The Mug – Page 5 – a BIC student publication

What Is The Convention of States and Why Does It Matter?

QuickBIC Admin on October 10, 2016

Image courtesy of conventionofstates.com

The phrase “Convention of States” seems to be making headlines more than usual, especially in Texas, but what exactly does it mean? It turns out it is not just another term you learned for your Constitutional Development class but a key part of the Constitution that ensures states maintain the right to check the power of the federal government and protect federalism.

When writing the Constitution, the authors wanted to ensure that states maintained the ability to amend the Constitution, so they included a clause in Article V that allows state legislatures to come together to propose amendments to the Constitution. It follows a similar procedure to the one that Congress uses when they want to amend the Constitution. The process goes something like this: thirty-four states (two-thirds) pass a resolution known as an application calling for a convention, states select delegates that will represent them at the convention (usually through an election), delegates attend the convention where they vote on and hopefully pass amendments, and said amendments are sent back to the states for ratification. For an amendment to become law it must be adopted by thirty-eight states. A convention deals only with one issue that the states have all agreed upon, such as limiting the power of the federal government.

Although a Convention of States has never occurred, every state except for Hawaii has applied at one point or another in time. However, last month the Citizens for Self-Governance sponsored a mock convention in order to get an idea of what a modern day convention might look like. The convention followed an agenda which proposed amendments to impose fiscal restraints of the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and create term limits for members of Congress and elected officials. Delegates who attended the convention broke into committees, which addressed these specific issues and drafted amendments pertaining to them. The amendments were debated and by the end of the four days there were six amendments ready to be sent back to the states for “ratification.” Ultimately, the convention was deemed successful and demonstrated that an actual convention would not erupt in political chaos the way some critics believe it would.

So, will an actual Convention of States happen? The answer is maybe. Currently, eight states have passed resolutions calling for a convention of states. Thirty states have considered it, and it is set to be debated in many states in the 2017 legislative session (including Texas). So while there is still a ways to go, the movement is gaining momentum. At a time when the federal government appears to be increasing its power and American politics is more chaotic than usual, it is a credible answer to many of the challenges the country faces. Regardless, it is too soon to write it off as impossible and stop exploring the idea.

Brittany Gamlen is a junior majoring in international studies.

Homelessness Outside of “The Bubble”

QuickBIC Admin on October 7, 2016October 7, 2016

Photo courtesy of Ke’Sha Lopez

It is easy to forget that a world exists outside of Baylor University. Generally, students spend the majority of their time within the boundaries of Baylor. We go to class, study, and usually live quite close to campus. While Baylor offers a beautiful environment for living and learning, it cultivates something commonly called the “Baylor bubble.” Christian Balaños defines the “Baylor bubble” as a thin sphere which separates Baylor and the residences surrounding the university from the rest of Waco.

Of course, Baylor students do venture out into the greater Waco area, and at these times we become acutely aware of Waco’s homeless population. The strip of restaurants across I-35, affectionately dubbed the “grease pit,” often sees tired looking men and women of all ages asking for money or pushing around all of their belongings in a dingy shopping cart. Other parts of town show signs of Wacoans seeking shelter: if you look closely when you walk through downtown, you will find many alcoves housing dirty, old pillows and beat up shoes. Presumably, people live here. The intersection at New Road and I-35 is another place we often see homelessness in the form of people suffering the heat with their signs. This can be the only interaction a Baylor student has with the homeless population of Waco.

Many current Baylor students do not know that ten years ago, Waco had approximately 600 homeless people. According to city officials, the homeless problem was perpetuated by “chronic homeless”: individuals with a disabling condition who have been continually homeless for more than a year or individuals with a disabling condition who have experienced at least four “episodes of homelessness” in the last four years. In 2006, many of the people suffering from chronic homelessness were veterans suffering from PTSD, substance addiction, or another type of chronic illness or disability.

Due to a ten-year plan implemented by the city of Waco and the efforts of the Waco Veterans’ Assistance program, the number of chronically homeless people in Waco have drastically declined. Waco’s ten-year plan focused on ending chronic homelessness through implementing education, rental assistance, foreclosure prevention, eviction prevention, interim housing, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, training, and eventually employment. The Waco VA has helped veterans by reserving thirty-five vouchers, which allow the veteran to only pay thirty percent of their income towards rent.

While the city of Waco has made great strides towards ending chronic homelessness, there is still more to do. Most sources confirm that Waco will face the issue of chronic homelessness again when soldiers return from war. In 2015, Waco I.S.D. reported that 1,119 students were considered homeless. Baylor students have many opportunities not only to educate themselves on the reality of Waco homelessness but also to help their fellow Wacoans.

Although many Baylor students do not call Waco home, we should not let that stop us from investing in our community. The “Baylor bubble” can fool students into disregarding real life issues until they graduate. However, Baylor and various local organizations offer many ways for students to invest in their community. We’ll be living in Waco for at least four years; why not spend that time helping others and learning about our city?

Nikki Thompson is a sophomore majoring in English.

Sources

http://www.actlocallywaco.org/2015/03/31/break-through-the-baylor-bubble-become-a-citizen-of-waco/

http://www.kwtx.com/content/news/Waco–Homelessness-Not-As-Bad-As-It-Used-To-Be-364314371.html

http://www.waco-texas.com/pdf/housing/10year-plan-homelessness.pdf

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/program-helps-families-of-homeless-veterans/article_3ae8d55b-5355-5441-83af-fd429a23953b.html

http://www.kxxv.com/story/32569040/waco-isd-sees-increase-in-homeless-students

Aleppo and Ancient Sieges

QuickBIC Admin on October 3, 2016October 3, 2016

If you have been paying any attention to the major headlines in the news these past few weeks, you have likely seen the devastation in Aleppo, Syria. Aleppo, formerly Syria’s largest commercial city, has been a major point of contention between the Syrian government and Syrian rebel forces.

The city has been under siege by government forces since the Free Syrian Army retook the eastern portion of Aleppo in 2012. The Syrian government has stepped up its siege, however, utilizing Russian air support as well as its own in an attempt to bomb the rebel-held section of Aleppo into submission. Civilians, hospitals, and first responders have been targeted directly through these attacks.

In particular, Russia has been using bunker buster ordinance to destroy underground shelters and hospitals utilized by civilians. In this week alone, nearly four hundred people have been killed in Syria and Russia’s bombing of Aleppo, including over one hundred children. The total number of deaths from the Aleppo from the past few years are somewhere in the tens of thousands. This number is only increasing.

The situation in Aleppo has been condemned by the UN, especially Russia’s involvement, but the situation only worsens. The horrible conditions in Aleppo have led to people making statements like “We live in the most violent age of human history.” Yet when one actually looks back at human history, he or she will see that civilians have never been safe in times of war. In fact, despite what the situation in Aleppo might suggest, the 21^st century is the safest time for civilians yet.

In the ancient world, the civilians of a captured city had two fates. Civilians would either be sold into slavery by the thousands, or they would be raped and killed.

For instance, in Alexander the Great’s campaign against the Persian Empire, the young commander set upon the city of Tyre in 332 BCE. Although Alexander’s army outnumbered Tyre’s garrison by about five to one, Tyre’s defenders held out against Alexander’s siege for seven months. Outraged by the extended siege and the loss of his men, Alexander slaughtered all the defenders and sold the remaining 30,000 civilians in Tyre into slavery. This practice would last well into the early medieval period.

It is also interesting to note that siege engines such as catapults, ballista, onagers, and trebuchets, whose purpose was to hurl large chunks of often flaming material over stone walls upwards of sixty feet tall often hit civilian populations indiscriminately.

For instance, the siege of Carthage by Roman forces in the Third Punic War lasted for almost three years. In this three-year period, hundreds of thousands of projectiles were launched by Roman siege engines. By the time the city fell in 146 BCE, the walls were reduced to rubble, many of the city’s buildings were destroyed, and a large portion of the civilian population was dead. In accordance with ancient practice, most of the defenders were killed, tens of thousands of people were sold into slavery, and the city itself was razed to the ground.

All of this to say, the current situation in Aleppo is terrible and deplorable. The civilians trapped within the city are exposed daily to a horror that no one should have to experience. Yet it is important to note that many strides have been made in the modern era to protect civilians in times of war. There was no UN to advocate for the Carthaginians. There was no news outlet that abhorred the butchering of the citizens of Tyre.

While the modern age has brought us bunker busters, so too has it brought us international diplomacy and the establishment of universal human rights. Do not be so quick to forsake our time.

Lee Shaw is a junior majoring in professional writing and the current editor of The Mug.

Sources

https://books.google.com/books?id=mPFBmpQjRDoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=arrian+anabasis+of+alexander&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiPtYvh47rPAhVI_IMKHbhTDgEQ6AEIJzAC#v=onepage&q=arrian%20anabasis%20of%20alexander&f=false

Why North Texas is Quaking

QuickBIC Admin on September 30, 2016

Recently, an environmental issue in Texas has hit national headlines. An increase in earthquakes in the North Texas area sparked the interest of researchers a while ago. Now, findings from an SMU research group and the EPA point to certain practices of oil drilling companies as the reason behind this seismic activity. In fact, the increase in seismic activity since 2008 has been quite notable. In the past 8 years, the North Texas area has seen about 130 small to medium sized earthquakes. One couple in Irving Texas describes experiencing numerous earthquakes that left their paintings and pictures askew on the wall.

Much of this seismic activity is thought to be due to the water disposal system many companies use after the fracking process. (Fracking is a process used to drill for oil and gas, in which high-pressure water is directed at rock deep underground in order to release the gas that has collected in the shale rock. It has long been a source of controversy due to its numerous possible ecologically damaging effects.)

The leftover water must be removed. However, to leave it above ground runs the risk of polluting any of the areas water sources. Therefore, often the water is injected into the ground. This increases the pore pressure in the area, as the space between the small rocks that make up the soil fill with water. Scientists have also noted a rise in the general elevation of the earth around these wastewater injection sites. The EPA and Texas Railroad Commission are now exploring possible avenues for changing the rule regarding wastewater and injection and general drilling practices.

This problem is another in a long string of environmental issues that oil and gas companies have faced over the past few decades, even the past century. For our generation, the biggest example is likely the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill of 2010. An oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico caught fire and sank into the water, killing eleven people and releasing a previously unimaginable amount of oil (around 5 million barrels) into the surrounding water. BP spent approximately $14 billion cleaning up and became the face of a horrible tragedy. Many people and environmental groups were left furious. Should we be feeling the same anger now? The damage seems less at face value, but again the effects of these massive projects on our environment haunt us.

The question we must ask ourselves is: Where do we draw the line? On one side of the line are the belief in Laissez-faire economy and the need for oil that permeates through every inch of our current economy. On the other side is the need to protect our environment and the lives of people and wildlife making a home here. How much time, money, and energy should be spent finding new ways to keep the environment safe? At times like these, many point to alternative energy resources, ones that would have a lesser impact on the environment. The thing we must remember, however, is that oil drilling is not the only thing leaving these cracks in our earth. Many of the choices we make as a society and the practices that drive our economy and world leave their mark on our environment. In a way, there is something simply human about leaving our mark on the world. However, on the other hand, it is naïve to think that we will never face the effects of our actions. We have to be careful. We must approach with caution. The earth is often far more delicate than one would think a spinning ball of rock would be.

Katherine Estep is a junior majoring in neuroscience.

Sources

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/09/series-texas-quakes-likely-triggered-oil-and-gas-industry-activity

https://www.texastribune.org/2016/08/22/epa-north-takes-quakes-likely-linked-oil-and-gas-a/

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/09/us/texas-earthquakes-fracking-studies/

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-14432401

http://www.bp.com/en_us/bp-us/commitment-to-the-gulf-of-mexico/deepwater-horizon-accident.html

https://www.britannica.com/event/Deepwater-Horizon-oil-spill-of-2010

Baylor Mugshots: Dr. Emily Glass

QuickBIC Admin on September 28, 2016

Welcome back to school, Baylor bears! QuickBIC—now The Mug—is back after a summer-long hiatus, and we hope you are all ready for some top-notch new content that will get your blood pumping and your heart racing.

Before we all went our separate ways at the end of last semester, I sat down for a wonderful chat with the BIC’s most colorful professor, Dr. Emily Glass. We hunkered down in the library where Dr. Glass had been meeting with her rhetoric students to help them with their final papers—ten-page long monsters about complex issues that I did not even want to touch. I hid in the corner while they worked.

Dr. Glass did not seem to have a problem with beating thesis statement after thesis statement into submission. “I do experience pride very viscerally with my students,” she told me once the last freshman had gathered his cowed research paper and left. When they struggle with difficult concepts or schoolwork—like final papers, she said—and then they get it—that is the point of being a teacher, in Dr. Glass’ book. I rushed to scribble down that piece of literary gold, and then jumped right into my next question.

“What are your favorite hobbies?” I asked.

“Well,” said Dr. Glass, laughing a little. “I like to think that I’m capable of engaging with serious grownup things.” (I made air quotes around “serious grownup things,” because what even is that?) “But inside,” she said, “I’m a vortex of frivolity held together in human form.”

It turns out that Dr. Glass’ hobbies are just as fun as her awesome wardrobe. “I’ve made my own jewelry,” she told me while I simmered in jealousy over her creative genes. She also sews, and she has been interested in costume design since she was little, even making her own outfits for the Monster High dolls that she collects. Back in college, she said, she and her friends founded a sword fighting club, and they used to spar with wooden practice swords in the park, which she said was unbelievably fun. (I made a note to check out the fencing club on my own time.)

We talked a little more after that. Dr. Glass mentioned her respect for Socrates, and I mentioned that my Gorgias was buried away, never to see the light of day again. She said that she had crayons and coloring books in her office for world-weary students; I said that I would probably need to drop by sometime.

Finally, we arrived at the last question on my list. “Can you describe Baylor to me in three words?”

Dr. Glass had done some thinking about this one, and tackled it immediately. “Earnestly mission-driven,” she said, with no explanation.

After reading back over my notes, I think that Dr. Glass managed to sum up herself in three words too. Anyone who spends upwards of half a dozen hours a week helping students outside class, or who takes the trouble to smack googley-eyed stickers onto your weekly quizzes, or who has snacks and crayons in her office for students that need them must be earnestly mission-driven about her job, and about turning the kids she teaches into rhetoricians to rival Aristotle.

Thanks, Dr. Glass. We think you are doing a great job.

Chelsea Teague is a junior majoring in professional writing.

The Debate Question That Won’t Get Asked Monday Night

QuickBIC Admin on September 26, 2016

After a hectic and unconventional election season with many unexpected twists and turns, the nation is gearing up to watch the first presidential primary on Monday. This highly anticipated debate will give voters a chance to get a better feel for the two candidates with some of the lowest likeability ratings ever recorded. Many people will watch the debates with no intention of voting for either candidate, but simply because they are curious to see how the election will continue to play out. Even so, the debate we will watch on Monday not will not give us the answers we are looking for.Despite the public’s strong opposition to the candidates, both sides’ parties

Despite the public’s strong opposition to the candidates, both sides’ parties continue to release fear-mongering statements about the importance of winning the election, even going as far as to say that this is the most important election and if the other side wins then there will not be another election. The media continues to frame the election in terms of black and white, overemphasizing issues like Clinton’s health and Trump’s donors when in reality there are substantive problems with the candidate’s policies. Trump will not give an explanation for how he is going to make Mexico pay for the wall and Clinton will not give an explanation for her email scandals. The candidates will not be asked why they have both changed parties and opinions on major issues like abortion and gay marriage. They will find ways to dodge questions about the policy changes made in the last few months of their campaign, which greatly alter their platforms.

Instead, the point of the debate will be for the two candidates to attack and demonize one another in order to scare voters into voting for their party. The election is based around attention grabbing headlines and potential scandals on both sides of the race, shifting the focus from who is the candidate that will do the most good for the country to who is the lesser of two evils. As American people, we deserve better. We deserve to compare candidates on issues of policy and cast a vote for the person who we believe best reflects our beliefs. We deserve to see a debate stage that represents more than just two parties, after all, elections are not binary choices. We deserve to get full and unbiased coverage from the media throughout the election cycle. We also deserve to have this question answered: without mentioning your opponent’s name, why should the American people vote for you?

These things will only change if we make an effort to get involved and see that they change, and this starts with being politically aware. When you watch the debate (which you should even if you despise the candidates because one of them is our next president), think of the issues you want to know more about and research them. Think of the questions you want to be answered and call your representatives and ask them.

The debate will begin at 8 pm CST on CNN and other major news networks.

Brittany Gamlen is a junior majoring in international studies.

ISIL and Attila

QuickBIC Admin on April 15, 2016April 16, 2016

With Secretary of State John Kerry’s announcement on March 17^th that ISIL is guilty of committing genocide in the Middle East, the Islamic State was officially established as a morally-reprehensible entity in the eyes of the international community. As Brittany Gamlen noted in her article “Is the Declaration of Genocide Enough?” this declaration does not officially elicit any particular action from the United States or its allies but, at a base level, it symbolizes the United States’ abhorrence of the violent acts of the Islamic State.

ISIL’s bombing of European nations, organized sex slavery, and vicious tactics in warfare have placed the group on a worldwide stage upon which most nations across the world have expressed their condemnation of the group’s horrible acts. The current international disdain for ISIL raises the question, “Has the world ever seen such a violent and internationally-hated entity? Unfortunately, our current situation shares a number of similarities with Europe and the Middle East’s conflict with the Hunnic Empire, which began as early as 372 CE.

A notable difference between ISIL and the Huns is that while ISIL is interested in capturing settlements and forming a new caliphate, the Huns were a nomadic people who were interested in sacking and razing settlements, not capturing them.

ISIL and the Huns do share, however, almost global enmity. In 372 CE, the Hunnic hordes descended from their Northern Eurasian steppes and began raiding the territories of various Gothic factions bordering the Black Sea. By 376 CE, the Huns had subjugated the Alans and the Greuthungi, two previously prominent factions, forcing coalitions of Ostrogoths and Visogoths to abandon their settlements and flee toward the protection of the Roman Empire to the West.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia.com — *Image courtesy of Wikipedia.org*

Notably, however, neither the Western or Eastern Roman Empires would be able to withstand Hunnic attacks. The Huns began their first major invasion of the Eastern Roman Empire in 395 CE, raiding and pillaging around modern Bulgaria and Greece for three years before falling back to the steppes to count their plunder.

Hunnic attacks would not stop, however. In 435 CE, under the leadership of the infamous Attila, the Huns forced the Eastern Roman Empire to sign the Treaty of Magnus, which gave the Huns trade rights and required an annual payment of tribute from the Eastern Roman Empire. This agreement would be broken quickly, as hostilities resumed in 440 CE with the Huns sacking more than ten Eastern Roman settlements.

What is truly notable about the Huns, however, is that they would regularly raze their enemies’ settlements. When a settlement is “razed,” its population is either completely decimated or enslaved, its buildings are burned or knocked to the ground, and its fields are torn up and filled with salt. Sophomores taking Natural World II this semester were recently taught that the Western Roman Empire fell because of its non-sustainable agricultural practices, but this may not be the case. We do not know a lot about Roman farming practices, but we know that their fields were destroyed by the Huns. As such, the Romans did not have the food to feed their soldiers and, thus, did not have the soldiers to maintain their empire.

But why raze a settlement? We can look to the acts of ISIL for an answer. ISIL has systematically looted and destroyed modern cities and ancient ruins alike, notably the ancient ruins near the settlement of Palmyra in Syria. ISIL has claimed that these attacks are meant to destroy the idols of other Muslim sects (although there is no indication of idol worship in many affected areas) and landmarks of Western expansion into the Middle East. There is also a great deal of money to be made through the sale of the ancient artifacts that ISIL has stolen.

Therefore, both modern ISIL and the ancient Huns share the same despicable and barbaric practices. The Hunnic menace to the world, rampaging through most of Europe as well as the Middle East, lived for almost an entire century. ISIL cannot have the same lifespan. The Huns succeeded because although the entire world was afraid, they did not unite against the Huns. When one Gothic faction fell, its neighbor to the West would wait with fingers crossed, hoping to not be the next anthill sitting in the path of the Huns. For this modern Hun to be destroyed, the civilized nations of Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East must unite against our common enemy.

While we share many differences, a united global coalition would free the world from a shared terror.

Lee Shaw is a sophomore BIC student majoring in professional writing.

Politics is not Just for Your Grandparents

QuickBIC Admin on April 11, 2016April 16, 2016

Here in the United States, we are lucky to live in a country where we play a direct role in shaping the policies of our country. Unfortunately, most people do not take advantage of this great system. Our age group gets an especially bad reputation for being out of touch and uninvolved in the world. It might even feel like there is no way to get involved. There are a few things you can do to increase your political participation.

First, understand that the political process is messy and often you are not going to agree with what is happening. That is not always bad thing. Congress moves slowly because there is more than one view on the way policies should function in our country and there are disagreements over legislation. That might seem frustrating, but the great Leslie Knope once said, “….what I hear when I’m being yelled at is people caring loudly at me.”

We have a beautiful political system where laws are not passed without expressing varying views on the issue. If you do not like something, the good news is that there is room for you to change it. Brush up on high school government and make sure you have an understanding of how everything works.

Next, realize that you do have a say in this system, and it is crucial that you engage in the political process. The most obvious statement is vote regularly. We live in a republic, not a democracy, which means that we elect people who represent us. Make sure the person you are electing is a good representation of yourself. Many people wonder why Donald Trump is the GOP frontrunner. During presidential election cycles, less than thirty percent of citizens vote in primary elections. Thus, one of the reasons Trump is winning is that only one third of registered Republicans are voting. Even fewer people vote in non-presidential election years. It is important to note that many more elections than the presidential election occur every year. Sometimes state and local elections get over looked in favor of larger races, but it is your local officials that shape your communities and in some ways have a greater impact on your daily life.

Moreover, you need to be an educated voter. Too many people do not know what they are voting for, or do not vote because they do not know what is going on. Download a (credible) news app and spend five minutes you would normally spend on social media reading up on the current issues. It will even send you updates when major stories break. It is important to realize that most news outlets are biased, so it is a good idea to look at a few and do not always believe everything you hear.

You can “like” several news outlets on Facebook (or other social media) so that whenever you scroll through your newsfeed you get a glimpse of actual news. Part of being an educated voter is not being a single-issue voter, so it is important to have a good grasp of all issues. It is natural to have certain issues that you are more passionate about than others, but it is problematic when you vote for a particular candidate based on their stance on one issue. There is usually no candidate whose views align perfectly with yours. Check out each candidate’s website, do not just rely on the media, and read up on their positions on every issue. Then, vote for the candidate who you think will do the best for the country, not necessarily for yourself.

Additionally, attend a local town hall and learn about the ways these broad issues directly affect your community. I challenge you to learn the names and faces of all your local representatives. These are the people that are willing to fight for issues you care about. Next time that you are bothered by something you see happening, call the appropriate representative and ask him or her what can be done about it. I have a rule when it comes to politics: you cannot complain unless you are involved and working to change the situation.

Lastly, discuss politics with others, both your peer groups and older generations. It is often considered taboo to bring up politics in many situations, but break that tradition. Politics is too important of a subject to ignore, and often times meaningful discussion can help shape our opinions. Attend discussion forums on campus to better understand issues. It is better to give up an hour or two of your time to stay informed than to give up your rights because you could not be bothered to get involved. Remember, a revolution occurred to give us this privilege and we should not take it for granted.

Brittany Gamlen is a sophomore BIC student majoring in international studies.

A Sweet Discovery

QuickBIC Admin on April 8, 2016

A recent discovery in diabetes care has the chance to make millions of lives a little bit easier. Most of us, at some point in our life, have had to get our blood sugar tested. Perhaps it was for giving blood or a physical. It is not the worst thing in the world, but it also is not fun. Imagine having to do that every day, multiple times a day.

For those with diabetes, the reality of the disease is that every day is a constant marathon of pricking your finger, testing blood sugar, tracking carbohydrate intake, administering insulin, and simply trying to keep the body balanced.

When my uncle was diagnosed with diabetes out of the blue, it took him and his wife years to really figure out how to take care of him. It was a constant struggle for him to stay healthy. For kids with Type I Diabetes, this struggle begins when they are young and continues for the rest of their lives. Many of us take for granted only having to worry about our health when we are sick. For some, it simply is not that easy. So of course, my uncle was delighted when he heard of a discovery made by a group of Korean scientists.

Diabetes is an insulin-related disorder. Insulin is a hormone released by beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin is released after we eat, and works to facilitate the build-up of energy stores. With insulin present, GLUT-4 transporters move in and allow glucose molecules to enter the cell. There, glucose can be stored in the form of glycogen. Without insulin, glucose will build up to dangerous levels in the blood.

In Type I Diabetes, the beta cells do not produce adequate levels of insulin. This causes glucose to build up in the blood. Type II Diabetics produce insulin, but their bodies have become resistant to it. Diabetics must closely monitor what they eat and often administer insulin shots. They must consistently track their blood sugar. If it becomes too high or at low, their lives could be at risk.

This new method of blood sugar detection is a wearable graphene patch. It monitors glucose levels in the sweat. “Graphene” sounds like “graphite” because they are both made of carbon atoms. Graphene is carbon atoms attached in a honeycomb pattern. This unique structure allows it to be incredible thin and incredibly strong (1).

This specific sensor is a patch of graphene lined with gold and with added computer chips. It is capable of monitoring pH, temperature, humidity, and of course glucose (2). The device is also theoretically capable of delivering doses of insulin in a nearly painless manner. The rest gets extremely technical, but basically an uptake layer brings sweat into the device, where certain things, such as glucose presence, can be determined. Then, microneedles deliver a determined dose of insulin into the skin. Due to the nature of graphene, the device is very thin and flexible, so it sits on the wearer’s skin with relative comfort (2). In other words, as far as I can tell, it may just be the best thing to happen in diabetes technology in a long time.

It is easy to say that research should only be focused on “the big stuff”. We want the big wins. Those in the sciences often dream of curing cancer or discovering the answer to the biggest question in science. Those things are important, but that are not the only point of research. This may not have been a cure for diabetes, but it is still a win. It was enough for my uncle to excitedly tell me about it on the phone. It makes lives easier, and for that, it is still incredibly applicable and impactful research.

Katherine Estep is a sophomore BIC student majoring in neuroscience.

(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene

(2) http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nnano.2016.38.html

Five Items to Add to Your Grocery List

QuickBIC Admin on April 6, 2016

While everyone has their favorite chips and cookies that they like to get at the grocery store, there are a few things you need to put on your shopping list. These foods are “add-ins” that can supplement almost anything. With each, I will give a recipe to get started! I am always very interested in reading about foods and their benefits. I have compiled this grocery list based on my favorite things that are very easy to build recipes around.

1. AVOCADOS

Avocado is all the rage right now, for a reason. I am sure you have seen the drawing of one avocado telling another discouraged avocado, “I said you are the good kind of fat!” Avocados are one of the fattiest plant foods, but this means that they are high in heart healthy fatty acid, like olive oil.

Avocados are also very nutrient-rich, and have more potassium than bananas. Another nutrient in avocados is fiber. Fiber can help with weight loss and metabolism.

Along with all of these benefits, avocados are delicious or at least I think so. My mom and I take a plain avocado, mush it together with mayonnaise, salt, and pepper, and dip tortilla chips in it.

If a plain avocado with mayonnaise does not sound appetizing to you, I understand. Try a smashed chickpea and avocado sandwich instead. This is the same idea, but you smash chickpeas and avocado together and then add cilantro, green onion, and lime juice for taste. This is a perfect sandwich to make quickly and easily. You could also spread the smashed chick peas and avocado on a burger or veggie burger, or even add egg! Click on this recipe to get the full recipe:

http://bigflavorstinykitchen.com/2012/12/smashed-chickpea-avocado-salad-sandwich.html

2. EGGS

Eggs are my go to food. I love eggs, but there is just one thing: I can not eat them alone. Nope. I cannot just eat a plate of scrambled eggs or even an omelet. I am picky in that way. However, I love eggs when they are on sandwiches or bagels or croissants.

The reason eggs are my go-to is because they are a very good source of protein. I have been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for three years and the amount of times I have been asked, “Where do you get your protein?” is a number too high to count. To clarify, a lacto-ovo vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, but eats eggs and dairy. While there are several other ways to get protein, eggs are inexpensive and rich in protein. They also contain almost all of the nutrients we need.

There are so many things you can do with eggs. My favorite thing is an egg salad sandwich. It is one of the easiest sandwiches to make. All you do is boil eggs, add green onions for a crunch with salt and pepper, and a spoonful of mayonnaise, and you have got yourself an egg salad sandwich. An alternative to mayonnaise is avocado. You just add vinegar or lemon juice, and a little more salt. For the full recipe, click on this link:

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/egg_salad_sandwich/

If you are interested in watching those really quick cooking videos on Facebook, here is the link for how to make eggs in five ways:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/alisonroman/how-to-cook-eggs?bffbfood&utm_term=.oaz2yy58p#.lmRLJJRjb

3. TOMATOES

I have a love/hate relationship with tomatoes. It depends on the day. Regardless of how I feel about them, they are perfect to add to literally anything. You can cut them up and put them in a salad or an omelet. To spice up your boring grilled cheese, you can add a slice of tomato. Ever heard of a BLT? The tomato makes it so good. Tomatoes are a very good source of vitamin C, K, and E. They are also rich in dietary fiber.

A really easy tomato recipe is caprese stacks. Basically all it is, is tomato with mozzarella and basil stacked on top drizzled with olive oil. What is not to like? Here is the link for the full recipe (this one comes with the nutrient facts too!):

http://www.health.com/health/recipe/0,,50400000130211,00.html

4. SPINACH

Today, I am here to tell you to stop eating icebox lettuce in your salad. Spinach is so much better for you and tastes better too. Lettuce practically does nothing for you. Spinach has twice as much potassium, protein, calcium, iron, and vitamins A, B, and C than any other leaf you can eat in a salad. Once you start eating spinach in your salad, you will never go back.

If you are thinking that you could not get over the taste of spinach, this recipe will make you forget you are even eating spinach. It is a spinach salad with bacon and egg. The salad has spinach, bacon, egg, mushrooms, onion, and cherry tomatoes (3 out of 6 of these are on the grocery list!). You could also probably recreate this recipe at the dining halls! For the full recipe, click on this link:

http://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a35487/spinach-salad-bacon-egg-recipe-rbk0413/

5. NUT BUTTER

I first had almond butter on an airplane. Very random, I know. Me and my mom had missed lunch trying to catch our connecting flight, and were very hungry on the airplane. We decided to try the ‘Tapas’ packaged snack box they sell on airplanes. It turned out to be so good, we would purposely skip lunch so we could eat this on the plane whenever we traveled! One of the things it included was almond butter to put on a wheat bagel.

There are all kinds of nut butters, like cashew, macadamia, walnut, and hazelnut! They have protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Beware though, many companies add unwanted ingredients, like sugar. What is the best way to avoid that? Make your own! Here is a wonderful website that gives you all details:

http://tasty-yummies.com/2014/03/18/how-to-make-homemade-nut-butters/

Bethany Dickerson is a freshman BIC student majoring in journalism.