Volume 101 Issue 03

The Collegian Walla Walla University

Volume 101

Issue 03 13 OCT 2016

www.tecsinternational.net

6 10 COLUMN

NATIONAL SECURITY: TWO PLANS, YOUR CHOICE

13 food

14 SCIENCE/TECH

dear reader,

Editor-in-chief Matthew Moran

Before you delve into this issue, I want to commend Alex Bryan for his inspiring sermon on “Black Lives Matter.” If you haven’t heard, the University Church is doing a series entitled, “Ask. Anything.” where Alex Bryan answers the burning questions submitted by students. If you are interested in learning more, the sermons are streamed live at 11:45 a.m. on Sabbath mornings as well as posted longterm in the archives.

Now, it is time to press forward to the matter at hand-our first feature regarding the 2016 election. Regardless of who you are voting for or what you may think about this election, all Americans will unanimously agree that this election is drastically different from any American election in the recent past. I encourage you to read what we have to say and to contribute your ideas. According to the survey results we received from last week (a further breakdown of the results can be found in the feature section), it

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seems that most students on campus identify with independent or democratic as opposed to republican. Also, most students seem skeptical as to America’s role on the world stage, safety, and ability to compete with foreign economics. This will be an interesting point to consider as we embark to look at the foreign policies of our candidates for this issue. This issue starts the journey of our four-part election series where we will discuss foreign policy, economics, religion and politics, and, finally, a grand culmination special issue on the election. Our goal is to educate and empower you as a citizen of the United States to make an informed decision when you reach the voting booth. I am excited for this journey that we are about to take together and I hope that you are as intrigued as I am during this political season.

Finally, I want to thank you for reading The Collegian each and every week. We are proud to be a voice for both the Walla Walla University campus as well as the Seventh-Day Adventist

church. We will continue to respect this task as one of our highest callings.

Also, we are unashamedly proud of what The Collegian has become after many, many years, and we will continue to be leaders and innovators in the sphere of Adventist newspaper publications.

If you have any comments, questions, concerns, or contributions, you can email me at matthew.moran@wallawalla.edu or aswwu.collegian@gmail.com. As always, enjoy and IPFY (i.e. I’m praying for you) every day!

editor-in-chief Matthew Moran

layout designers Anna-Marie Vargas Claudia Curtis Geoffrey Lopes

assistant editor Abigail Wissink

news writers Kyler Alvord Lauren Epperson

Head layout editor Fränk Ramirez Head Copy editor Sophia Rich Life editor Micah Hall backpage editor Lauren Wahlen

Copy Editors Katherine Beckner Lindsey Luna food editor Mason Neil feature editors Brandon Pierce Michael Jensen Ysabela Ramirez Bryndilynn Goodlyn humor writer Micah Hall religion writer Vixie Bailey sports writer Marissa Rosales

opinion writer Yvanna Hammen-Alvarez Joshua Huh columnists Joni Harris & Emily Huso

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Table of Contents | 2 News & Senate | 3 Week in Forecast | 4 Global Service & | 5 Campus Ministries

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If you are interested in contributing to The Collegian, speak with one of our illustrious staff members. The Collegian is enhanced by regularly incorporating a wide range of campus perspectives.

Devotional writer Christina Moran Fashion writer Angelica Chan Culture/travel writer Darling Su ACA/SM Editor Stephanie Septembre Science writer Jordan Brooks

Cover Credit: tecsinternational.net The Collegian is the official publication of ASWWU. Its views and opinions are not necessarily the official stance of Walla Walla University or its administration, faculty, staff, or students. Questions, letters, and comments can be sent to aswwu. collegian@wallawalla.edu or matthew.moran@wallawalla.edu. This issue was completed at 1:00 A.M. on Thursday, October 13, 2016.

Creative writing editor Mac Ford global service writer Daniel Villarreal Office Manager AnneMarie Vixie

The Collegian | Volume 101, Issue 03 | 204 S. College Avenue, College Place, WA 99324 https://issuu.com/aswwucollegian

battle Positions! the longest table connects campus •

Care about WWU and ASWWU

NEWS CONTEXT

3

• Write bills and express opinions on There were several people there to act This week has brought in many wideUniversity s judges and announce a winner. One of eyed freshman and they have been willing bills being presented Senate will require VP an average he judges, ASWWU Spiritual Peter of three to try all kinds of things. We are excited @ASWWU fter nearly year a half of and is ato see students.

“I remember moving in NEWS week ofthat paid Flores, said, “Ihours like athe factand sowork many what things this class will go CONTEXT onattothe n Saturday, Oct. 1, Walla Walla couldDeclarations then fill take-out boxes of leftovers of Candidacy may be found and I am good way to get involved with the inner With the widening of College Avenue construction, the WWU Walla Walla beginning of last year and feeling so eople were putting themselves out there accomplish. from on other along the ASWWU rest of the University Church hosted their the families outside door of the Senators are lost on my own campus,” senior Kristina sidewalks came the removal of these University portion College Avenue egardless of workings how scaryofitASWWU. might have the first floor of annual Longest Table event. A quartertable.Executive Nothing Office grabs (on a college student’s This eve expected to: Kozakova said.

“Our car got really dirty poles. “The campus is very open and opened to vehicle just class in time een to perform.

Thistraffic freshman is for Kellog Hall), andfree are due on Tuesday, mile-long table stretched the length of attention more than food.

Walla Un and dusty and I couldn’t even access my visible to College Avenue traffic, both the school year. wesome!”

October 11. laurenepperson epperson lauren Fourth Street. This feast of food connects time. Th own apartment.” vehicular and pedestrian,” McVay said.

• Attend weekly meetings (Held on community families with university Jacob Prosser, junior physical education News Writer News Writer graciousl Sep. 9 was a sunny and joyous day in the On Friday, September 9, WWU students.

Food isand a great way Place to bond said, “Itparking was a pretty p.m.) to the stude While upperclassmen remember community, College residents major, administrators Tuesdays gave the at “all8 clear” bookstore lot. neat event! I n Wednesday 500 students creek. havetospent awhile withthe people and thiscars event isappreciate a great way was impressed with all the food choices unblocked driveways and hopped in “They their the open the campus portion of College • Communicate with constituents the days of Several potential the deadline across theWWU university trying to the creek and students topreserve getthat toaverage know local families and the“Before friendliness fromsenators allProject, themissed families.

Senate will require an of three open roads, many students have for final product they waited so the long Avenue, and the barriers were removed the C.A.R.S. the to declare candidacy, but can still take a vacant seat participated in the campus annual surrounding area.

If the blackberry hours a week of paid work and is a in their church community.

Two of my favorite words are ‘free’ and and represent their opinions never seen a functional College Avenue, for. “When I first heard College Avenue by late afternoon. The C.A.R.S. Project walk to my apartment was sketchy and by running for senate and by being published in The good way toget get too involved with the inner Fall Service Day. Projects varied bushes big it undoes all the After students finish their meals, they ‘food,’—put them together in a sentence viewing the road as nothing more than had opened, I didn’t believe it,” senior isn’t quite •complete, with detached from campus. There weren’t Be active onconstruction email Collegian. of ASWWU. Senators are from roadsideWWU clean President up to yardJohn work workings work that they have doing.I would a large sidewalk.

Amanda Winter said.spent “I thought continuing south of campus until midstoplights by the cafeteria and cars didn’t expected to: • Study the ASWWU Governing to helping community members in One of the guys that is in charge of McVay noted that the opening of the graduate before I saw that finished!”

November, but students can once again always stop for pedestrians,” Kozakova homes. put Several students had the project stopped by and talked to roadtheir was further off until updated drive from the documents center of campus to Taco said. “Now, College Avenue looks Attend weekly (Held things to sayavailable about their projects and • us; it wasfollowing fun tomeetings hear about allonthe crosswalks were to pedestrians, The week, WWU faculty Bell in a matter of minutes. amazing and inviting and I feel safer • Care about WWU and ASWWUallowing what students Service Day meant to them. work that they had been doing and to safely readjust to spiced up at their Faculty-Staff Assembly walking home.” Patience is a virtue, and Tuesdays 8 p.m.)

Freshman engineering student how are making difference.” thru traffic.

The extended time also with we a little College aAvenue parade.

According the bills University’s Tumblr after months of practicing it, the virtue • to Write and express opinions on Communicate constituents iversity Jaredconstruction Sexton said,crews “I spent the final • The Troy Wallace, junior theology allowed to finish caravan ofwith decorated cars showed page, the WWU section of College finally paid off. Here’s to the new and bills being presentedto at awithout private interference. residence home major, andway Evan Davies, senior roadmorning accessories aand unique to celebrate, sporting Avenue was originally scheduled improved College Avenue—may the next represent their opinions “If Iand hadhe to was identify my favorite the cutest old man. We theology major the day helping everything fromspent the newly redesigned opencould

by September 2015.

Early stages generation never struggle like we did. then fill take-out boxes of leftovers Declarations of Candidacy may be found and I am a happy camper.”

• clean Be active on email nueof construction, improvement,” said,things “it is not just helped McVay him clean up Cemetery.

WWUMount van toHope McVay’s ’63 Volkswagen revealed Eric Zac from on other families along thesome rest of the the however, outside door of the ASWWU har We e issues with the road’s infrastructure. By something added but something removed • Wallace around his house.

He had difficulty said, “A lot of the staff have Study the ASWWU Governing Bug. yW l c the first floor of table.Executive Nothing Office grabs (on a college student’s h This event has been forest a favorite of Walla hite Om d the time things were coordinated, the —the prior, very unsightly of utility moving around so I think he just family that are buried there and District 1: District 3: Kellog Hall), andfree are due on Tuesday, kyler alvord attention more than food. documents Walla University students for large a long thproject hadOctober residence poles.”

Before the C.A.R.S. Project, really appreciated having us there to they told us a lot about it.

It just The real celebration, though, fallen behind.

Sittner North Meske 11. cts News Writer time.

Thank you, tosidewalks, all the families •that Care about WWU and ASWWU aid. ladies, st wooden poles littered the help him get his house and yard to reminded me that life is short and it happened later on when students drove to Jacob Prosser, junior physical education graciously provided food and love to allpick up their textbooks and realized they n theThe at 1:30 p not only wiping out pedestrians, but large bulldozers and gutted the way that he wanted it. Service important to express make the moston of it.

• isWrite bills and opinions major, said, “Itparking was a pretty neat event! I the students attended. ents bookstore lot.

University he WWU dorm clubs kicked off obstructing views ofthat front campus. event, ma streets created a fair share of stress among no longerthem have clean to park backward in the Day was fun and I enjoyed just being Helping up the cemetery was impressed with all the food choices y billsa being presented he the school year quite literally last participa able to help this man and hew as so was good way to honor their family es and the“Before friendliness from allProject, the families. ng the C.A.R.S. the tudents. “I remember moving in at the Sunday, rallying approximately 100 This appreciative that we were there.” members.”

Two of favorite wordsso are ‘free’ and Declarations of Candidacy may be found enue walk to my apartment was sketchy and the widening With of College Avenue eginning of lastmy year and feeling participants to the annual AGA/OPS first of m Sarah Anderson, senior biology Thank you to everyone who on the outside door of the ASWWU ‘food,’—put them together in a sentence or on my detached fromsenior campus.

There weren’t sidewalks came the removal of these ost own campus,” Kristina Mudbowl. The Mudbowl is a longtime annual B student, spent the day doing came and helped service day; Executive Office (on thefor first floor of Kozakova said.

“Our car got really dirty would stoplights by the cafeteria and cars didn’t poles.

“The campus is very open tradition at WWU that allows residents in Octob roadside work down by and Walmart, you’ve made an impact on the Kellog Hall), and are due on Tuesday, I couldn’t even access my Kozakova visible to College Avenue traffic, both ”nd dusty and always stop for pedestrians,” to release some beginning-of-school Providen October 11. clearing blackberry bushes from community.

Mic wn apartment.”

Safootball said. “Now, College Avenue looksvehicular and pedestrian,” McVay said. stress by playing rina Center, a hae games of tackle Me festivitie l Pa of mud.

Sep. 9 was a sunny and joyous day in the lty amazing and inviting and I feel safer in a field made entirely s p e pas District 5: rvia remember community, and College Place residents bookstore parking lot.

District 4: 12 teams blyWhile upperclassmen walking home.”

Patience is a virtue, and This year, participated—six events, a unblocked driveways and it, the virtue Conard hopped in their cars to appreciate the Foreman .he days of after months of practicing from each club.

Aleph Gimmel Ain, the Meske co pen roads,finally many WWU students “Before the C.A.R.S. Project, the ed paid off.

Here’s have to the newfinal and product that they waited so long women’s residence club, began the day’s dominan ever seen aimproved functionalCollege CollegeAvenue—may Avenue, for. next “When I first heard College Avenue walk to my apartment was sketchy and the activities at 11 a.m., breaking in the such as A iewing the road as nothing more than had opened, I didn’t believe it,” senior detached from campus.

There weren’t ed generation never struggle like we did. newly-watered “field” beside Walla Walla To s large sidewalk. WWU President John Amanda Winter said. “I thought I would stoplights by the cafeteria and cars didn’t gen Valley Academy junior Sarah Fandrich events, li McVay noted that the opening of the graduate before I saw that finished!” always stop for pedestrians,” Kozakova played in the first game of the day, and Foreman oad was further put off until updated Omicron Pi Sigma, the men’ssaid. “Now, College Avenue looks Kyler alvord The following week, WWU faculty kyler alvord she wasn’t afraid to get dirty. “It’s a OPS’s Sn rosswalks were available to pedestrians, amazing and inviting and I feel safer residence club, followed behind the to take advantage of these services. unique kind of sportsmanship when you llowing students to safelyNews readjust to a great asset to the team.

Naden News Writer Writer spiced up their Faculty-Staff Assembly walking home.”

Patience is a virtue, and ladies, starting the first round of games ove to also tackle each other’s faces into the mud… hru traffic. The extended time also received master’s degree for herDJed with a little Avenue parade. after months counseling of practicingisit, theavailable. virtue at College 1:30 ap.m.

The OPS cabinet theCouple they The testing side of Counseling, llowed construction crews to finish final lovingly,” CouFandrich said. “It wasHso studies of marriage and family The caravan of decorated cars showed finally paid off.

Here’s to the new and allmuch alla Walla University’s he WWU dorm clubs kicked off event, making it a fun experience for ie A the rtne oad accessories withoutCounseling, interference.Testing, and Testing and Wellness serves students nde fun.” a unique way to celebrate, sporting improved College Avenue—may the next therapy at Loma Linda University y Ma the school year quite literally last participants and observers alike. rson cPh If I had toWellness identify my favorite with proctored standardized tests. everything from the newly redesigned generation never struggle like we did. before pursuing her doctorate, giving District 6: District 5: Center sees new leadership e Sunday, rallying approximately 100 This dorm-sponsored event is the e mprovement,” said, “it is not change WWU to McVay’s ’63 If you or someone you know Mountain View Foreman her first-hand with hosts the this McVay school bringing participants to year, the annual AGA/OPSand van first of many experience to Volkswagen come. AGA omething added but something removed Bug. can benefit from the department’s Adventist university culture. energy to theMudbowl department.

Mudbowl.

The a longtime annual Breast Cancer Awareness 5K —the prior, very unsightly forest ofisutility services, kyler stop by Meske Hall #222 to Counseling sessions free of alvord Michelle Naden, who has a tradition at WWU that allows residents in October, which raisesare money for oles.” Before the C.A.R.S. Project, large The real celebration, though, an appointment and meet charge to WWU students and areCancerscheduleNews doctorate in beginning-of-school sociology from the Writer to release some Providence St. Mary Hospital’s wooden poles littered the sidewalks, happened later onby when students drove to the friendly staff.

They can also be available appointment with any University of games Southern California, by out playing of football Center, as well asrealized Mother’s Day weekend ot onlystress wiping pedestrians, buttackle pick up their textbooks and they reached at (509) 527-2147. of the department’s professional was hired as the director of in a views field made entirely of mud. hosts Hall bstructing of front campus. no longer festivities. have to parkOPS backward in thevs. Hall

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Anyone experiencing Counseling, Testing Wellness This year, 12 teams and participated—six events, a yearlong series of Sittner and depression, anxiety, grief, stress, or hall is this summer, and her 20-plusAin, years from each club. Aleph Gimmel the Meske competitions to see which anything in between encouragedevents of experience the field women’s residenceinclub, beganproves the day’s dominant, on top ofisschoolwide activities at 11 a.m., breaking in the such as Amateur Hour. newly-watered “field” beside Walla Walla To stay current with dorm club Valley Academy junior Sarah Fandrich events, like AGA Facebook, WWU played in the first game of the day, and Foreman & Conard Halls, and follow she wasn’t afraid to get dirty. “It’s a OPS’s Snapchat, @omicronsigma. unique kind of sportsmanship when you

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WEEK IN FORECAST FRIDAY

THURSDAY

@Quiet Mike

SATURDAY

@ASWWU

@ASWWU

OCT 13

OCT 14

OCT 15

Civil Rights Today: The New Civil Rights Movement by Shaun King

Drama Club’s Costume Sale

Barn Party

7 p.m. Cordiner Hall at Whitman College

Boba Tea w/ Global Service 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. SAC Mask Photos: LAST TIME 2-6 p.m. CTC 315

Grad School Fair

4-7 p.m. Conard Hall Chapel

Positive Life Radio Announcer Auditions

1-4 p.m. Black Box Theater

7:30-11 p.m. WEC Gym

Ultimate Frisbee

2-5 p.m. Behind Sittner Hall on the soccer field

Mobile Church

10:30-11:45 a.m. KRH Lawn

Men’s Soccer vs. Northwest Christian

Men’s Soccer Senior Night vs.

Corban

7:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.

1 p.m.- 5 p.m. CTC

SUNDAY

WEDNESDAY

COMING UP Tuesday, Oct 18 First Senate Meeting WEC 217 Friday-Sunday, Oct 28-30 Family Weekend

@ASWWU

@Walla Walla Balloo n Stampede

OCT 16

OCT 19

Walla Walla Balloon Stampede

After Hours

7:15 a.m. Howard Tietan Park

7:30 p.m. SAC

LLU Pharmacy Information Session 6 p.m.- 7 p.m. KRH 325

Friday, Nov 11

2016 Distinguished Scholar Lecture: Marilynne Robinson

Nov 5, 6, 10, 12, 13

Little Women: The Broadway Musical Village Hall

GLOBAL SERVICE/ CAMPUS MINISTRIES CONTEXT

5

Perspectives in service:

A Look Into Campus Ministries’ Community Service Department

Daniel Villarreal Global Service & Global Humanitarian “Community Service is our mission and ministry for God. We are to reflect the image of Jesus, and serve God by helping others.” ‒Natalie Schmidt

I

had the pleasure of meeting with Kelia Cook and Natalie Schmidt, both members of Campus Ministries and coordinators of community service activities, to talk about community service in Walla Walla. The Community Service Department partners with other organizations to make a real impact on both the students and the community by listening to what the community needs and supplying it for them.

For Kelia and Natalie, it is very

important that students understand what community service represents. “Often times,” says Kelia, “we focus on me, me, me. We should strive to follow Jesus’ example by meeting the physical and the emotional needs of the community. We can connect with God by connecting to the people, meeting them [on] the same level.” Some of the misconceptions about humanitarian work are that it implies a lone missionary in a distant country—perhaps in Africa or Asia.

Nevertheless there are many needs within this community that can be addressed.

In order to be effective, volunteers must understand that others are counting on them to follow through with their commitment, and that their actions can create a long-term ripple effect in the lives of the people they are helping.

Natalie and Kelia also talked about how to go about finding a community service activity that suits individual needs.

When asked what organizations students should join they answered, “Connect with an organization that moves you, like the Humane Society, Parks and Rec. Look at the organization, talk to the people inside, and put value in it.” To Natalie and Kelia, there is no better way to be involved than to find something that suits your interests. Many activities allow students to enter in groups, which can lead to disinterest (I’m doing it because my friends are doing it).

Being present and focused on the task at hand is the goal of every volunteer.

The Community Service Department has many activities that students can get involved in both in the short and long term.

1. The Buddy Program is a fairly new initiative where students from Walla Walla University and Whitman College work with mentally disabled adults in

fun activities like swimming, basketball, running, and arts and crafts.

2. Operation Christmas Child is a worldwide event where Christmas boxes are filled with goodies and sent to kids that can’t afford to have Christmas. It is a small way to bring happiness to a child who wouldn’t otherwise get presents.

The Community Service Department also has placements for students who are considering community service as a long-term commitment.

Perhaps volunteering for a day or two does not meet the expectations you have; don’t worry, there are many other ways to be involved.

Whatever it is you are interested in, get connected and find a way to be involved in an integral way; one that benefits both you and the community around you.

Worship opportunities Here are some options for worship activities on campus this week.

Heubach Morning Worship – Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.

Heubach Worship – Tues 9 p.m.

Fireside Worship – Thurs 9 p.m.

Hispanic Ministries Worship – Mon 7 p.m.

Hall Worships – Wed 9 p.m.

Prayer Meeting – Wed 7 p.m.

Vespers – Fri 8 p.m.

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PERSPECTIVE FEATURE

PEXELS

security, image, and power:

why expert foreign policy Matters Michael Jensen Feature Editor

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t is unlikely that you have gone more than a few days at a time without hearing someone complain about this presidential election cycle.1 Something about the dichotomy between slick and brash, experienced and “fresh,” boring and entertaining so vividly personified by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump leaves one scratching their head.

It is easy (and popular2) to dislike both candidates, making the task of voting seem like an exercise in picking the lesser of two evils.

However, it is crucial to prevent personal dislike or even disgust from impeding a fair evaluation of both candidates’ platforms, experience and proposed policies. And while the Trump and Clinton approaches differ wildly in many areas, perhaps the divide most important to Americans and the rest of the world is their opposing views on foreign policy. After all, it not only impacts the daily lives of Americans in countless ways3 but, it also changes the way other nations perceive our country and us as its citizens. With so much at stake, it is not acceptable to adopt an ambivalent attitude toward foreign policy.

Instead, we must invest time, thought and effort into evaluating which candidate will best support American interests in the tumultuous arena of diplomacy and war.

A side-by-side comparison of Clinton’s and Trump’s positions on major foreign policy issues is beautifully provided on The Wall Street Journal’s website4 as well as several other news outlets,5 so specific details are not provided here. Although such pointby-point comparisons are useful, they are uninteresting to one not sold on the implica-

tions of foreign policy decisions and unaware of the role that experience and relationships play in a policy’s success. For the specifics to seem important, one must first understand the impact of the general issues at hand.

Unfortunately, it is easy to feel like foreign policy decisions do not impact the daily life of the average American. However, nothing could be further from the truth. In 2015, the U.S. State Department collaborated with Meridian International Center and the Foreign Policy Institute of John Hopkins University to alert Americans to the vital importance of foreign policy by launching an initiative called “Foreign Policy Matters: How Diplomacy Impacts Americans.”6 The initiative involved a roundtable discussion between academics, politicians and industry leaders at Meridians International Center in D.C. Participants discussed “the importance and impact of U.S. foreign policy on the daily lives of American citizens” as well as “American attitudes towards foreign affairs” and “studies reflecting the far-reaching implications of U.S. foreign policy.” As explained by the State Department’s blog post on the initiative, these “far-reaching” implications include the role that diplomacy plays in securing the export of American products and encouraging foreign investment in the American economy.7 U.S. foreign policy decisions also affect America’s “public image,” changing how allies and enemies alike perceive this country.8 To the average American, these implications affect everything from financial well-being to homeland security.

Despite the State Department’s “Foreign Policy Matters” initiative, public understanding and value of good foreign policy is not exactly homogenous.9 One would think that for something as vitally important to a nation’s health as foreign

policy, there would be a precise formula which everyone could agree works. Unfortunately, issues of diplomacy are intricate, complex, and nuanced. The “right answer,” if there is one, is not always obvious. Consider, for example, the top issues facing Barack Obama as he began his second term as President of the United States. As outlined

by NBC World News, in 2012 Obama was juggling issues ranging from the risk of Iran potentially gaining nuclear weapons to the threat that violence from Mexico’s drug wars would “leak north into the United States” to fears that Israel may militarily strike Iran.10 Think about that for a moment. How do you prevent a powerful country on the other side of the world from developing weapons?

How do you reduce drug-related violence in a neighboring country and prevent drugs and violence from spilling across one of your country’s massive land borders? How do you convince one of your allies to hold off waging preemptive war against their worst nightmare? How do you manage all of these issues while simultaneously leading your country’s citizens, leaders, and allies? There are no cookie cutter answers. There may not even be any “right” answers. Each of these situations demand more than “answers;” tact, focus, commitment, relationships, and experience are required to safely navigate these dangerous waters. A leader lacking in these traits is not just impotent in the foreign policy arena—he or she stands to do a lot of serious damage. Having the right ideas without the skill set to implement them will not cut it.

Both Clinton and Trump have expressed strong foreign policy opinions, but their opinions vary wildly. And that is okay—there is often more than one way to skin this foreign policy cat.11 This is not to

say that specific policy angles do not matter or that some are not objectively better than others: History provides many examples of what works and what does not. But that is a different story entirely, and it is objectively true that there are multiple valid ways to approach most problems. However, as discussed above, there are certain non-negotiable skills—notably tact, focus, commitment, relationships and experience—that voters should consider just as carefully as each candidate’s specific positions.

Trump’s general attitude toward presidential issues like foreign policy are best summarized by his own words: “We’re gonna win so much, you may even get tired of winning.”12 From his perspective as a business magnate, everything is a game.

It is about winning, about coming out on top, and about crushing the competition.

And this feels like an encouraging attitude from someone who may represent America.

Should not America be winning every battle? Should this powerful country ever have to bargain or compromise? Trump’s attitude is aggressive and competitive and, when combined with his powerful-sounding name, creates a package that seems to embody the American spirit of domination and success.

His suggested policies and attitudes, as described by Politico, have included “promises to ‘take’ Iraq’s oil, to extract a kind of imperial ‘tribute’ from U.S. military allies like South Korea, his eagerness to emulate the Great Wall of China along the border with Mexico, and his embrace of old-style strongmen like Vladimir Putin.”13 Something about that bold attitude is appealing, attractive and . . . “American.” That is why this rhetoric is working for Trump: he has found a message

CONT. ON PAGE 8

IS BLOCK

FEATURE PERSPECTIVE

national security:

two policies,Your Choice YsaBela ramirez Feature Editor

W

ith the elections fast approaching, it is easy to focus on the sound bites and scandals that constantly harass the candidates and generate interesting gossip in everyday conversation. It is important to take into account the character of the next president; however, it is equally important to remember that your vote in the presidential election is more than a protest against Trump’s crude mouth or Hillary’s disturbing penchant for lying to the American people—your vote will determine the kind of policy that will govern the United States for the next four years. To make an informed decision when casting a vote, one must first look at the issues and challenges our new president will face, and second weigh each candidate’s plan of action once they become president. Although there are many issues at stake related to foreign policy including trade deals, diplomatic relations with allies, and rising tensions with North Korea and China, the focus of this article will be on the threat of instability in the Middle East and radical Islamic terrorism.

TERRORISM, ISIS, AND, THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR Terrorism poses a great threat to our nation. In recent years, we have seen a major increase in terrorism worldwide. The major spike in terrorism began in 2011 with the start of the Syrian civil war.

The rise of terrorist attacks has had its greatest effect on the middle eastern and African countries of Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and Nigeria. However, we

have also seen a serious rise in terrorist attacks across Europe and the U.S. Europe has seen 10 major attacks in the last two years, claiming the lives of 273 people and injuring over 751.1 In recent days, people have begun to call frequent terrorist attacks in European cities “the new normal”2 The U.S. too has been rattled by terrorist attacks. From the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013, to San Bernadino, to the mass shooting at the nightclub in Orlando, the United States has seen six major terrorist attacks that claimed 74 lives and injured 266 since 2013.3 ISIS has been on the U.S. radar as a threat to middle eastern stability and perpetrator of terrorism in both the Middle East and in the West. The Syrian civil war has further destabilized the Middle East and created an opportunity for ISIS to grow.

U.S. involvement in the fight against ISIS has been complicated by the three-sided Syrian civil war (the Syrian government vs. the rebels vs. ISIS) as well as the recent involvement of Russia in the fight, with the U.S. backing the rebels and the Russians backing the Syrian government. In addition, the Syrian civil war has generated a refugee crisis, which has caused great suffering among men women and children and driven many to risk dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean Sea. The European Union and the U.S. have been pressured to provide relief by accepting thousands of refugees into their countries. However, warnings from CIA director John Brennan that terrorist cells could be hidden in groups of refugees,4 along with the unrest in Europe following the admittance of refugees,5 and the rise of gang rape in Germany6 has caused many to question the wisdom of allowing thousands of refugees from a volatile region into their nations. The defeat of ISIS and middle

eastern stability are in the best interest of American and global security and must be considered in our president’s policy. The U.S. must also determine how it will deal with the Syrian refugee crisis.

“

ISIS has been on the U.S. radar as a threat to middle eastern stability and prepetrator of terrorism in both the Middle East and in the West.”

Donald Trump’s Plan Donald Trump has pledged to destroy ISIS by utilizing “aggressive joint and coalition military operations to crush and destroy ISIS, international cooperation to cut off their funding, expand intelligence sharing, and cyberwarfare to disrupt and disable their propaganda and recruiting.”7 Trump takes issue mainly with ISIS and rejects the idea that nation building and regime changes are good for American interests. In his speech on foreign policy, he commented on the U.S. involvement in the Syrian civil war: “We tore up what institutions they had and then were surprised at what we unleashed-civil war, religious fanaticism; thousands of American lives, and many trillions of dollars, were lost as a result. The vacuum was created that ISIS would fill.” Later in the speech,

TECSINTERNATIONAL.NET

he stated, “We are getting out of the nation-building business, and instead focusing on creating stability in the world.”8 Trump recognizes the ideological aspect of radical Islamic terrorism and plans to take this into account to keep Americans safe at home. He plans to “establish a commission on radical Islam to identify and explain to the American public the core convictions and beliefs of radical Islam, to identify the warning signs of radicalization, and to expose the networks in our society that support radicalization.”9 To fight the ideology of radical Islam, he plans to “Speak out against the oppression of women, gays, and people of different faiths…[and] be a friend to all moderate Muslim reformers in the Middle East, and will amplify their voices.”10 He has also introduced the idea of “extreme vetting” where our intelligence agencies will put their research on radical Islam to use by “establish[ing] new screening procedures and enforc[ing] our immigration laws to keep terrorists out of the United States” and “suspend[ing], on a temporary basis, immigration from some of the most dangerous and volatile regions of the world that have a history of exporting terrorism.”11 Hillary Clinton’s Plan Hillary Clinton has also pledged to destroy ISIS. Her official campaign site takes the threat seriously stating, “The threat we face from terrorism is real, urgent, and knows no boundaries. Horrific attacks like the ones in Paris, Brussels, Orlando, and San Bernardino have made it all too clear: It is not enough to contain ISIS and the threat of radical jihadism—we have to defeat it.”

According to her site, Hillary Clinton plans

CONT. ON PAGE 8

7

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CONTEXT FEATURE

CONT. FROM PAGE 6 that resonates with the defiant spirit of America’s downtrodden.14 His domineering approach to foreign policy dares to suggest that this county can rule the world.

Clinton’s approach to foreign policy is rather different. For example, while Trump has emphasized his interest in re-negotiating America’s relationships with her allies, Clinton does not exactly share this interest.15 As Secretary of State, she has invested countless hours in building and strengthening the current international network of relationships America now enjoys. In a very literal way, Clinton and Trump are on different sides of this issues. Clinton is an insider, partially responsible for the current state of things, and Trump is an outsider—a “people’s man”— who wants to redraw the current state of things. And this seems to be representative of the general differences between the two candidates. Trump wants to “Make America Great Again,” while Clinton seems more interested in making America greater yet.

Trump’s is fundamentally an appeal to go back to how things used to be—where the state of affairs were “great” for his support base. Clinton’s is a campaign to build off of America’s current greatness and expand it by strengthening the country’s current weaknesses. Naturally the approach that seems most appealing depends on whether you see the current state of affairs as great or not.

Yet for people in both camps, it is important to remember the very thesis of this article: expert foreign policy matters.

And expert foreign policy does not just mean good policies—it means good policies implemented by an expert—someone with tact, focus, relationships and experience.

So as you head to the polls to vote in the 2016 presidential election, whether you find yourself allured by Trump’s promises of revolution or Clinton’s plans to progressively work from this country’s current foundation, remember this: Their propositions matter, but so do their skill sets.

facing-obama?lite 11 Try not to think visually about that figure of speech.

12 Youtube, “Donald Trump: You gonna win so much you may even get tired of winning.” https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=daOH-pTd_nk 13 Politico, “Trump’s 19th Century Foreign Policy.” http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/01/donald-trump-foreign-policy-213546 14 Well, some of the downtrodden at least. His disparaging remarks aren’t particularly catchy to many of our country’s Latin Americans, Asians, Africans, Muslims, LGBT+ community, women or other marginalized groups. But who cares?

15 On the Issues, “Hillary Clinton on Foreign Policy.” http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Hillary_Clinton_Foreign_Policy.htm

ments can also be helpful in predicting the kind of foreign policy she will implement in the future. The record also shows that Hillary Clinton is in favor of allowing more Syrian refugees into the U.S. In September of 2015 she said, “I would like to see us move from what is a good start with 10,000 to 65,000 and begin immediately to put into place the mechanisms for vetting the people that we would take in.”

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/693421/Terror-attacks-timeline-France-Brussels-Europe-ISIS-killings-Germany-dates-terrorism 2 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cas-mudde/the-brusselsattacks-and_b_9521360.html 3 Wikapedia has compiled a list of terrorist attacks which can be easily fact checked. Other websites such as http://megynkelly.org/164269/islamic-attacks-in-theusa-since-911/ have compiled more extensive lists of the terrorist attacks on the United States which include instances officially classified as murder such as the killing to two Coptic Christian immigrants by Yusuf Ibrahi and instances of Honor Killings in the US. 4 http://www.cbsnews.com/news/isis-operatives-west-cia-director-john-brennan/ 5 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/a-refugeeriot-puts-a-german-town-on-edge/2015/10/01/fa9075bc65f5-11e5-bdb6-6861f4521205_story.html 6 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35231046 7 Trump’s Official Campaign: Website https://www.donaldjtrump.com/policies/foreign-policy-and-defeating-isis/ 8 https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.trump-foreign-policy-speech 9 https://www.donaldjtrump.com/policies/foreign-policy-and-defeating-isis/ 10 https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/DJT_Radical_Islam_Speech.pdf 11 https://www.donaldjtrump.com/policies/foreign-policy-and-defeating-isis/ 12 https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/combating-terrorism/ 1

CONT. FROM PAGE 7

Let’s be honest—a few days is way too optimistic. It’s probably not been more than a few hours!

2 Politico, “Poll: 6 in 10 dislike or hate Trump and Clinton.” http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/poll-hillaryclinton-trump-voters-dislike-223504 3 About News, “The Importance of US Foreign Policy.” http://usforeignpolicy.about.com/od/backgroundhistory/a/ forpolwhocares.htm 4 The Wall Street Journal, “Where They Stand on Foreign Policy Issues.” http://graphics.wsj.com/elections/2016/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-on-foreign-policy/ 5 The Council on Foreign Relations, “Compare the Candidates.” http://www.cfr.org/campaign2016/; Diffen, “Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton.” http://www.diffen. com/difference/Donald-Trump-vs-Hillary-Clinton 6 Dipnote, U.S. Department of State Official Blog, “Foreign Policy Matters: How Diplomacy Impacts Americans.” https://blogs.state.gov/stories/2015/04/30/foreign-policy-matters-how-diplomacy-impacts-americans 7 ibid.

8 Pew Research Center, “America’s Global Image.” http:// www.pewglobal.org/2015/06/23/1-americas-global-image/ 9 Just take a look at the diametrically opposed policy positions advocated by Trump and Clinton supporters (and, just for fun, add Johnson’s libertarian followers into the mix).

10 NBC World News, “Top 10 foreign policy issues facing Obama.” http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_ news/2012/10/22/14613799-top-10-foreign-policy-issues1

to defeat ISIS on the battlefield by intensifying our military presence, supporting the rebel Arab and Kurdish forces on the ground, and working to resolve the Syrian civil war as well as the conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Her site states that she will dismantle global terror networks by stemming the flow of jihadists between America and the Middle East. She will work “hand in hand with European intelligence services to identify and go after enablers who help jihadists forge documents and travel undetected.” She will also work with tech companies to go after those who propagate jihad online. She will increase security at home by supporting the intelligence and law enforcement communities with training and tools, keeping assault weapons off the streets and building trustful relationships with Muslim-American communities.12 Hillary Clinton’s past actions and state-

student Polls 1

2. Do you believe America is stronger or weaker on the world stage than it was eight years ago?

Stronger 39.62% Weaker 60.38%

57.41%

40.74%

24.07 3

2

39.62% 60.38%

24.07 %

2.04%

5. Who are you voting for?

Trump 18.37% Hillary 55.10% Johnson 24.49% Stien 2.04%

18.52%

37.04%

24.49%

4. How confident are you in America’s ability to compete with foreign economics?

Extremely 18.52% Somewhat 57.41% Unconfident 24.07%

4

55.10%

3. Do you believe America is safer today than it was eight years ago?

Yes 24.07% No 75.93%

5

22.22%

18.37%

1. In politics today, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or Independent?

Republican 22.22% Democrat 37.04% Independent 40.74%

75.93%

RELIGION PERSPECTIVE

9

JUST SAY HELP VIXIE BAILEY Religion Writer

I

shivered as I pulled my blanket closer.

Why was it so cold? Yes, I expected it to be cold in Alaska and I had everything I needed; I should have been warm, but I was shivering almost uncontrollably.

I reluctantly got out of bed, dressed in my warmest clothes, and went to staff worship.

It was teen week at Alaska Camps and I was the pastor. I had a grand total of four days between when I found out that I was suppose to be the pastor and when the first campers were to arrive, but with God’s help and my friends’ assistance, I had made it. I was dealing with teenagers and it was shockingly working.

As the day progressed, I got continually colder. Finally, I went to see

the doctor. After listening to my lungs and taking my temperature, he told me I had a fever of 103 as well as bronchitis. I was given medication and I went on my merry way.

The next morning, however, things were much worse. My whole body was in open rebellion. I struggled down to the doctor where I received antibiotics and an order to go to bed. I couldn’t think, my throat was killing me, and I was cold. Every spare blanket was placed on me, but I stilled shivered at the glorious temperature of 103. I slept. I drank water.

I slept more.

Evening approached and I knew that I needed to get up. People could teach my Bible class off my notes, but they could not tell my story. This night was important; this was when I was going to drive home that each of these puberty possessed tweens was perfect in the eyes of their Creator. I struggled

to get dressed, and blindly followed my roommate to worship.

Song service. “Why am I up? Oh lands, my head hurts and of course they are singing that song.”

Prayer. “Please Lord let me not pass out…”

A quick introduction. “I can’t do this.

Help.”

Then, I was in front of 50 people and my sentences weren’t forming, my brain just hurt, and suddenly I was burning up.

“Lets pray.” I found myself saying. “Dear Jesus… Help. Amen.” I lifted my head, and looked into their eyes and started talking. I told them about how I was abused and became ashamed of who I was because of what had happened to me. I shared how my Savior pulled me out of the perpetual self doubt, how Jesus helped me realize my value, and that no matter what they had gone through, the same Jesus was there for them. Thirty minutes

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later, I sat down as the announcements were made with absolutely no idea what had just happened. Because of that night, most of the campers chose to give their lives to God. The same God who got me through the sermon I don’t remember can get you through this year. No elaborate prayer is required. Just say help.

“

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9, ESV )

10

NO INFO GOES ON THI

PERSPECTIVE OPINION/COLUMN/COLLEGIAN WISDOM

Why you should visit joseph, oregon Yvanna hammen-alvarez Opinion Writer Last Sunday, I went rail riding in Joseph, Oregon with two close friends of mine. Rail riding is an outdoor activity where you ride on a contraption of four wheels and chairs, and you pedal your way along the train tracks in the countryside.

Although the Wallowas are a couple hours away, it is definitely worth going there.

Not only is the area riddled with culture, it carries a nostalgic feeling that most small towns bear. Rustic buildings, much like those seen in “Little House on the Prairie,” vary from restaurants to museums, toy stores to boutiques. I fell in love with the friendliness of the town. However, I did not spend that much time in the town itself; my time there was spent in the nature. As I have said, the town is spectacular, but the scenery is breathtaking!

A stretch of mountains surrounds the town of Joseph, which is lovingly regarded as the “Little Alps.” The colors there at this

https://www.pexels.com/photo/photography-of-maple-leaves-38861/

time of year come in a lovely spectrum of autumn colors. The yellows and oranges contrast beautifully against the green and rocky mountains.

Overall, my day there was amazing, and it is definitely worth a visit!

Foreign affairs Emily Huso Columnist Joni harris Columnist Today, we’re going to talk about the guardia svizzera—Swiss soldiers who guard the pope!

The Swiss Guard got started during the late fifteenth century. Young Swiss men found work as mercenary soldiers in foreign courts because Switzerland was poor at the time and didn’t offer them much of a future. This, of course, was before Swiss chocolate, cheese, watches, and banks made Switzerland the tenth wealthiest nation in the world.1 But we digress. Anyway, these Swiss mercenaries earned a pretty great reputation abroad for their loyalty and skill as soldiers.

They became the go-to source when a country needed hired arms. The Swiss soldiers were so great, in fact, that the pope took notice! Back in 1503, Pope Julius II asked the Swiss Diet (which consists of Toblerone and Swiss cheese) to send him 200 Swiss mercenaries for his personal protection.

Ever since then the Swiss Guard has been traveling around the world with the pope (though they don’t get to ride in the pope mobile, we imagine they do enjoy taking it for a spin inside the Vatican walls), guarding the Vatican entrance, and protecting the College of Cardinals during papal transitions. Also, they wear pretty rad giddups and get a halberd—a very dangerous stick with some metal on it. Yes it probably could be used to roast marshmallows.

If this is a group you’re interested in joining, here are the requirements: 1. Male (sorry, ladies. At least you can be ordained, oh wait...)

2. Catholic (sorry, Adventists) 3. Single (sorry, everyone who bought into the Western Wedding University goolah) 4. Swiss citizen (sorry, Americans. Sorry about Trump, too) 5. Certificate of good conduct (not really sure how you go about getting one of these, you can probably print one off the interwebs, though) 6. Basic training with Swiss Armed Forces (anyone?)

7. Professional degree/high school diploma (that’s all of us!)

8. 19-30 years old (sorry, freshmen) 9. At least 5’ 8 ½’’ (sorry, Kaite Johnston)

https://unsplash.com/search/switzerland?photo=NWeAdZm4DSY

We think there might be one of you out there who qualifies. Whoever you are, we would love to meet you. If you don’t qualify but want this job real bad, we suggest volunteering to be McVay’s body guard. Or maybe Justin Trudeau’s. https://www.gfmag.com/global-data/economic-data/richest-countries-in-the-world?page=12

1

Collegian Wisdom

911 Operator hangs up on callers, says “Ain’t nobody got time for this.”

Just introvert things.

Samsung Note 7 replacement also spontaneously catches fire.

The Holy Spirit is alive and well.

BYU celebrates first Milktoberfest And people think we are a cult.

Donald Trump says terminally ill people should stay alive long enough to vote for him.

“Hate will keep you alive where love fails.” - Mark Twain Brexit voter who wants England to “control our own laws” can’t name any EU laws.

I mean, they can’t be any worse, can they?

IS BLOCK

RELIGION/CREATIVE WRITING PERSPECTIVE

11

But do you really know him? christina moran Devotional Writer

Being a member of a Christian community implies that we are part of a relationship. This relationship is primarily between us and God, and if we are not taking care of that relationship it ceases to exist. If we allow ourselves to simply live a sedentary Christian life, naturally we would feel as though every time we enter a Christian community, we enter into a stifling place where we cannot breathe, where we cannot get out, like we are being smothered by a darling grandmother who never fails to

smother us with her overwhelming love and affection.

But who is this God that loves us so much? Wait… now He gives us rules and regulations to follow? How dare He? An individual living a passive Christian life would not understand what they have gotten themselves into. Allowing ourselves to “get into” Christianity is to enter into a relationship. It is a silly and foolish thing to jump into a relationship with a stranger. Yet, there are countless Christians who do this in their relationship with God. They claim they are Christians, walking “ever so closely to God” without truly investing their time in getting to know who God is, what He likes, what He dislikes. At the gates of heaven,

these nominal Christians will hear the words “I never knew you” from the lips of the One they thought they knew.

If we hardly know God, and yet claim to be Christians, then we put ourselves in the same situation of being a relationship in which we hardly know or even like the person we are with. If we truly love God and claim to be Christians, then we are to invest in building a healthy, loving relationship in which we explore the love of God and understand that His law is love. We should understand that He loves us. We should have the love of God and it will permeate through our lives and actions. We will be in harmony with God and reflect His love to others.

A Christianity that holds us as

reluctant participants is a Christianity that lacks investment in our personal walk with God; a Christianity that frees us is driven by love. We can create a Christianity that frees us by exploring who God is and the love He happily grants us.

https://unsplash.com/search/lock?photo=_DkmMhzrsYY

featured writer: brielle tym Mac ford Creative Writing Brielle Tym is a senior English major with a writing concentration, and she has such a smart, thoughtful approach to writing and reading. Her poem “Cacophony” was inspired by her travels through Sicily, and her nonfiction piece, “The Sentencing of Mr. Nolan” is especially meaningful. Brielle wrote the piece while she was visiting Peru last summer: “While I was there, the sentencing of Mr. Nolan, the man who accidentally hit and killed my friend Kristopher Dudar last year, took place back home.” She adds, “It’s what I was experiencing between the emotional high of traveling, and the emotional low of mourning my friend and the unfortunate reality facing Mr. Nolan for Kris’s accidental death.”

Cacophony The grimy charm of Sicilian side streets greets me as I walk Scents of fish and cigarette smoke clog the air Heated arguments and blaring horns clamor for attention Slanting sunlight drags long shadows down busy roads Scooters growl and tires screech and sirens whine and wail Begging to be heard amid the commotion Sunshine brings out all sorts Italians lingering in doorways Gestures—wild! flailing! passionate!

Fabulous fashionistas juxtaposed against frumpy tourists Haughty masculine egos and tittering feminine voices Surround around and around

Haphazard parking whichever-way-you-fit Crowded multilingual graffiti and faded religious icons Drying laundry and potted plants grasp for fresh air from narrow balconies Glimpses of green landscapes, towering but distant, catch the eye, Cut off from sight by the dirty monochromatics of lofty apartment buildings Driving that is both terrifying and awe-inspiring distracts Until blaring beats emanating from cars too small to possibly be creating that much sound Cause heads of all but locals to turn and stare...

The Sentencing of Mr. Nolan

How will I ever say arrivederci?

The sentencing of Mr. Nolan—the man whose unfortunate actions nearly a year ago took Kristopher's life—was today. So I hear.

I'm walking down the dimly lit hallway in Sra. Alayza's house in Peru, the muffled sounds of Spanish in the background, the vibrations from the nearby highway shaking the house. The living room which I just left is lit high contrast, with white light falling on the antique wood and red velvet furniture.

At the end of the hallway is the bedroom, which is lit with muted yellows through the beige curtains. The contentedness of a lazy afternoon attempts to settle on my shoulders.

The beginning of "Hotel California" is stuck in my head, the melancholy tunes both matching and clashing with the feelings in my heart. I am brought to an unsteady, foreign neutral.

A silent prayer fails to rise to my lips, catching instead in my chest as it tightens.

I close my eyes. Outside, life, ambivalently, goes on.

Photo by Brielle Tym

Writing Prompt This week’s writing prompt is from the writing book by the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto, “642 Things to Write About.” As always, if you’re inspired to write anything, I’d love to read it! Send it to mackenzie. ford@wallawalla.edu. :) Prompt: Something you never told your mother.

12

CONTEXT ACA/CULTURE

stephanie septembre ACA/SM Writer Daniella Silva is a returned ACA student from Campus Adventiste du Salève in Collonges-sous-Salève, France. She is currently a junior studying international communications.

Why did you choose to go to Collonges?

I chose Collonges for a variety of different reasons. First of all, because I wanted to learn French, but specifically Collonges because the way the university system works means I would have lost my scholarships if I didn’t pick an Adventist ACA school.

What expectations did you have?

I feel like I went into it with a pretty good idea of what it would be like just because I had talked to so many former ACA students who had gone to Collonges, so I knew that it was a bit isolated and it would be hard to get into the city. And that really helped

me more than the other ACA students in dealing with the challenges that I faced.

What did you gain from the experience?

Well, I gained my C1 DALF diploma, which is valid for life, and so [for] any job that requires French now I have that diploma. I also gained a lot of valuable travelling time in Europe. I feel like I’ve matured a lot because when I went I was only 18, so I feel like I’ve put myself ahead of the game in terms of my understanding of the world and the international situation— especially Europe.

What were some struggles or disappointments?

Some struggles were definitely the Wi-Fi, which is probably what you’ll hear from everybody. Another disappointment was the administration’s refusal to listen to new suggestions on the basis of a variety of things, like “We’ve tried it before. It’s too complicated. No one will continue it once you leave.” I wish they’d be more willing to enact new policies which would have made

https://www.pexels.com/photo/eiffel-tower-near-the-tress-in-landscape-photography-28826/

aca perspectives students happier with the campus.

Overall, was your experience positive or negative?

Overall, my experience was positive, and that was largely due to me going into that with an open mind, and that helped me make the best of every situation. Because I was expecting not to have a ton of resources from the campus, I found a language-learning group down in Geneva, which I went to once a week and [that’s] where I actually got a lot of first-hand practice with other people.

What would you say to other students considering studying abroad at Collonges?

I would say, talk to a lot of other ACA students before you make that decision. I know that the director there that we had a lot of problems with is retiring in a year’s time, so I’m not sure what’s going to happen.

Overall I would say if that’s the direction that is most logical to you and your major and your future, you should go down that route.

ubuntu—i am because we are darling su Culture/Travel Writer The term “Ubuntu” originated from a Bantu dialect of South Africa, and is frequently mentioned in the political context to bring a stronger sense of unity.

The concept of this traditional African philosophy first appeared in the 1950s in the writings of Jordan Kush Ngubane, a writer for the African Drum magazine. Ubuntu refers to a South African ideology or ethic that, while difficult to express in English, might roughly be translated as “humanity toward others,” or “I am because we are.”

Others have described Ubuntu as "the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity." The famous South African human rights champion Archbishop Desmond Tutu explained Ubuntu in this way: “It is the essence of being human.

It speaks of the fact that my humanity is caught up and is inextricably bound up in yours. I am human because I belong. It speaks about wholeness; it speaks about compassion. A person with Ubuntu is welcoming, hospitable, warm and generous, willing to share. Such people are open and

available to others, willing to be vulnerable, affirming of others, do not feel threatened that others are able and good, for they have a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that they belong in a greater whole.

They know that they are diminished when others are humiliated, diminished when others are oppressed, diminished when others are treated as if they were less than

who they are. The quality of Ubuntu gives people resilience, enabling them to survive and emerge still human despite all efforts to dehumanize them.”1 The essence of being human, Ubuntu, focuses on the individual’s ability to be connected in a community which encourages participation by everyone. It speaks particularly about unitedness. According

to this idea, a human being cannot live in isolation because an individual’s growth can only be achieved through others; by interacting with others, we discover our own qualities. However, we too often tend to think of ourselves as individuals, disconnected from one another, with a belief that we don’t need help from others in order to accomplish our goals.

The concept of Ubuntu is very relevant.

It has been possible to understand that the individual remains important in the Ubuntu philosophy, but at the same time the individual’s integration in the community is determinant.2 When we are connected to others by our common humanity, when we truly regard Self and Other as one, when we treasure human dignity, all of our relationships and the level of our behaviors and actions are raised to a higher plane.

“Ubuntu is a philosophy that considers the success of the group above that of the individual.”

-Stephen Lundin

Buzzle.com African Philosophy David Suze Manda is a PhD Candidate in International Studies in Peace, Conflict, and Development 1

2

https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-community-party-beach-26135/

HUMOR/FOOD LIFE

13

Finding Common

Ground Between Trump and Clinton Micah Hall Humor Writer

T

his is a tough election. On Sunday night, Clinton said Trump was unfit to be the president and Trump referred to Clinton as “the devil.”

I want to highlight something that isn’t often spoken about in divisive election cycles. I want to talk about what the candidates have in common. When you really look at them, you will find that they have a lot of compatible views.1 1. They are both running for president.

While Clinton and Trump have a lot of differences, they both can agree that being president of the United States would be a good experience.2

2. They both went to Donald Trump’s wedding.

In 2005, Clinton attended Trump’s wedding with her husband.3 Trump was also in attendance and was even allowed to speak at the ceremony. It is important to note that Clinton has only attended one of Trump’s weddings. Trump was present at all three.

3. Clinton and Trump both have clothes.

I looked online to double-check this fact. It turns out both candidates have clothes and wear them frequently. There is a slight difference in focus on each candidate’s clothing. When you search for “Clinton clothes” on Google, the first three results are articles critiquing her fashion choices. When you search

“Trump clothes” the first three results are links to purchase Trump apparel.

4. Neither candidate has said anything negative about Garth Brooks.

Garth Brooks fans can rest easy with the knowledge that neither candidate has said anything negative about the country superstar. While this election has dragged some celebrities’ into the political spotlight4, “the Garth” has kept his hands clean.

5. Both candidates agree that you should not grab women’s genitals without consent.

Recently both candidates agreed that you should not grab women’s genitals without first establishing positive verbal consent. Clinton appears to have held this view for most of her political career, while Trump has recently changed his mind on this issue.

1 Clinton and Trump are two sides of the same coin.

(If you post this on Facebook, you will look smart and original.)

2 It looks very good on a resume.

3 Her husband, Bill Clinton, skipped the ceremony, but he attended the reception.

4 http://tinyurl.com/SorryBradleyCooper

@Bloomberg

Hidden Surprises MASON NEIL Food Writer

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My second surprise came at the pricing. After giving the whole menu a thorough read-through, it became clear to me that the menu is thoughtfully

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In hindsight I think my willingness to judge Andrae’s Kitchen off of external appearances was a bit hasty. If anything, the untraditional setting adds to the amount of surprise and delight you experience when you first sink your teeth into one of Andrae’s delicious creations.

I think you’ll eventually find that the gas station atmosphere may even be a bit endearing. If you’re still a little hesitant, I encourage you to give it a go and let the food speak for itself.

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This is part of why I took so long to check out Andrae’s Kitchen. I’ve worked in a food establishment that was located in a gas station before, and it’s clearly not an aesthetic-driven business. Because of this I willingly chose to ignore the high praise that my friends had for Andrae’s Kitchen, purely due to the fact that it was located in a gas station, and therefore

The first of many pleasant surprises was the menu. My eyes were initially drawn to the poutine, one of my favorite dishes from the great nation of Canada, but my gut told me to order the Mexi Press, which consists of “roast poblano and red pepper, pickled red onion and jalapenos, oaxaca, iceburg and chipotle, and server [sic] on ciabatta.”2 Where do I sign up?

prepared with flavor given the highest priority. That this is accessible at $10-per-entreé prices is impressive, and not an opportunity to pass up.

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am strongly attracted to beauty. I don’t mean this in reference to potential boyfriends, but more specifically in regards to food and the dining experience—my real relationship, if we’re being honest. If I show up at your restaurant, not only am I looking forward to delicious food, but I am also anticipating an enjoyable experience that is made better by a beautiful ambiance, pleasant service, and intentional presentation.

didn’t exist to me. This all changed when I read Andrae’s online menu and website.

In it, the restaurant makes several bold claims, most notably the fact that their food truck was voted “best in the nation.”

1 Is it really possible that the nation’s best burrito and food truck both reside in Walla Walla? I’m not that easily convinced, but if you’re going to make such a high claim, I think I can find the time to check it out for myself.

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LIFE SCIENCE/TECH

LIGO: Exalting exploration jordan brooks Science & Tech Writer Science is a catalyst for exploration, and exploration is of inherent worth. By thrusting into the unknown, mankind progresses. With this progress we come to understand ourselves and our reality more fully, but exploration is a difficult process with an energy barrier composed of time and money. An area of exploration that almost all great civilizations have taken part in is that of astronomy. Perhaps this is because the celestial bodies have often represented the limitation of our knowledge, fuel for growth and achievement, and hope for something beyond. From the Mayans to the Persians, mankind seems to possess a fundamental interest in studying the stars and reaching into the beyond.

Luckily, the exploration of the universe is still taking place today.

On September 14, 2015 the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) measured the merging of two black holes for the first time in human history. 1 They actually saw the fabric of the universe, which movies like “Interstellar” only dream of visualizing. Luckily for Walla Walla University, the LIGO Hanford Observatory is located in Richland, and in April 2015 a group of students and faculty was able to go and tour the facility to see the makings of such an observation. When I looked over the nearly $1 billion facility it seemed simple and concrete, but the internal components were unfathomably complex and abstract. The specificity of the equipment was beyond comprehension.

A vacuum chamber that holds onetrillionth of atmospheric pressure, a core that withstands 341-million pounds of atmospheric pressure, and two 4-kilometer arms that are perfectly straight despite the curvature of Earth.2 To put it in vaguely relatable terms, our tour guide made the analogy that if the instrument was the distance from Earth to the next closest sun (not ours), they were measuring the change in distance of a width of a hair!

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“They actually saw the fabric of the universe” The observation of two black holes converging is the proverbial planting of the flag on the South Pole. We knew of its possibility since Einstein published his theory of general relativity in 1916, and for the past 100 years we have been battling the theoretical and experimental odds to test his prediction.

But does one observation make this 100-year crusade worth it? Financially it may appear exorbitant, but plunging into the unknown is part of our human identity and intrinsically a worthwhile investment. The difficulty is that we never know what lies beyond. The thirst for something more has lead us to discover our world, to advance our medical practices, and to learn about ourselves. In this context, LIGO and its discovery appear to be substantially worth

it. Fortunately, $1 billion is not just going to one observation. On June 16, 2016 LIGO announced measuring a second merging of two black holes and with it is the suggestion that there will only be more to come. With the installation of LIGO detectors being planned all over the globe, our now global civilization will continue the tradition of studying the stars, exploring the universe, and reaching into the unknown.

http://weknowyourdreams.com/images/ space/space-03.jpg

1 http://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/

PhysRevLett.116.061102 2 https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/WA/page/facts

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FASHION/#THECOLLEGIAN LIFE

outfit inspiration: fun angelica chan Fashion Writer

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’m a firm believer in celebrating the little things, which is why I love that America has so many obscure holidays.

It seems as though you can look up anything you’d like to celebrate, and there’s a good chance that someone has made it into a national holiday. If you’re like me, then you’ll probably enjoy this compilation of looks inspired by some random National Holidays1. The point of this compilation is not to show entire outfits, but to present you with a few pieces that will hopefully spark your creativity when you’re picking out your outfits.

the clean, monochromatic look of a classic chessboard. As chess is a pretty sophisticated game, this look could be quite a bit dressier than the others.

However, there are also different levels of involvement; you could be a casual player, or a committed expert. In the same way, you can wear a look inspired by this game casually, or you could go all out.

october holidays

National Pumpkin Day (October 26) As soon as fall starts, pumpkin lovers across the nation enjoy pie, cake, coffee, candy, breads, cheesecake, etc. in their favorite flavor. It’s a cultural phenomenon. That kind of burnt orange hue is also a classic fall color, and can really get you in the autumn mindset. Some people shy away from

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National Chess Day (October 9) This day was declared by President Gerald Ford on October 9, 1976. Chess is a turn-based, two-player board game centered around strategy. The objective of the game is to capture the opponent’s king through a series of strategic moves, ending in what is called a “checkmate.”

For these pieces, I wanted to keep with

the color because it’s so bold and can be challenging to pull off in large amounts, but it’s easy to try as an accent color.

Start small, and you might just find yourself loving it.

National Chocolate Day (October 28) Finally, if you’re as into desserts as I am, then you’ll probably enjoy this holiday immensely. There are so many different kinds of chocolate to celebrate, and so little time. The great thing about chocolate is that it’s a neutral color with many different shades, and they all go with different colors. One of my favorite combinations is chocolate and raspberries, so I brought in a few pieces to compliment the tones of the chocolate items. To be inspired by this holiday, just grab your favorite chocolaty food before looking through your wardrobe.

1 Holiday dates are according to www. nationaldaycalendar.com/october/

2 http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=209525632

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KANYE WEST CONTEXT

Which student are you?

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t’s already week three (I guess time flies when you’re constantly exhausted), just like sand turns into diamonds under tons of pressure1, we too have transformed. We are now stressedout students. I’ve listed below the most common students that can be found in any given classroom, which means that you probs fall into one of these categories. Keep reading, because self-awareness is a good thing. And you know what else is a good thing? Voting. Please vote. I realize that was a terrible segue but someone had to say it. Now, for the list.

The Perfect Student: They show up early and sit in the front row. They’ve showered, they’ve eaten, they’ve gotten a full eight hours of sleep. This student never forgets their homework and every-

your service.

The Warm Body: You’ll never know what color this student’s eyes are, because they’re always closed. Are they sleeping, or are they dead? We never know with The Warm Body. All we know is that we envy their ability to make the smallest desk look like the comfiest pillow.

The Latecomer: There are two types of latecomers: IDGAFlip and the I Hate Myself. The IDGAFlip arrives at least 15 minutes late with their coffee, asks for the attendance sheet, and smiles as they go sit down. By contrast, the I Hate Myself is consistently late by just a couple minutes with papers falling out of their backpack. They mutter a quick, “So sorry, I can’t believe this happened again” as they dart to their seat while trying to avoid eye-contact. I often flip-flop between these two, but tbh I’ve never managed to escape the Latecomer category completely.

The General Disturbance: Math class? Nah. To The General Disturbance,

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CONFESSIONS “I’m 28 and I love Justin Bieber. Lol.” Sincerely, He might love you too. Never say never.

it’s time to socialize, watch TV, and play Candy Crush, while eating a five course meal. Everyone is jealous of The General Disturbance, until the professor humiliates them in front of class. #beentheredonethat The Cross-Examiner: This student questions everything. Maybe they get paid a dollar for every question, or maybe they’re just super curious. I’m glad they’re wanting to learn, but I really wish their first grade teacher didn’t tell them that there’s no such thing as dumb questions.

The Ghost: You’ll only see this guy three times, so take a good look.

This student will be there for the first day, midterm, and final. You might be surprised to find that this student is in fact, your classmate. Before asking The Ghost if they’re lost, remember that some people don’t need to show up to get good grades. Some call it smarts, some call it witchcraft. I just call it unfair.

1 No need to fact-check this; I asked my science friend and she said it’s fairly accurate.

VERBATIM

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lauren wahlen Backpage Writer

one envies their note-taking skills. When The Perfect Student, deep despair tends to set in as one tries to figure out where their own life went wrong.

The Volunteer: It doesn’t matter what the professor could be lecturing about; this student will always have something to say. Rhetorical questions don’t exist to The Volunteer. And if they don’t understand the material? They’ll still somehow bring up a rando fun fact about their dog. Or favorite TV show.

Doesn’t matter where you sit, you’ll still end up knowing more about this student than the subject material.

The Reluctant Volunteer: This student only emerges when The Volunteer isn’t present. If the teacher asks someone to read or answer a question, a long awkward pause will follow as everyone realizes that someone’ll have to pretend like they were paying attention. After a minute, The Reluctant Volunteer is the first to crack under pressure. Bless you, Reluctant Volunteer. We all thank you for

“Everybody has to drop their jaw for the D” - Professor Michael Agidius while tuning jazz band.

“Yeah, I wrote a bot that generated page views on the Mask. Mostly to confirm the blank search popularity theory.”

Sincerely, I’ll be impressed when you invent a bot that does my homework for me.

“I stole my own painting from an ASWWU fundraiser and replace it with an identical copy because my boyfriend lost it in the art auction. It needed to stay in the family.”

Sincerely, Check your paintings, errybody.

Students! Faculty! Staff! E-mail your confessions to lauren.wahlen@wallawalla.edu if you want your conscience cleared. No one but the Lord and I will be able judge you.

“It’s unethical for me to say, ’Just go into the green room and make out for 20 minutes.’”

- Professor LuAnne Venden “The answer is C as in Dog” - Professor Bruce Toews If you hear a faculty or staff member say anything noteworthy, email me at lauren.wahlen@wallawalla.edu. Faculty and staff, feel free to send me quotes too!

I appreciate tattletales of all shapes and sizes.

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