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And so another year begins on the University of Wisconsin-Parkside campus. A new batch of freshman, unsullied like mothers’ cookies, baked in the late August welcome activities. Eager eyes yearned to make their vacant dorm rooms their homes for the upcoming school year. Moving carts clanked, as the Ranger Hall lobby looked like a toy section on Black Friday. Ranger Welcome activities primed students and faculty for a successful year. In general, academia, sweat, and a hint of motivation are in the air.

Crystal Kostka is the first student ever to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside with Civic Honors. She is both a Civic Honors student and a criminal justice major. She presented the defense of her Civic Honors to professors, friends, students, and the community, May 5, in the Oak Room. Her presentation pertained to the topic of juvenile delinquency and street gangs.

There are eleven letters that signify a common idea. This desired privilege seems to be dancing around the minds and interlacing itself through the thoughts of the overwhelmed Parkside students: Summer break.

For some, this time will be utilized by catching up on credits through summer courses. For others, this may entail returning home to summer jobs. And then, there exists a percentage of the Parkside student body that has nothing planned for the long summer ahead. A possible solution for students facing this problem can be solved in another 11 letters: internships.

It has been a long year at UW-Parkside, and within the year there have been many activities for the students to participate in. Organizations such as Parkside’s Activity’s Association, Women’s Center, Parkside Student Government, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, LGBTQ, Parkside’s Activity Board, Student Leadership Association and Resident Life Association have all put on numerous events to keep the students and faculty involved.

UW-Parkside students are once again facing the monotony of advising appointments, as well as finalizing their schedules in order to maximize the prudence of their class choices. For some, this process involves a discussion with their adviser about class choices and career options. For others, this involves an application to the registrar in hopes that they will provide the information that is necessary for students to know which courses they need to graduate.

From the self proclaimed “kid in the backseat of the car reading books” to published author, Amy Kushner will have an exciting week ahead, as her newest publication, But They Didn’t Read Me My Rights, becomes available in bookstores.

Kushner is currently an English Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. For Kushner, English and teaching have both been lifelong passions.

“I had wanted to be a teacher as far back as I can remember. I come from a long line of teachers: my mom, my aunt, and my grandmother,” Kushner said.

This Saturday, Apr. 24, Parkside is taking part in the annual Hunger Cleanup day. Joining students nationwide, they will participate in a one-day community service work-a-thon. The theme this year is “think locally, act globally”. Check in begins at 8 am in the lower Main Place of Wyllie, where there’ll be a light breakfast, and lasts until 9. Then, at 9, the groups will begin to disperse to the various sites that are planned out. There are 13 sites in all, ranging from the Racine Zoo to the Boys & Girls Club to the Shalom Center.

This past weekend, Apr. 8-11, The Women’s Center of UW-Parkside organized a benefit performance of the Broadway play, The Vagina Monologue. The efforts served to bring awareness to the public of violence against women and girls.

Mr. and Mrs. Parkside, an annual event sponsored by Parkside's Activities Board, took place Thursday, Apr. 8, in the Den. The contestants---Cory Bullocks, Valencia Williamson, Shar’mane Martin, Michaela Usher, Timothy Griffin and Steve Weisner---represented a range of Parkside students anywhere from freshmen to seniors. The contestants graced the red carpet in evening attire, and were part of a full night of entertainment that included singing, poetry recital, and even a comedy performance.