but I also believe in the mantra of “some friends are just meant to be friends”. While we each may have had fun on our dates during the time where we were trying to turn a friendship into a relationship, we also realized that some things are just not meant to be, and that’s okay. Our breaking up did not have to mean that we could no longer be in each other’s lives.

The key to being friends with your exes after a break up is to not say anything bad about them to anyone else. Hold them in high esteem in your mind and treat them with dignity. Many break ups completely torch the possibility of a friendship rising from the ashes due to one or both parties mouthing off to their friends about how much the other person sucked.

Without any ill will spread after a break up, there is basically nothing keeping you from being friends except the fear of awkwardness, which can be mended by group hangouts and little texts here and there. Awkwardness is fine to have, but we fear it with the very fiber of our beings. If we simply weathered through that storm we would likely find a new normalcy of friendship on the other side. Yes, you may not talk as much, and yes, your conversations will look significantly different, but it is better to have different communication than no communication at all.

This process of becoming just friends, after once being something more, can take time but it is possible. Of course there are situations where it is not recommended that you try to still be in contact (use discernment and know your situation), and sometimes the hurt caused by the other person can be grueling, but this is where forgiveness comes in. It can take time to forgive someone after they hurt you, and that’s okay, but your aim should be forgiveness nonetheless; a crockpot forgiveness and a microwave forgiveness are both precious.

I’m not in regular contact with everyone I have ever liked or gone on dates with, and that is fine. I am thankful for the few I stay in touch with, because they add to my life even if our relationship did not last. With the established connection we already have from when we went on dates, we each are able to be that much more honest and vulnerable with one another, providing insight into each other’s lives, and experienced critique to help each other in our future relationships. Exes are blessings if we can maturely handle a change in relationship dynamic, and still see value in people and friendships despite breaking up.

 

Written by: Landen Swain

Landen believes the human experience longs to be expressed; through our art, our labor, our songs, our storytelling. As a published playwright, author, and poet, he enjoys expressing his little chapter of the human experience through his writings and is thankful that the SA blog allows him to do that. He is published in numerous magazines, literary journals, and has several plays published by Off the Wall Plays, an online play publishing house.

Just last week, the long-anticipated arrival of The Mandalorian season two finally came with episode one dropping on Disney+ on October 30. It has been nearly a year since we’ve last seen what our favorite intergalactic bounty hunter and his little green friend have been up to. As we delve into the start of the second season together, it should be said that there will certainly be spoilers from the first episode, and a little speculation for what’s to come. So, if you haven’t watched it yet, I suggest you do so before reading this post!

From the start of the episode, “Chapter 9: The Marshal”, it’s very clear that Mando’s objective has not waivered one bit. His goal to get Baby Yoda to his own kind is an incredibly noble cause – especially when considering the type of people that want to capture the young wielder of the force. To get The Child back to his home planet, Mando first has to track down the underground network of other Mandalorians who will be able to aid him in his quest.

A tip from the naïve gangster, Gor Koresh, leads Mando back to the most popular planet in the Star Wars galaxy, Tatooine, where there is, supposedly, another Mandalorian. I imagine a lot of fans of Star Wars gasped or maybe even screamed when we see this other Mando. Could it be? Boba Fett? Unfortunately, no, it’s just a guy named Cobb Vanth, who is known around these parts as the “marshal” and is definitely not a Mandalorian.

Before Mando could wrestle the sacred armor off of the imposter, a Krayt dragon, the deadliest creature on Tatooine, appears out of nowhere, swallowing a bantha whole. Vanth desperately needs to get rid of this Krayt dragon if the village of Mos Pelgo is to survive, so he cuts a deal with Mando – Vanth will give up his armor if Mando helps him defeat the beast.

This situation is a win-win for our newly reformed hero, who not too long ago was just a simple self-serving bounty hunter. Now Mando gets to be the hero and might get another sweet set of armor in the process.

Mando has a plan to defeat the Krayt dragon, but it involves bringing imposing parties together. They will need help from the close-by Tusken Raiders as well as the other villagers from Mos Pelgo in order to defeat the monster. There is bad blood between these two groups, considering the Tusken Raiders have been pillaging Mos Pelgo for quite some time now.

Ultimately, the threat of the Krayt dragon is far too great for these two groups to fight alone, so they join forces. This act depicts an important lesson that we all can learn – especially in our current societal and cultural climate. Finding common ground with those you don’t agree with on every issue to come to be able to come together in times of need or struggle is something this world needs more and more.

The collection of groups hatch a plan to defeat the Krayt dragon, which is basically just putting a large bomb under the ground, luring out the monster, and blowing up the bomb right underneath its stomach. All parties involved quickly find out the dragon’s skin is much tougher than they initially thought, so Mando has to take matters into his own hands.

With not many other options to choose from, Mando quickly (and selflessly) comes up with an idea. Standing next to a bantha wrapped in explosives, Mando gets the Krayt dragon to swallow himself and the weaponized bantha whole. Mando then shocks the Krayt dragon from within to escape the belly of the beast. Once outside of the creature, he detonates the bombs inside, killing it (and the bantha too, RIP).

Everyone that survives the attack is ecstatic. The Krayt dragon will no longer be bothering Mos Pelgo or the Tusken Raiders. The two groups have a peace agreement, and Mando finally gets his hands on the armor he’s been wanting all episode. Before the episode closes out, we get a shot of a man watching Mando cruise by on his speeder bike. It’s actor Temuera Morrison, who played Jango Fett, the adoptive father of Boba Fett, in Attack of the Clones.

Could it actually be Jango Fett? Definitely not, considering Jango ran into Mace Windu’s lightsaber during the Battle of Geonosis. Since Jango was the clone template for the Republic’s army, there were thousands of clones made of him, so while it might be someone we already know (like Boba Fett), it’s also entirely possible that this person is a new character. One thing I can say with fair certainty is that we will find the answer in the episodes to come.

 

Written by Drew Snavely

Drew is an Assistant Director at Student Activities. He has a B.A. in Business Administration: Financial Planning. Drew is responsible for maintaining analytics for event surveys, social media and website, and staff development. He deals with various event logistics for all events such as filing out work orders and securing event rentals. He also helps manage monthly budgets, event finances and receipts.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as campus starts to go through its normal seasonal change from fall to winter. The weather is getting colder, leaves are falling off the trees, and students are breaking out the hot chocolate. Everyone is dreaming about sitting around a warm fireplace wrapped up in a blanket. But before we completely deck the halls, one thing must happen here at Liberty to welcome in the new season. Of course I am talking about Student Activities’ annual Christmas in Lights on the Academic Lawn!

Every year, we look forward to gathering on the lawn all bundled up for the lighting of the 50-foot Christmas tree as well as all of the lights that line University Blvd. This year, due to current regulations, we will be livestreaming the event for each of you to watch along in your dorms or off-campus houses. It will truly be a memorable night as we’re able to all come together to bring in the Christmas season together.

Christmas in Lights will be taking place on Wednesday, November 18 at 10:30 p.m., just after curfew, so that students are able to gather with their roommates or community groups to celebrate together! We’ll be livestreaming this event on Facebook and other online sources, so head over to our social media platforms the night of the event, where we’ll provide a link to watch the lighting from all over the world. What’s the best way to watch? We suggest streaming on a laptop or mirroring your devices to a TV to get the best viewing experience.

Additionally, students will get to hear a message from President Jerry Prevo, and the School of Music will provide more than 250 choir members who will surround the tree to sing Christmas classics like Rudolph, Joy To The World, and We Wish You A Merry Christmas! We are so happy we get to be with all of you virtually as we celebrate the beginning of the season of Christmas together. We hope to see you all tuning into the lighting of the tree ceremony as our campus transforms into a winter wonderland.

 

Written by Riley Anderson

Riley is a junior majoring in Christian Leadership and Church Ministry with a minor in Biblical Studies.

On this episode of the podcast we get to know some of the writers for the SA blog. Kaitlyn Skarstein and Andrew Reynolds have been writing on the blog for years, contributing pieces that discuss everything from grief to frisbee golf. We get the inside scoop on why they decided to contribute and what motivates them in their passions and active consumption of culture. We know you’ll enjoy listening to these conversations, so put on those headphones and press play!

This podcast features Steph Ward (Director of SA), Drew Snavely (Assistant Director). The episode was produced and edited by Clay Copper (Special Events Coordinator). Our jingle was created by Judd Harris.

Our staff are back at it again, bringing you a fun playlist full of fall favorites. From The Avett Brothers to Dawes, we have your November soundtrack ready for you to enjoy!

Just over two weeks ago, the Los Angeles Lakers won their 17^th NBA Championship, but under unique circumstances. The 2019-2020 season was abruptly cut off due to COVID-19, which caused the NBA to become creative to restart the season. The NBA wanted to make sure that players and personnel were safe while also putting on a good show for viewers at home.

For everyone involved, this was a tough decision because players and personnel were not allowed to leave to see their family and loved ones. Even though there was hardship involved, the bottom line is that the NBA bubble worked and should be the template that leagues should follow if necessary, for the future.

Most sports came back by August. However, the NBA was the only league that decided to proceed within a full bubble. The top 22 teams made their way to Walt Disney World in hopes of a championship. Each team had their own living arrangements in addition to extracurricular activities provided by the NBA. The league invested $150 billion dollars into this idea that some people doubted would even work.

With this bubble, there were definite concerns how it would pan out. The NBA achieved something that most people thought would be impossible. There were a couple of areas that the NBA excelled at that contributed to the success of the NBA bubble.

First, there were strict guidelines for players that broke protocol. The NBA defined boundaries of who could visit the players and where the players can go. A couple times, players broke those rules and were suspended from playing until they were deemed safe to play again.

Second, the NBA had 0 positive cases of COVID-19. The issue that many critics had going into the NBA bubble is how the league would handle positive cases. The NBA did such a great job that they did not have to deal with that scenario.

Finally, the promotion of the bubble was unprecedented. The idea of the greatest basketball players in the world all living amongst each other has never been thought of before. The NBA did a great job promoting this to viewers and thus bringing a positive view of the bubble as a whole.

Many would refute the idea that the NBA bubble was a “success.” After all, the ratings and viewership both declined with one of the least-viewed NBA Finals in decades. However, with all four major American sports playing at once, viewership was bound to decline. The NBA’s goal was not to boost their ratings or viewership, but to restart the NBA season safely but effectively.

Leagues should look at the NBA as an example if a bubble is needed in the future. The goal at the beginning of the season was to crown a champion in 2020. Even with a large break, the NBA accomplished their goal by crowning the Lakers, but also in a way that promotes the safety of every individual within the NBA framework.

Sources:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/08/nbas-bubble-works-other-leagues-are-denial/614905/

https://www.latimes.com/science/newsletter/2020-10-12/coronavirus-today-nba-bubble-success-covid-lakers-coronavirus-today

 

Written by Mike Tammaro

Mike Tammaro is a Junior double majoring in Finance and Economics and writes for the blog in order to expand my skills as a student. As a business major, the curriculum does not allow for a lot of creative writing, so being able to publish written work is freeing from my normal educational routine.