The Quill

May 19, 2025 (Summer)

Fantasy Fight Club: Ezra Bridger vs. The Ronin

Are you ready to rumble?

This week’s brawl is between two animated heroes skilled with kyber blades. Both have been shown to be formidable against opponents with blades, and both are cunning, quick thinkers. Tonight’s showdown will be sure to leave the arena showered in sparks and light.

In the blue corner, as blue as his hair and his custom blade, is Ezra Bridger. This quick, freedom-fighting street rat has been shown to be formidable in lightsaber combat, even against those who are more skilled than he is, such as the inquisitors or even the Grand Inquisitor. Tonight’s challenger, however, is no inquisitor.

In the red corner, as red as his blade, is one only known as “The Ronin.” Appearing mainly in legends, The Ronin has shown his combat prowess against a gang of bandits and then against a Sith lord. Both fell by his hand. Will Ezra meet the same fate? Or will he use his cunning and great strength in the Force to fight his way out of this one? Only one way to find out.

The bell rings, the gates rise, and the fighters step into the ring. The Ronin is first to unsheathe his blade, but Ezra isn’t far behind. The Ronin takes notice of his blue blade, however, and holds back; his oath is against any who would call themselves Sith, but Ezra’s blade is blue. Nonetheless, The Ronin senses that despite his blue blade, there is a darkness within his opponent, visible not only through the Force, but also in how he strikes and in his eyes.

Ezra continues to deliver blow after blow, and The Ronin continues to parry, countering with his own strikes, which Ezra quickly deflects. As they both fight, they grow more and more exhausted, frustrated, and angry. They begin to let the darkness out. Ezra starts to become reckless in his strikes, and it is this recklessness that grants The Ronin the opening to finish the fight. In just one quick slash of his kyber katana, Ezra falls, and the fight is over.

The Ronin gives him a respectful nod, sheathes his saber, and walks out of the ring, silent, victorious, and untouched.

That’s this week’s fight. Thank you for coming to Fantasy Fight Club, and we’ll see you next season!

May 19, 2025 (Summer)

Fantasy Fight Club: Stanley Pines vs. Dr. Doofenschmirtz

Welcome back to Fictional Fight Club, where fictional characters FIGHT TO THE DEATH!

When looking back on my favorite childhood TV shows, two come to mind right away. One thing I never noticed they had in common was that the old, middle-aged man was the best character. On one side, we have a professional con man in the middle of nowhere, Oregon, where he runs a tourist trap while taking care of his visiting niece and nephew. The other side features a pharmacist trying to take over the “Tri-State Area,” only to be foiled by a semi-aquatic, egg-laying mammal. Give it up for Stanley Pines from Gravity Falls, and Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz from Phineas and Ferb!

Starting off with Stan, he’s been swinging straight out the gate. Growing up in New Jersey, he has spent most of his life scamming people and fighting whoever got in his way. As he got older, his fury grew stronger. Now taking care of twins Dipper and Mabel Pines for the summer, he is sharing his wisdom about the world to help them scrape their way through life.

Doofenshmirtz has had a rough background. Originally from Drusselstein, he has been neglected by his family and overshadowed by his older brother Rodger. Once he made it to the Tri-State Area, he was destined to take over for various reasons. The only reason he hasn’t done anything significant is because of his archnemesis, Perry the Platypus.

The two of them dash into battle, but in very different ways. While Stan would rather fight hand to hand, Doof uses his “inators” (inventions) for combat. Dodging lasers, all Stan needs to do is deliver one swift look hook, and Doof is done. The problem is that Doof is lean, meaning he can move faster than many other people.

While being chased by Stan, Doof fires a laser from the Get Rich Quick Inator, directly hitting Stan. He was presented with a variety of scams, taking every single one of them at face value. Doof approached him, ready to deliver the final blow, but was stopped in his tracks. Stan offered him a deal. Let him win, and then Stan will scam Rodger out of everything he owns. Before thinking twice about it, Doof agrees. He takes the hit, and Stan is off to take all of Rodger’s money.

Even though this didn’t have a climactic final battle, I like to think that Stan and Doof would be allies. Stan can sell Doof’s inators in his gift shop, while Doof can entertain Stan’s niece and nephew for a while. I bet Doof would rock a Mabel sweater!

That’s a wrap on Fictional Fight Club. Tune in next semester to see a new slew of fighters enter the ring.

—Julia Hahn

May 19, 2025 (Summer)

The most unsettling true-crime cases … 

Creep of the Week: Daniel LaPlante

Home is meant to be a place of solitude and privacy, so when something happens to break that tranquility, it can be extremely unsettling and often leave families feeling paranoid and scared to continue living in their home. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened to an unsuspecting family of three in 1986. Coming out of Pepperell, Massachusetts, our case in this week’s edition of “Creep of the Week” surrounds the terrifying home invasion of the Bowen family, who unknowingly had a man living inside their walls for six months.

In the fall of 1986, Frank Bowen and his two daughters, 15-year-old Tina and 9-year-old Karen, were dealing with an incredible loss after their wife and mother had passed away from cancer. Tina and Karen took this especially hard and just wanted to talk to their mother. In their desperation, the girls retrieved an old Ouija board and went down into the basement to use it. They asked questions repeatedly but never received any responses in return. Feeling defeated, the girls packed everything up and retreated back up to their respective bedrooms. That night, and over the next few weeks, the girls would hear tapping noises coming from somewhere inside the house. At first, it didn’t bother them as they thought it was their mother speaking to them; however, as the sounds persisted and the haunting escalated, the girls began to feel scared.

Eventually, they told their father, Frank, about the tapping, objects being misplaced, and written messages left around the house, but he just kept shrugging their concerns off. He figured that it was just their way of coping with their mother’s death. However, as the days went on, Tina and Karen continued to insist to Frank that something was really wrong, and they were scared to sleep at night. After hearing that his girls were losing sleep, Frank decided to intervene. On one particular night, the girls had one of their friends over. However, that didn’t stop Frank. He, with all three girls now by his side, walked into Tina’s bedroom on the first floor where the girls told him they had recently seen a message written on the wall and heard the tappings again. Frank was immediately drawn to a closet in the corner of the room. Cautiously, he opened it and was met by a man who walked out dressed in one of his wife’s dresses, wearing clown makeup, and wielding a hatchet. The unknown man then pointed at Frank and the girls, instructing them to go upstairs to the second level of the house. Before he could get any closer, Frank reflexively stepped between the man and the girls, instructing them to go upstairs as he and the unknown man followed. Once on the second level, Frank told the girls to go into the first bedroom, which they did, and he followed them inside before slamming and holding the door shut, preventing the man from coming in. A struggle ensued to open the door, and Tina, unsure of what to do, ran and jumped out of the second-story window.

She got up, seemingly unharmed, and ran over to the neighbor’s house. She pounded on the door and the neighbor opened it and immediately sensed that something was wrong. All the while, Tina was screaming at him that someone was in her house and for him to call the police, which he did after pulling her inside his house.

When they arrived, the police went into the Bowen household, only to find Frank and the two girls, shaken but alive. The intruder was gone. What followed was a very thorough search of the property that led to police finding nothing. It wasn’t until another search of the residence was conducted that the intruder, Daniel Laplante, was found in the basement, hiding inside a tunnel system that he’d created behind the family’s washing machine. After he was taken out of the wall and arrested, it was discovered that Daniel had a love interest in Tina Bowen and six months earlier, had tried to ask her out on a date, but she rejected him. In response, Daniel broke into the Bowen family’s home, cut a hole in the wall, and began burrowing tunnels that went all throughout the house. He used this as a way to spy on and mess with the family inside by writing messages, moving furniture, and creating tapping noises from all parts of the house.

Daniel Laplante would only serve 10 months in prison for the crimes he committed against the Bowen family. However, after being released, he went on to commit another crime, the triple murder of the Gustafson Family, which consisted of 33-year old Priscilla, 8-year old Abigail, and 5-year old William Gustafson. For this, he would be sentenced to life in prison.

May 19, 2025 (Summer)

Summertime Actions

Summer is a time of relaxation, sunshine, and fun with the people we like best in the world. Everything is green and warm. … I think I’d better cut myself off there. Apparently, I’ve been cold for too long. Anyway, the point is that summer is a time for us to do things that we enjoy. It’s not a time when we want to focus on the damage the environment has sustained. However, it can still be time for us to take steps to protect the environment without missing out on the things we enjoy. Here are some ways to do so. …  Walk or bike instead of driving: One of the biggest sources of pollutants and greenhouse gases is gas-powered transportation. During the summer months, it’s especially easy to cut back our contributions to this problem by simply avoiding gas-powered transportation as much as possible. We can enjoy the weather and protect the environment by not driving. Going for hikes and bike rides can also be fun group activities.

Drink water: Or rather don’t drink commercially bottled water. Bottled water uses fossil fuels to create plastic bottles and to pump and ship the water itself. In most instances, commercially bottled water is not any better than tap water and tastes the same; research has shown that bottled water often contains micro- or nanoplastics. Most of us have access to tap water that is probably just as good as bottled water, so we can use a reusable water bottle instead and fill it up at home.

Choose an eco-friendly sunscreen: This is most important if you’re going swimming. When we swim, some of our sunscreen is probably going to wash off and then stay in the water. Many sunscreens contain chemicals that harm algae species, which are one of the fundamental organisms in aquatic ecosystems. This can cause a negative chain reaction that affects the whole ecosystem. Unfortunately, there isn’t any active ingredient in sunscreen that is completely environmentally safe and effective; zinc oxide and titanium dioxide seem to be the best options currently. Look for brands that are labeled as reef-safe and/or eco-friendly. The brand I use most often is Badger Balm.

Turn off or turn down (or rather up) the AC: Another big way we can choose to either expand or shrink our ecological footprint is by our use of AC during the hottest months of the year. Turn the setting up by a few degrees or, better yet, turn it off and open some windows.

Go to the museum/library/beach: Do something with your friends or family that doesn’t involve traveling a great distance, that you can all enjoy, and that isn’t centered around consumption. The beach is the perfect place to spend the summer (and not to ruin the mood, but it’s also a great place to pick up litter created by human error or thoughtlessness). If you want to go somewhere cool, museums and libraries are places where anyone can find something to interest them, the AC will already be running, and we can enjoy without feeling guilty.

Making decisions that help protect the environment and our future does not have to be difficult. We can work these decisions into our everyday life and have fun while doing so.

May 7, 2025

Sheepshead Review and Northern Lights Launch This Week!

Sheepshead Review launched its “wackiest” issue to date this Wednesday, May 7th. “This issue is themed after landscapes found in Wisconsin, with wacky elements throughout the pages,” the editorial staff writes. Pick up a copy!

Join us for the 2025 Northern Lights Literary & Arts Journal Launch Party on May 8 at 5:00 p.m. in the Phoenix Club as we celebrate this year’s issue and the incredible creativity of our campus community! (Light refreshments start at 5 p.m., with readings to follow at 5:30.) We’re thrilled to announce that we received a record number of submissions this year. Thank you to everyone who shared their work with us. The Northern Lights team has reached out to all contributors, and we’re so grateful for your talent and support. Come grab a copy, enjoy some refreshments, and celebrate the publication of the journal with us. The event is also available on Zoom (RSVP to get the link). After the launch, copies will be available in the Green Bay, Sheboygan, and Manitowoc campus libraries, as well as in the basket on Professor Rysavy’s office door on the Green Bay campus (Studio Arts 261).

—Ginger Knauer, Co-Editor-in-Chief

MAy,7, 2025

AWE Spring 2025 Graduate Success Stories: Rebecca Stewart

May 7, 2025

AWE Professor Ann Mattis on How Literature Shapes Lives

Professor Ann Mattis recently published Dirty Work: Domestic Service in Progressive-Era Women’s Fiction, (University of Michigan Press, 2019). Mattis focused her work on how early 20th-century literature, including female-authored works, portrayed complex relationships between women employers and their household help, bringing light to class, race, and social anxieties. The book examines how domestic workers were portrayed as threats to the nuclear family, and how this played important roles in first-wave feminism and the New Negro movements. Mattis reveals the hidden influence of domestic service in shaping cultural narratives of modern femininity. By showcasing the inequalities, Dirty Work: Domestic Service in Progressive-Era Women’s Fiction urges readers and writers to recognize the inadvertent stereotypes embedded in literature and the detrimental effect that they can have on our society.

May 7, 2025

AWE Professor Bill Yazbec on Why Writing Never Ends

Professor Yazbec spends his workdays planning lessons and teaching, yet even during his personal time, he continues to respond to questions and concerns while balancing family and personal demands. If that isn’t enough, Yazbec is currently working on multiple manuscripts. The Land of Nod, which is about two-thirds drafted, is about where kids go when they dream. Another fiction story, which is about half drafted, is about a 225-year-old man who is still alive in 2072 due to a time-space anomaly.

Additionally, in 2016, Professor Yazbec published Charlie’s Bequest (CreateSpace). It’s a story about a man whose estranged best friend, a single dad named Charlie, has recently passed. In his will, Charlie asks his best friend to take his daughter on a road trip to meet the most influential women from Charlie’s life, helping her navigate her grief. Yazbec is so dedicated to his students that we may overlook his remarkable abilities in his own writing.

May 7, 2025

Top 4 Study Spots in Green Bay

There are plenty of places on and off campus that offer a great place to study with finals season fast approaching. Here are some of UWGB students’ favorite study spots in the Green Bay area. Good luck with finals and congratulations to all graduating students!

The Attic Corner
The Attic is a coffeehouse, bakery, and bookstore all in one! With options for indoor tables and outdoor patio seating, this is the perfect space for students to study and enjoy a treat.

Brown County Library
If you’re looking for a quiet place off campus to study, the multiple branches of the Brown County Library system are perfect for you. Each has reservable study rooms (and tables, if the study rooms are booked). They also have many resources useful for students through programs, digital materials, and large collections of books.

The Pawffe Shop
If you’re down for a little drive and love cats, this cat cafe located in Appleton, Wisconsin, is the purrfect place for you. Grab a sweet treat and make friends with the resident cats to relieve stress while you study.

Daily Buzz Espresso Bar
The Daily Buzz is another favorite cafe in Green Bay. Enjoy a cup of coffee while you study indoors or outdoors with patio seating.

—Clover Cicha, Local Favorites Editor

May 7, 2025

Local Spring Events 

Bring your friends and family to celebrate the vibrant energy of spring in Green Bay, join in the fun!

Brown Co. Library

• Saturday, May 3: Join the Brown County Library conversation with author Mary Annette Pember about her book Medicine River: A Story of Survival and the Legacy of Indian Boarding Schools (adult age group). 1:00 to 2:15 p.m., Central Library, 515 Pine St, Downtown Green Bay. An Ojibwe journalist, Pember explores the painful history of Native American boarding schools and their lasting impact. Her book, described by the New York Times as “a most anticipated book,” includes her mother’s personal story of attending one of those schools. The event will feature a presentation, book sales, a signing, refreshments, and a chance to meet Pember.

International Film Series

• The Green Bay Film Society at UWGB invites you to the Spring 2025 International Film Series, sponsored by the Neville Public Museum (it will continue through May then resume in the fall). The films are unrated and meant for a mature audience. All films are free and open to the public.On May 7, The Dinner (Italy 2014), based on Herman Koch’s novel, will be screened. The film follows a tense family dinner where two brothers confront shocking truths after a video surfaces of their children violently attacking a homeless woman. It raises questions about parental protection versus accountability. This screening is co-sponsored by the Italo-Americano Club.

Dinner Detective Show

• Join an interactive mystery dinner theater in Green Bay. Enjoy a delicious dinner while you work to solve the mystery. Beware! The person responsible is there, and you could be the main suspect!This show is not like a typical mystery dinner. The actors blend in with the audience and don’t wear costumes, making the evening fun and interactive.

  Tickets start at $60; your ticket includes an award-winning mystery dinner theatre show, a full-plated dinner, gratuity for the waitstaff, and many surprises throughout the evening. Event location: Hyatt Regency Green Bay, 333 Main St.

  Show dates are:

  • May 3, 2025, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • May 24, 2025, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m
  • June 14, 2025, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • June 28, 2025, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.