Last week Mount students and faculty showed love not just for loved ones on Valentine’s Day, but for their school. Tuesday, February 12 the Mount Union Office of Marketing put together an “I Heart Mount” photo booth in HPCC from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Many students and faculty were able to get their picture taken using some of the many props provided by the Office of Marketing, and then that picture was later posted on Mount’s Facebook page. A winner was then chosen by MUCAW for the best picture.  From Monday to Thursday, students were also asked to tweet #IHeartMount and why, and the winning tweet was also chosen by MUCAW. Both winners would receive a “purple raider gift basket.”

Many students participated in both events. Senior and Office of Marketing student worker Megan Smith commented that because it’s Valentine’s Day, “we wanted to remind people there are things about school to be thankful for.” Many may have been without a date for Valentine’s Day, but at least they could express their love for Mount Union and feel appreciated in return. Megan added, “Everyone who takes pictures gets a valentine and a lollipop.”

All pictures taken on Tuesday are available on Mount Union’s official Facebook page, and all tweets with the #IHeartMount can be found on Mount Union’s official twitter @mountunion. Winners were announced on Valentine’s Day.  The winning photo featured Mary Mahoney, Jenny Gamertsfelder, and Daryn Herman. The winning tweet was Presley Mays, “I love how Mount has become my home. The people here are a true family. I couldn’t be happier. Dream come true #IheartMount”

Around 100 photos were taken, though a few were of the Office of Marketing staff.  Everyone had a great time trying on glasses, hats, and beads, and holding mustaches, hearts, and signs they were able to write on in chalk. Congratulations to the winners and remember to participate in upcoming Mount Union events and show your Raider Pride.

by Andria Lyons

Names like Richard Simmons, Suzanne Somers, and Jane Fonda may not ring a bell to the college-aged individual, but I bet their parents have heard of them. To help anyone under the age of 25 figures out what these three people are famous for, one can compare them to today’s Sean T., Tony Horton, or Jillian Michaels.

Workout videos became very popular in the 1980s. Most of these ‘80s workout videos focused on an aerobic dance routine targeted at women who couldn’t make it to the gym everyday. Today, workout videos have made their way back into homes with a slightly different type of workout, but with the same benefits that they held in the 1980s.

Videos like P90X, Insanity, and Jillian Michaels’ 30-Day Shred, focus on both strength training and cardio. As most of the instructors explain, a mixture of both is necessary to see the positive results many are seeking.

Although there is a broad age-range of people who use these workout videos, many college students have found themselves caught up in the competitiveness of them.  Junior, Meg Morrison, has completed the full sixty days of Insanity and is currently starting the series over again. “I usually just do my own thing with working out, but after Katie Dreger, who is a Beachbody Coach, introduced me to Insanity, it became the exception,” said Morrison.

Morrison now uses Insanity as her primary source of exercise because it has worked so well for her. Senior Corrie Miller said she likes to use different workout videos to mix up her workout routines instead of just running on a treadmill all the time.

The University of Mount Union recently added new wellness courses for students due to the elimination of the formerly required Health and Wellness class. One of the newest classes, taught by Leigh Ann Swartz, Mount Union’s volleyball coach, is called “Exploring Extreme Fitness of Pop Culture.”

This course uses many of the modern workout videos previously mentioned to give students a large variety of fitness options. “It’s where the current industry is,” said Swartz. “It’s not just an emphasis on cardio or an emphasis on strength; it’s on both. This will encourage students to learn exercises they can do on their own with minimal equipment even after the class is over.”

One of Swartz’ students, Danielle Seidel, said she likes the workout videos because they provide her with a “more structured workout.” With Sean T of Insanity and Tony Horton of P90X doing the workout right along with the viewer, the motivation and structure are very important assets to this type of workout. “Many programs provide a schedule to follow. When a person is provided with a schedule, it gives them a sense of commitment,” said Beachbody coach, Katie Dreger.

Convenience plays another huge role in the latest workout video Obsession. Many adults work all day long and can’t find time to make it to the gym, and many students go from class, to work, to meetings, and still have piles of homework left to do. With workout videos, the gym is right there in your home, or dorm room, or apartment. “These videos allow people to work out on their own at home and since there are people participating in the video, they don’t feel like they are alone doing the workout,” said junior, Alex Kovalik.

This revitalized type of workout has taken the fitness world by storm. The mix of cardio and strength training, along with the convenience factor has made workout videos a great investment. Anyone who has trouble making it to the gym, needs more variety in their typical routine, or just love having celebrity fitness experts scream at them through their television, should seek out a workout video that fits them best.

How many women would have done something, anything, and gotten a, “You go, girl,” response from another woman? What a great feeling. For women, this is a sign of a true accomplishment. The other woman is saying, “Good for you. I wish I could do that.” Although this is a common phrase used by women of all ages, would you expect there to be a holiday to celebrate this phrase?

According to American Greetings, Oct. 11 is National “You Go, Girl” Day. On this day in 1984, Kathy Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space. “You Go, Girl” Day was created to celebrate courageous women, like Sullivan, that are not typically recognized for their admirable accomplishments.

What defines a person as being courageous? Is it a person who is willing to do something daring like skydive from a plane? Is it a women police officer risking her life to better a community? Or is it a doctor striving each and everyday to find a cure for cancer?

Courage is a word that does not hold a clear-cut meaning. It is an idea that takes on a different meaning based on who is describing the word. Although the people previously mentioned are admirable and should be recognized for their accomplishments, “You go, girl” Day can be a simple shout out to someone.  Courage can, but does not have to lead to a miraculous discovery or a world-changing event. The definition of courage is found within every individual with no judgment from others on what that definition consists of.

“My ‘you go, girl’ shout out goes to Jenny Gamertsfelder for applying to take the social responsibility course that I took last year. This class goes to El Salvador and it is a great way for her to step out of her comfort zone,” said Senior Bevin Blake.

After hearing a presentation in class, freshmen Roni Atkinson and Lauren Klonowski want to give their ‘you go, girl’ shout out to Mary Regula. Mary, a graduate of Mount Union College, founded the National First Ladies’ Library in Canton, Ohio. The National First Ladies’ Library is a one-of-a-kind resource to provide anyone with information on the accomplishments of First Ladies and other remarkable women. That sounds like an appropriate presentation to celebrate “You Go, Girl” Day.

“Jesse Douglas because I think she’s a great role model for all students. She doesn’t let being a girl stop her from working hard and being a distinguished professional. She’s a big advocate for girls doing everything they want to do,” said Senior Danielle Porter when she was asked who she wanted to give a “you go, girl” shout out to

A few other shout outs went to Elizabeth Juran from her sister Emily for doing so well in her finance class and to Alicia Switzer from Sarah Tubbesing because she made homecoming court and is an all around great person.

These shout outs may not be for Nobel Prize Winners or Golden Globe recipients, but that does not mean they don’t deserve a “you go, girl” for what they accomplished. Courage is abstract. The meaning is within the person who defines it. From doing well in a class to being the first American woman in space, all women are courageous in some way. With that being said, a big “you go, girl” shout out goes to all the women out there living each day with a smile on their face and a goal set for the future.

by. Andria Lyons

Facebook and Twitter better step aside because there is a new social media site on the block. Pinterest has put a new spin on social media by making their site more than just comments provided by other users. Pinterest has made its mark and is moving up the social networking ladder.

Essentially, Pinterest is a virtual bulletin board for sharing images. This site allows its users to surf through thousands of pictures that will then link them to the website from which the pictures came. When a user is interested in a specific site, they “pin” the picture to one of their own category boards.

Who is Pinterest targeting? While Facebook and Twitter focus on the age demographic, Pinterest takes its targeting strategies to a different demographic. Gender. According to mashable.com, a site dedicated to social media research, Pinterest is female-dominated with 68.2% of its users being women.

While Pinterest contains 33 different topics to choose from, Food & Drink, Women’s Fashion and Weddings are among the most popular in regard to pinned items. “It has a bunch of different, creative ideas that I wouldn’t necessarily think of on my own and they’re all in one place,” said Senior Katie White.

From recipes, to wedding invitations, to the latest fashions, Pinterest covers all areas that women may want to seek out new ideas on. “Oh my gosh, I love Pinterest. I’m on it every day!” said Junior Sarah Herman. Sarah was not the only person to react this way when Pinterest was brought up. The Washington Post actually printed an article that called Pinterest “digital crack for women.”

With the Pinterest App for smart phones, women can be found “pinning” just about anywhere. “I go on Pinterest all the time because it’s always with me. I’m on it in class, in my room while I’m attempting to do homework, and when I’m just bored and have some time to spare,” said Junior Abbey Chandler.

Pinterest’s focus on women of all ages has created a longer lifespan for the site. “I look at the clothes and cooking stuff. When I’m older, though, I will probably use the home décor sites more. I look at it now, but it doesn’t apply to me as much as it will later,” said Junior Amanda Peters. Women are not only pinning things that apply to them now, but also things that may apply to them in the future as well.

Pinterest’s ability to constantly upload new pictures and websites will also help the site’s lifespan. “I think Pinterest will last a long time because it will always be able to keep up with whatever trends are happening. It’s not something that will fade away when the trends fade away,” said Peters.

Pinterest has actually passed Facebook statistics in regard to how long the average user is accessing the site. Pinterest users spend an average of 15.8 minutes on the site at a time, while Facebook averages 12.1 minutes, according to mashable.com. Pinterest has shown great progress since its launch in 2010 and has become the place to go when creativity is needed. “My room is filled with ‘Pinterest Projects’ and Pinterest is always the first place I go when looking for a new recipe to try,” said Chandler.

The Pinterest site has created a digital outlet for women to share their interests and ideas with women just like them. It is a place filled with new recipes, organizational tips, beautiful quotes and so much more.

by Marisa Dioneff

The University of Mount Union’s Kresge Dining Commons and Campus Grounds are ran by AVI Foodsystems. Feeding over a thousand people a day is no easy task, and Mount Union tries to meet everyone’s needs with a variety of choices. Stations open daily include: home-style, deli, pasta, pizza, salad bar, the grill, the international station and the desert case. Along with these, self-serve cereal and ice cream are offered continuously every day.

Students are given the option of the unlimited meal plan, the 14 block meal plan (with 50 dining dollars), the 10 block meal plan (with 100 dining dollars), the 50 block meal plan and the 50 block breakfast and lunch meal plan. While freshmen are the only students required to have the unlimited meal plan, other students living in on-campus residence halls are required to have the unlimited, 14 block meal plan or the 10 block meal plan. But, just because you aren’t living on campus doesn’t mean you are unable to purchase a meal plan. The Kresge Dining Hall is a quick and convenient place to grab a meal in between classes, or anytime of the day.

Roommates Hayley Lappin and Nina Spagnolo have very different opinions regarding the cafeteria. “The cafeteria has alternate choices for me being a vegetarian and the workers are always polite when I ask for pasta without meat,” Lappin said. Spagnolo stated, “Simply awful, but I love late night.”

Mount Union student Sam Roubic said “It’s definitely not good,” while student Austin Farroni said “It’s repetitive.”

While all students may not have the same outlook on the cafeteria, Mount Union does its best to provide students with a variety of choices and flexible hours. Monday through Friday the dining hall has continuous service from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., with breakfast served from 7 a.m.-9 a.m., lunch served from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and dinner served from 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. The dining hall also has a late night snack offered Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m.-11 p.m.

Mount Union also has a Campus Grounds, with the B&B Café, also run by AVI Foodsystems. The B&B offers students a different menu featuring items such as salads, wraps, quesadillas, chicken fingers, burgers and an assortment of different sides, drinks and snacks.

Along with the Kresge Dining Hall and B&B Café, Mount Union also has a coffee cart located inside of the Kolenbrander-Harter Information Center, also known as KHIC. The coffee cart is open weekdays from 7 a.m.-10 a.m and is a quick and easy way to pick up a snack on the way to class. The coffee cart offers items such as granola bars, fruit, muffins, juice, water, milk and coffee; and, for one swipe, students can choose any two items.

It’s Wednesday night and cars are packing the gravel parking lot.  The small barn-like brown building is lit with a variety of bright neon signs.  The sounds of a banjo escape from the windows and doors and as you enter loud country music is playing from the huge speakers in the front of the room. The dance floor is packed with people in camouflage, flannel, sundresses and cowboy boots.

This is the Dusty Armadillo, a popular country line dance club located in nearby Rootstown.  The Dusty is best known at Mount Union for its Wednesday night College ID night, where all patrons who show a college ID get into the club at a discounted price of five dollars, and all college students over the age of 21 get in for free after 8 p.m.

Students who have never been to The Dusty can find an easy description of it from a regular patron of the club, junior Amanda Perillo, “It’s a big barn in the middle of nowhere full of fun-loving rednecks like me!”

The Dusty is most popular with students who love country music and dancing, like junior Julie Russell.  “The Dusty combines the two things I love the most, dancing and country music,” said Russell, who attends College ID Night every week. “The rest of my week is spent on school, homework, my job and sorority, so The Dusty allows me to relax for one night a week.”

The Dusty is known throughout the region as the best place to go to country line dance.  It is popular with students who go to other schools such as Kent State and Akron, but is also known in the world of country music, with popular country music television network Great American Country (GAC) naming The Dusty the best country club in the state of Ohio.

Students who would want to go to the Dusty, but are afraid to because they do not know any of the line dances can fear no more, before every College ID Night starts, there are dance lessons that people can take before the club open that are only five dollars. “Everyone is there to have fun,” Russell said. “People are friendly and love to help beginners learn the dances during the night.”  The dances range from fast to slow, with some of the faster songs being harder dances, but most dances are easy to pick up after watching for a few seconds.

However, The Dusty is not just a dance club, it also happens to be one of the most popular country music concert venues in the region, with many acts that are just getting started in the business heading to The Dusty to show their stuff.  “I recently saw Florida Georgia Line at the Dusty,” said sophomore Taylor Crossman. “Being on a college budget, it’s hard to see concerts, especially acts you know and love!” Crossman only paid 10 dollars to see the popular new duo, “It was inexpensive, and not overly crowded because they only sell so many tickets.”

For students who are not fans of country music, they can still find something they love at The Dusty Armadillo. “They occasionally have Top 40 or songs you would hear at South Beach that play for the night.” said Russell. The Dusty also has teen nights, where students who are under 21 can get in for a discounted price “I went with my older sister when I was 14 and that’s when I fell in love with the Dusty.” said Perillo.

With something to offer for all Mount Union students, The Dusty Armadillo could be just the thing to make student’s school week a lot more exciting.

Would you rather be sitting on the couch eating buttery popcorn while watching a movie or working out for at least an hour a day? Well, if you do not prefer the latter, maybe I can help you change your mind.

According to Health Discovery’s website, there are six reasons why exercise is beneficial. These reasons include improving stamina, preventing diseases, strengthening and toning muscles, enhancing flexibility, controlling weight and improving overall quality of life.

When you exercise daily, your body uses energy to keep you going. Since exercise involves continuous movement, it boosts stamina by training your body to become more efficient and use less energy for the same amount of work.

“I think that it is key to workout, most importantly because I’m involved in a sport, but I also think it is important for everyone to workout daily to stay fit and healthy,” Tyler Mettille said.

Believe it or not, our bodies crave exercise. Regular exercise is essential to stay physically fit and healthy. It will help prevent heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and diabetes, among other diseases.

Exercising with weights builds endurance. Strengthening and toning your body will not only make you look better, but will make you feel better. Also, being flexible will decrease the risk of injury.

Exercise is one of the key ways to lose weight. If you burn off more calories than you take in, you will lose weight. Simple, right?

Now, exercise is not just about the physical aspect of life. It can improve your overall quality of life. It is a way to reduce stress, lift your mood and help you sleep better. Exercise can keep you looking, and feeling, younger throughout your life.

The question is: how will you get the motivation to maintain a regular exercise routine?  You could include the first six reasons that are listed and explained, but where do you get the inspiration to put down the popcorn, get off the couch, and do it?

Motivation is the general desire and willingness to do something, such as workout daily.

“The thought of success in track and field gets me motivated. I want to be the best I can be, so I never take days off,” Mettille said.

It is never a question of can you, but will you?

By: Lauren Mastroine

Heading into the fall season, new fashion trends are rising all over Mount Union’s campus. Mount students are definitely showing a wide variety of new looks and making fashionable fall statements.

The definition of fashion is a popular trend, especially in styles of dress, ornaments and behavior. According to young Mount Union women, this fits the description of the looks you will see on campus. It is quite evident that fashion trends come and go and history does repeat itself!  Just look around campus and see the false eyelashes, caps and mini-skirts.  You would think you were taking a walk back in time. New York City and Los Angeles, being the fashion capitals of the nation, start the fashion trend.  Ohioan’s used to pick up on the trends months, and sometimes even years later.  Now with the Internet, even Mount Union students look like they are right off the runway.

Mount Union has a diverse group of students on campus. Whether a student is a member of a sports team, sorority, a foreign exchange student, or from a different state, everyone has a different opinion on what type of fashion they like. That is why you see everything from high heels and shorts to long green comfortable skirt and flats.

To try to capture the fall trends of women’s styles at Mount Union, the most popular trends seem to be loose fitting sweaters, leggings and boots. Interviewee Kate Wise, who is involved in Greek life at  Mount Union, says that she likes to wear leggings with boots and a scarf. She also believes that the new trends this fall season are dark skinny jeans with combat boots.  Wise exclaimed how much she hated combat boots. Wise was asked about the most popular stores and where she shops and her friends shop; she stated, “Forever 21, Express, Pac Sun, and Banana Republic.”  These are popular stores at almost any mall ranging from cheaper clothing to more expensive clothing. Her favorite trend this season are the sweaters. “I love big sweaters! So comfy and fashionable!”

Allison Fouss ,who is a soccer player here at Mount Union, said that she thinks scarves, leggings, and Uggs are the most popular trends this fall at Mount Union. Fouss loves to wear leggings, scarves, and boots, “I don’t like when everyone starts doing it, though,” said Fouss.

Another student here at the university, Katilin Keister believes that Yoga pants, printed dresses, and loose shirts will be in style this fall season. “ I like leggings and boots because it’s easy and cute. I don’t like all the new prints,” said Keister

Lastly, Hannah Peters, a former Ohio resident that has moved out to L.A.’s school of fashion, stated the insight of what is actually in fashion, according to major fashion companies like Vogue magazine, Elle, and many others. “Camouflage is unfortunately in style and colors like olive green, maroon, and creams. Over the knee high socks for knee high boots, and warm colored skinny jeans,” states Peters. In Peter’s opinion the most popular stores this fall will be Forever 21, H&M, Zara, and do it yourself projects which t means making your own unique designs out of fabric or even an old hoodies. “I believe fashion trends start in Europe and then come to the two fashion capitals of the U.S. which are NYC and L.A. These cities are very culturally diverse and people in these areas are willing to take risks. It then slowly moves into the Midwest,” said Peters.

Will you take part in all of the new trends running about Mount Union? What about the trends going on throughout our nation and the world? Fashion is a way for everyone to express their own personality, no matter how different they may look, is it worth the risk?

by Andria Lyons.

Choosing a college is a big step in the life of most high school students. There are so many factors that need to be thought about. Some possible questions that may run through a student’s mind may be: Does the school have my potential major? What is the size of the school? Do they have a high job placement rate? Can I continue my athletics at the collegiate level? The questions are endless.

Nowadays, most of this information can be found on a college’s website. Although some people do choose to use the website as their main source of information, others search a little deeper. Some students may wonder if they will fit in at a particular school or if they will feel at home on campus. What better way to experience the campus and students than to plan a college visit and see it firsthand?

College visits have become a very important aspect of a student’s search for the best-fit school. “The benefits of a visit are that potential students get to see the size of the campus, interact with current students to see the type of student that attends, and also if that school has their major or athletic interests,” said the University of Mount Union’s Welcome Center Coordinator, Audra Youngen.

Mount Union offers college visits as an opportunity for current students to show prospective students why they chose Mount Union, as well as the many things offered to students. UMU offers both individual and group tours.

Group tours are held on Fall and Spring Visit Days, also offering students and their families lunch in the cafeteria and a Departmental Discovery session where they can learn about different majors that Mount Union offers.

Individual tours are given Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Audra explained that not only can visiting students take a campus tour with a tour guide, but they can also meet with an admissions representative, talk to a coach or professor, and attend a class.

Tours can be the deciding factor between colleges for many students. “I think tour guides have a serious impact on college choice. For the most part, the tour guide is the one person a prospective student meets before making a decision,” said Nicole Snyder, a sophomore tour guide.

Not only is getting a feel for the campus important, but the tour guide’s excitement and knowledge of the campus is important too. “When I had bad experiences on visits, it really affected how I felt about the school. With the visits at Mount, it’s more of a personal thing with one-on-one time. You can make a good connection with the tour guide,” said Senior Chris Bealko.

Each tour scheduled is very important to the Office of Admissions at the University of Mount Union. It is a way for them to create a relationship with students and also allows prospective students to become familiar with campus, current students, and everything Mount Union has to offer. First impressions are hard to forget, so the Office of Admissions strives to make a prospective student’s experience a positive one.

Monday and Tuesday, Oct 1 and 2, Mount Union’s Panhellenic counsel hosted a viewing of “Half the Sky” documentary to support the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation.

Panhellenic is a Greek committee which has representatives from all of Mount Union’s sororities and fraternities on campus to communicate National Panhellenic rules for all the greek community to follow back to their respective chapters. They do a lot more on campus, however, by hosting events and raising money to supportive organizations like the Circle of Sisterhood.

The Circle of Sisterhood is a foundation, created by an Alpha Xi Delta sister, which “will leverage the collective wisdom and influence of sorority women to support entities around the world that remove educational barriers for girls and women, uplifting them from poverty and oppression,” as stated in its mission. The Circle of Sisterhood then found “Half the Sky,” a call to fight against the oppression of women and girls in developing countries, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, and incorporated it into their mission.

Every year, Katherine Carnell, Director of Student Involvement and Leadership, works with Panhellenic to create an event to support the Circle of Sisterhood and raise awareness to its issues. This year, the book “Half the Sky” was turned into a documentary and shown to the campus. The documentary shows firsthand accounts of child abuse and rape, being put into brothels, and unable to attend schooling, obvious of the inequality that these women and young girls face.

“It’s to get people informed about what is going on around the world,” Vice President of recruitment chair of Panhellenic, Ryli Barnett said about what the Circle of Sisterhood did on campus.

“It really makes you put a lot in perspective…It costs $53.00 to send a girl to school for a year, including clothing and food. It makes me upset because I spend more than that on stupid stuff,” Casey Tonn, current intern for Carnell and President of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, elaborated on Barnett’s statement.

In response to the documentary, Stephanie Novak, Panhellenic President, said, “It was a real eye opener to see what other women around the world have to deal with. We wanted it to be an eye opener for everyone on campus and I believe we have achieved our goal. We also raised money for the foundation.”

One of the viewers Tuesday night, Britanny Lyons said, “I kind of knew stuff like this was going on in the world, but seeing it in this format makes me really sad and really want to do something about it and help these girls. One girl got kicked out of her house by her father because she was raped by her uncle-that is not okay, and now that I am aware of this, more and more people need to be also.”