Volume 101 Issue 05

The Collegian Walla Walla University

6 4 week in forecast

Volume 101

Issue 05

27 OCT 2016

Contextualizing Religion & Politics 13 FOOD

14 science

dear reader,

Editor-in-chief Matthew Moran

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

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

perspective

context

Use a QR scanner to take the survey on our election issue!

between the involvement of church and religious ideals in politics is in order, I hope you enjoyed last week’s we would also like to explore another issue. We were honored to present a important aspect of what defines discussion of economics and politics religion: morality. as well as other intriguing topics, Morality is perhaps one of the including the discussion on Alex biggest questions relating to this Bryan’s sermon series. I enjoyed seeing election season, especially the morality the survey responses in regard to the of the candidates. Both candidates have “Ask. Anything.” series. You can see the done some pretty bad things. However, results of the poll in the feature section. the question remains as to which one Thank you for your input and I would has supposedly committed the more like to hear more of your opinions in ‘atrocious’ crime. Are Hillary’s email this week’s poll. scandals and lies enough to make her This week’s issue features a unfit for president? Or is it Trump’s discussion on religion and politics. raucous rhetoric that will make him This is perhaps one of the least talked unfit for president? about underlying factors in this year’s elections. While a traditional discussion

Feature | 6-8 Religion | 9 Creative Writing | 9 Opinion | 10 Column | 10 Devotional | 11 Contribution | 11

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

I invite you to read through our feature and become more in tune with how morality and religion have played and continue to play a role in the decisions concerning our country.

I also invite you to enjoy all the other aspects of this issue. Be delighted by fried pickles, intrigued by cheap flights, and informed about migraines and your mouth. Also, try to keep a straight and unoffended face when you read humor. Again, thank you for reading The Collegian each and every week. As always, enjoy and IPFY (i.e.

I’m praying for you) every day!

If you have any comments, questions, advertisements, or contributions, you can email me at matthew.moran@wallawalla.edu or aswwu.collegian@gmail.com.

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ACA & SM | 12 Culture/Travel | 12 Humor | 13 Food | 13 Science | 14 Fashion | 15 Sports | 15 Sunny Side Up | 16

life

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: Kai Kopitzke 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 12:30 A.M. on Thursday, October 27, 2016.

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

The Collegian | Volume 101, Issue 05 | 204 S. College Avenue, College Place, WA 99324 https://issuu.com/aswwucollegian

hours a week of paid work and is a good way to get involved with the inner workings of ASWWU. Senators are expected to:

3

POP-UP ART •

Tuesdays at 8 p.m.)

•

Communicate with constituents

•

Be active on email

NEWS/SENATE UPDATES CONTEXT

lauren epperson and represent their opinions News Writer

O

able

Running for senate: “What was cool about the popup show was the opportunity to bring together people from the different schools and the community,” said Sarah Pierce, senior art major at WWU. “Everyone there had some kind of connection with art, and it’s fun to be able to break down some of the barriers and I am a happy camper.” between artists, friends, students, and community members.”

This event has been a favorite of Walla As the community trickled into Walla University students for a long the show, artists were able to share their time. Thank you, to all the families that inspiration, stories, and talents with those graciously provided food and love to all who were there. Make sure you stay tuned the students that attended. in case another pop-up shows show up downtown. Refreshments were offered from Grandma’s Kitchen.

Be on the lookout for an email from your local senator containing more information.

The minutes from this session will be made available next week.

Nicholas Ribeiro

District 7: University-Owned Housing

greek life gets muddy ROUND TWO? #OPTOUTSIDE Kyler alvord alvord kyler News Writer Writer News

R T

EI announced plans support he WWU dorm clubstokicked offthe nature of the holidays and keep the school year quite literally lasttheir doors closed on Black Friday for the Sunday, rallying approximately 100 second year in row. participants to athe annual AGA/OPS Last holiday season, REI introduced Mudbowl.

The Mudbowl is a longtime the #OptOutside encouraging tradition at WWUcampaign, that allows residents to release some beginning-of-school stress by playing games of tackle football in a field made entirely of mud.

This year, 12 teams participated—six from each club. Aleph Gimmel Ain, the women’s residence club, began the day’s activities at 11 a.m., breaking in the newly-watered “field” beside Walla Walla Valley Academy junior Sarah Fandrich played in the first game of the day, and she wasn’t afraid to get dirty. “It’s a unique kind of sportsmanship when you tackle each other’s faces into the mud… lovingly,” Fandrich said. “It was so much fun.”

3

SENATE

Attend weekly meetings (Held on

• Study the ASWWU Governing n Thursday, Oct. 20, and throughout documents the weekend, students from WWU, Whitman, andabout the Community College • Care WWU and ASWWU showcased their art work at the tri• Write bills and express opinions on rsity college art show downtown. At the bills beingstudents presentedshowed their Studio Articolore, talents in a variety of artistic medium: couldDeclarations then fill take-out boxes of leftovers of Candidacy be found everything from sculpture andmay pottery to from on other families along the ASWWU rest of the the outside door of painting and photography was shown. the first floor of table.Executive Nothing Office grabs (on a college student’s Guests were greeted by curator Sarah Kellog Hall), andfree are due on Tuesday, attention more than food.

Pierce as she11. explained the various pieces October . and directed guests towards the artists Jacob Prosser, junior physical education he themselves. major, said, “Itparking was a pretty neat event! I ts bookstore lot.flow There was a steady of guests was impressed with all the food choices and art enthusiasts for the duration of the and the“Before friendliness from allProject, the families. the C.A.R.S. the show.

Two of my favorite words are andand ue walk to my apartment was ‘free’ sketchy ‘food,’—put togetherThere in a sentence detached them from campus. weren’t uld stoplights by the cafeteria and cars didn’t always stop for pedestrians,” Kozakova said. “Now, College Avenue looks y amazing and inviting and I feel safer y walking home.” Patience is a virtue, and after months of practicing it, the virtue finally paid off. Here’s to the new and improved College Avenue—may the next generation never struggle like we did. n

e to hey e

NEWS CONTEXT

their Omicron loyal customers andthe hardworking Pi Sigma, men’s employees to take a breakbehind from the residence club, followed consumer culture their ladies, starting theand firstinstead roundspend of games Thanksgiving weekend doing something at 1:30 p.m. The OPS cabinet DJed the better—exploring event, making it a the fun outdoors. experienceEven for better, employees were paidalike. for their day participants and observers off. This dorm-sponsored event is the began with aAGA hashtag became first What of many to come. hosts the aannual worldwide and several Breastmovement, Cancer Awareness 5K people from which severalraises walksmoney of life for found in October, Providence St. Mary Hospital’s Cancer Center, as well as Mother’s Day weekend festivities. OPS hosts Hall vs. Hall events, a yearlong series of Sittner and Meske competitions to see which hall is dominant, on top of schoolwide events such as Amateur Hour.

To stay current with dorm club events, like AGA Facebook, WWU Foreman & Conard Halls, and follow OPS’s Snapchat, @omicronsigma.

that packing their tents and charging their camera batteries was a better way to spend Thanksgiving night than rushing to the mall for a discounted cardigan.

Thanks to the movement’s positive reception in 2015, REI decided to once again close their doors this Black Friday in hopes of continuing to alter greedy American tradition. Placing people before profits goes a long way toward helping

REI thrive in today’s economy, despite losing sales from the post-Thanksgiving rush.

With each year, more and more stores are following REI’s trend and keeping Thanksgiving week sacred.

Enjoy loved ones, enjoy nature, and take advantage of deals when the festivities have passed and Cyber Monday arrives.

VIDEO

It’s time to vent about the 2016 Election... in the style of Broadway’s Hamilton.

Next Tuesday, November 1 at 8 p.m.

ADVERTISINGAGE

TRUMP and CLINTON AN AMERICAN NIGHTMARE

WEEK IN FORECAST FRIDAY

THURSDAY

SATURDAY

oct 27

oct 28

oct 29

After Hour/Boba Tea 6:30-8 p.m. SAC

Family Weekend

Family Weekend

CABL Applefest & Missions Fair 9-10 p.m. University Church

Symphony Orchestra Concert 4:30 p.m. University Church

Welcome Home Vespers 8 p.m. University Church

Staff Talent Show 7:30 p.m. Village Hall

SUNDAY

MONDAY

coming up Thursday, Nov 3 After Hour/Boba Tea 6:30-8 p.m. SAC Nov 5, 6, 10, 12, 13 Little Women: The Broadway Musical Village Hall

oct 30

oct 31

AGA Breast Cancer 5K Fundraiser 9 a.m. Positive Life Radio parking lot, west side of CTC

Reformation Day Celebrate the Protestant Reformation!

2016 Distinguished Scholar Lecturer: Marilynne Robinson Friday, Nov 11 Essay Reading 6 p.m. University Church Saturday, Nov 12 Discussion 10:30 a.m. University Church Reading and Q&A 5:30 p.m. University Church

GLOBAL SERVICE/ CAMPUS MINISTRIES CONTEXT

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SAMARATANSPURSE.ORG

CODENAME:

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Daniel Villarreal Global Service & Global Humanitarian

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n about one week, all the Halloween decorations and merchandise displayed at Walmart will be replaced by venerable—and Adventist-approved 1— Christmas-themed products. This replacement is followed by a consumerist frenzy in which an average U.S. citizen will spend about $754 in merchandise, food, and novelty items;2 totaling more than $464 billion.3 Ah, Christmas.

These numbers and statistics are estimations; they are not yet facts.

Perhaps this year can be a little different.

There might be something we can do to make sure that our money does not end

up in the hands of corporate America and instead, brightens up a face or two.

Enter Operation Christmas Child.

OCC is a program created by Samaritan’s Purse. Its purpose is to share a bit of Christmas with children in developing countries by giving shoe boxes packed with presents. From October 24 to November 18 Volunteer Ministries will be providing shoeboxes for anyone who wishes to send one. They will also be accepting small items in case you don’t wish to make a whole box. When the local collection is completed the boxes will be taken to a national collection site where they will then be shipped to a global distribution center. Finally, they will be taken to an outreach event where the boxes will be given to children.

As an added element, Walla Walla University is competing against Union College to see which campus can collect a greater number of boxes. Last year UC

beat WWU by collecting 120 boxes.4 Now, before you even think about claiming a box, here are some things to consider: 1. The event is sponsored by a Christian organization. If you are against the Westernization of other cultures, please don’t participate.

2. If you decide to participate, please be careful about the items that you place inside the box: edibles and perishable items cannot be in the box.

3. There is an option to follow your box until it reaches its destination. It is $7, but think about following your mail around the globe.

4. Send items that would benefit the children in a positive way: don’t send video games, items of questionable origin, dolls,5 toys that promote violence (soldiers, guns, etc.), or toys that need batteries. Instead, think of school supplies (crayons, notebooks, etc.), balls (with a

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 9:30 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.

pump), items you crafted, and a personal note (if you include an address the child might be able to write back).

Above all, have fun. Make it a group activity; invite your friends and family to participate, or don’t. If you are not convinced, find another activity to get involved in this holiday and better the life of another. Walmart can wait.

Really; they have the GC’s seal of approval https://www.statista.com/statistics/246963/christmasspending-in-the-us-during-november/ 3 http://abcnews.go.com/WN/mailform?id=14998335 4 Talk about overachievers...

5 If the skin color of the child does not match the color of the doll, what do you think she is going to think?

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PERSPECTIVE FEATURE

NO INFO GOES ON THI Michael Jensen Feature Editor

Y

CONTEXTUALIZING RELIGION & POLITICS PART THREE OF OUR FOUR PART ELECTION SERIES

ou may have noticed that the moral standing of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton has been an issue in this election cycle. It seems that Americans want to convince themselves that they are voting for a good, moral, or Christian candidate, not just an experienced or talented leader. This sentiment forces one to consider the proper role of religion in politics. Should Christians or Muslims or Hindus advocate particular policy positions or candidates on the basis of their religious convictions? If not, what should guide their decisions, votes, and advocacy instead? If enough people side with a particular religion or religious issue, is it the duty of a democratic government to follow the will of the majority, or should it protect the will of the under-represented minority?

Are alternate answers to these questions mutually exclusive, or is there an effective way for religion and politics to coexist?

It turns out that there is a rich and sometimes violent history behind these questions stemming largely from the fact that people cannot seem to agree on the an-

YsaBela ramirez Feature Editor

W

e have all heard the argument for strict separation of church and state—and it is a good one. Separation of church and state has played a major role in protecting the individual’s right to practice their religion freely, and has allowed for a pluralistic society in which people who believe different things and choose different lifestyles can live together peacefully. In early American society, the idea of separation of church and state made it possible that allowed “Episcopalians in Virginia would live amicably next to Catholics in Maryland, Quakers in Pennsylvania or Baptists in their midst. None saw cause for contention because there was no threat that others would gain dominion over them or any prospect that they might gain such dominion themselves. Rivalry was unnecessary because ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.’”1 Looking at the way separation of church and state has been implemented in the United States, one could conclude that it has been executed well and with admirable results. An article from

IS BLOCK swers. Over time, however, various schools of thought have set such historical precedence that they are worth discussing.

Secularism: Opening the Door to Societal Pluralism During the period known as the Middle Ages in Europe, religion played a prominent role in the governance of many European countries.1 As explained by the British Library, “The Church was the single most dominant institution in medieval life, its influence pervading almost every aspect of people’s lives. Its religious observances gave shape to the calendar; its sacramental rituals marked important moments in an individual’s life (including baptism, confirmation, marriage, the eucharist, penance, holy orders, and the last rites); and its teachings underpinned mainstream beliefs about ethics, the meaning of life, and the afterlife.”2 With a monopoly on just about every aspect of life in the Middle Ages, the church (and her leaders) were incredibly powerful during this time. But the end of this dominance began symbolically in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to a church door in Wittenburg, famously marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation

Liberty magazine affirms this saying, “the separation of church and state”…[is] a principle that has worked remarkably well in the United States.”2 However, despite its nominal success in fostering an environment of religious tolerance, the doctrine of separation of church and state has been surrounded by debate from its inception and questions of exactly where that line of separation should be has yet to be answered.

To Separate or Not to Separate: The Historical Debate Understanding the debate that ended in the creation of the First Amendment and led to the doctrine of separation of church and state can help us understand the difficulty we have in drawing a distinct line between church and state. The First Amendment on which the current conception of “separation of Church and State” is based states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble…”3 People today take this section of the Constitution for granted; however, there was a healthy debate regarding the wisdom of separating church and state in the

FEATURE PERSPECTIVE

7

and paving the way for the modern secularist movement.3 4 Luther’s actions were noteworthy and revolutionary because, in scathingly criticizing the Catholic Church, he was moving to break its complete ownership of power in European society.

As the church’s control waned during the Renaissance (the historical period during which Luther lived), increasingly secular philosophies and opinions began to develop through the door that Luther and others had opened. During this time, humanism started to rise as “people began to show more interest in human cultural achievements and the possibilities of their fulfillment in this world” rather than focusing on a potential afterlife.5 Humanism’s growth paved the way for secularism by emphasizing the distinction between temporal and spiritual and turning people’s minds to issues of the physical world. Secularism has been developing ever since, becoming “a cultural and intellectual force in the early modern period”6 and today forming the basis of many countries’ political philosophies.

To be clear, secularism in this context is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the belief that religion should not play a role in government, education, or other

public parts of society.”7 This principle, codified in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution by the words “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,”8 is best seen as important when contrasted with the alternative. In a non-secular state, the government endorses or supports (sometimes as a technicality, other times in a serious way) a particular religious system. This naturally creates a situation that is unfair at best (since one religious view or system or church receives undue support) and completely oppressive at worst (such as the modern example of the influence of Shariah law in many Muslim countries which sometimes leads to unequal treatment of women, persecution of homosexuals and other religiously-rooted injustices9). When the state espouses any form of religion, the consequences—whether minor or dramatic—will always be negative.

Unfortunately, it would be inaccurate to assume that all nations claiming secularism as their standard are truly free of religious leanings. As mentioned above, the U.S. Constitution explicitly outlines the secularist principle separation of church and state.

However, various denominations of Ameri-

can currency have borne the words “In God We Trust” since the 1800s10 and countless citizens of all faiths have recited the Pledge of Allegiance with the words “one nation under God” since President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add “under God” in 1954.11 Such nods to a particular religious tradition by the federal government are troubling and certainly raise questions about the true secularity of America. However, such cases—although worth discussing—are more symptomatic than substantial. The real challenge to America’s endorsement of secularism is the country’s Christian majority.

Because America is led by a representative government, it is ultimately responsible for conforming to the will of its citizens.

And when the majority of American citizens are Christian,12 it is possible for Christian interests to overshadow secular principles.

This happens when voters, advocates and legislators neglect the ramifications of de-secularizing government and push for the legislation of their own religious agendas.

Examples include the drive in some regions to teach creationism in public schools13 14

time immediately preceding and after the adoption of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. On the side that expressed a desire to support a separation of church and state, people expressed concern over the idea that fallible human government could corrupt religious beliefs and practices. Among this camp were the evangelical dissenters who forcefully criticized government activity in religion and took the position that “Because ‘religion and all of its duties’ were of ‘divine origin,’ Rockbridge County petitioners declared, they ‘ought not to be made the object of human legislation.”4 They expressed a fear of the negative effects government involvement would have on the church. They argued powerfully that a state connection would have “contaminating effects upon Christianity.” 5 This argument was “the most compelling and widely endorsed”6 of the arguments for or against separation of church and state, and was the one that eventually won out. On the other side of the debate, the thing that concerned people about a complete separation of church and state was that without a religious base, the nation would be unstable.

The people of the time firmly believed, and parsons articulated that, religion’s role was to “teach and enforce by suitable arguments, the practice of a system of correct morals

among the people…by which every man’s person and property are protected from outrage.”7 Instead of fearing a corruption of religion, the feared the destabilizing effects the divorce of religion and government would have on society.

to codify what is believed to be “right” or “wrong” in human behavior. The law punishes murder because we have a moral code that values life. People push legislation to protect the environment because they believe it is their moral duty to halt the destruction of the environment. Every person utilizes a set of moral codes to make informed decisions about their world. This set of moral codes or “fundamental beliefs” are an integral part of a person’s worldview which provides the “integrative and interpretative framework by which order and disorder are judged; the standard by which reality is managed and pursued; and the set of hinges on which all our everyday thinking and doing turns.”9 While this worldview may not necessarily be defined or identified as a specified traditional religion or philosophy, every person lives their life in consensus with their worldview and their own personal moral code. The question of religion comes back strongly when one realizes that over 75 percent of the U.S. population identifies as Christian and the moral code of all those people is informed by their faith. In a government “of the people, by the people, for the people” how far should citizens allow their religiously informed morals to govern their decisions at the polling booth? How about a

How DO You Separate Religion, Law ... Morality?

Interestingly it is the second and losing argument over separation of church and state that is reflected in the question of where to separate church and state: How do you separate the two when they both inform and are informed by issues of morality? Strict separation of church and state can only be achieved if they can be neatly separated as if the church and the state were completely unrelated entities. However, when they come under any kind of scrutiny, it becomes readily apparent that the two are related in that they share an interest in creating societies that follow certain sets of moral standards.

Separating morality from the law would be unwise, even if it were possible—but it is in fact impossible. Morality can be defined as “principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.”8 It is in fact, the job of the law

CONT. ON PAGE 8

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PERSPECTIVE FEATURE

CONT. FROM PAGE 7 MICHAEL JENSEN and the numerous religiously-motivated causes advocated by groups like the Christian Coalition15 whose agenda includes items like “defending traditional marriage.”

To those from a religious background, there is something familiar and comforting about a political candidate or cause or party that identifies with the same religious ideas. It suggests a common background, a common set of values and a common agenda. But it is important to look past the allure of the familiar and recognize that to act in support of government-level religious causes is to forget the rich (and often Christian-led) history of secularism and the freedom it promises. It is to place personal sentiments above the principle of equality, and in so doing to cast a negative light on religion while ignoring the founding principles of America.

Encyclopedia Britannica, “Secularism.” https://www. britannica.com/topic/secularism The British Library, “Church in the Middle Ages.” https://www.bl.uk/the-middle-ages/articles/church-in-themiddle-ages-from-dedication-to-dissent 3 Charter for Compassion, “The Violent History of Secularism.” http://www.charterforcompassion.org/igb-background-articles-by-karen-armstrong/the-violent-history-of-secularism 4 It is most historically accurate to say that Luther’s thoughts and actions were more a high-visibility signpost 1 2

marking the current of thought during his time than an actual original cause of secularism or the Reformation.

Nevertheless, his nailing of the 95-theses to a church door in Wittenburg was a watershed moment for freedom of expression and, ultimately, secularism in the Western world.

5 Encyclopedia Britannica, “Secularism.” https://www. britannica.com/topic/secularism 6 Trinity College, “Curriculum Development Project: The Roots of the Secular Tradition in the West.” http://www. trincoll.edu/Academics/centers/isssc/Documents/Intro_0506. pdf 7 Merriam-Webster, “Secularism.” http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secularism 8 Legal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School, “U.S. Constitution.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/ constitution/first_amendment 9 Council on Foreign Relations, “Islam: Governing Under Sharia.” http://www.cfr.org/religion/islam-governing-under-sharia/p8034 10 U.S. Department of the Treasury, “History of ‘In God We Trust.’” https://www.treasury.gov/about/education/ Pages/in-god-we-trust.aspx 11 Encyclopedia Britannica, “Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.” https://www. britannica.com/event/Pledge-of-Allegiance-to-the-Flag-ofthe-United-States-of-America 12 Pew Research Center, “Religious Landscape Study.” http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/ 13 Slate, “Map: Publicly Funded Schools That are Allowed to Teach Creationism.” http://www.slate.com/articles/ health_and_science/science/2014/01/creationism_in_public_schools_mapped_where_tax_money_supports_alternatives.html 14 The Institute for Creation Research actively encourages public school teachers to discuss creationism in their classrooms and justifies this position by stating that “not only does the theory of evolution not conform to the criteria for science, it is also the foundation of many religions, and it totally fails the Supreme Court test of government non-involvement in religion.” By assigning scientific evolutionary theory the same status as creationism, the Institute can claim that teaching evolutionary theory in school is just as illegal as teaching creationism;

therefore, creationism can be taught. The problems associated with this approach are too numerous to discuss in a footnote.

Institute for Creation Research, “Teachers Can Teach Creation Science in the Classroom.” http://www.icr.org/ article/teachers-can-teach-creation-science-classroom/ 15 Christian Coalition, “Our Agenda.” http://www.cc.org/ our_agenda

CONT. FROM PAGE 7 YSABELA RAMIREZ city board member? A senator? How far can the moral decisions of a judge be informed by his or her religious belief ? One might be able to say their government officials can be informed by their faith-based morals only as far as they do not establish their religion as the law of the land. However, people should not be limited (or even discouraged) from speaking their religiously motivated opinions in the political realm. Not only would this be a violation of the their freedom of speech, it would also deprive society of a voice that can and has spoken powerfully to moral issues that must be addressed.

We must remember that the implementation of the secular ideal of separating church and state is not an end unto itself, but a means to an end. If it was, it would create a society that gave increasing support to the non-religious over the religious. One need only look to the secular state of China where secularism has become so highly valued that it has resulted in a suppression

of free religious expression.10 The purpose of secularizing the government is not to put down or replace religion with a philosophy deemed by some to be superior, but to create a space in which there can be a free and open people who hold different beliefs and opinions; to create a society in which people can live what they believe peacefully alongside those who may believe something different. http://www.forbes.com/sites/billflax/2011/07/09/the-truemeaning-of-separation-of-church-and-state/3/ - fedf44c7ba56 2 http://www.libertymagazine.org/article/god-and-governmen 3 https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment 4 Jon Butler. Awash in a Sea of Faith: Christianizing the American People. (Cambridge Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1990), 263.

5 Colin. “Civil Theology in Revolutionary America.” 1025.

6 ibid.

7 Kidd, Colin. 1999. “Civil Theology and Church Establishments in Revolutionary America”.The Historical Journal 42 (4). Cambridge University Press: 1007–26.

8 https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/morality 9 James H. Olthuis. “Stained Glass: Worldviews and Social Science.” 1989.

10 It is not hard to find articles that detail the struggle of religious people to practice their faith in China, you can find discussions of secularism in China here: “Prayers in the Kitchen: Why religous groups fear a loss of freedom in China” http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ china-religious-groups-new-law-1.3809909 this article discusses the crack down on churches by the chinese government, “Elizabeth Zehe on Secularism in China” https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/posts/elizabeth-zehe-on-secularism-in-china this article discusses the history of secularism in China.

1

STUDENT POLLS 31%

100% What do you think about Alex Bryan’s series “Ask. Anything”?

Appropriate for college students and answers their questions 100% Irrelevant to the problems students deal with 0%

31%

35%

38% Do religious conservatives have control over the Republican Party?

Yes: 38% No: 31% Maybe: 31%

31%

34%

8%

What did you think about Alex Bryan’s sermon entitled, “If salvation is not exclusively for Adventists, why be one?”

22%

77%

92%

Do liberals have control over the Democratic Party?

Should the government be involved with religious organizations?

Should churches keep out of politics?

Yes: 31% No: 34% Maybe: 35%

Yes, it is ok for the government to support churches: 8% No, it is not ok for the government to support churches: 92%

Yes: 77% No: 22%

• “As a secular person, I thought the sermon was something the U church probably needed to hear.

Calling Adventists back to their humanistic roots while articulating a theological humility.”

• “His vision inspired me. I wish we could make it real.”

• “Amazing. Everyone needs to hear it!”

IS BLOCK

APOLOGIES FOR THE RAIN Vixie bailey Religion Writer

I

had a great story I was going to write for you, but as the week has progressed and the rain has become a steady drizzle, it has become apparent that I need to apologize for the weather: I may or may not have prayed for rain. Before you get upset with me, hear me out.

I struggle with depression. It’s for a variety of reasons, including a chemical imbalance that has been passed down in my family for a while. I can’t really stop it.

I have ways to make it less annoying, but it will never go away completely. For some reason, it’s a social taboo to admit that you are depressed. It’s like we always have to

9

RELIGION/CREATIVE WRITING PERSPECTIVE

be okay. The good news is I’m not alone in my depression. I don’t know how carefully you’ve read the book of Psalms, but tucked in the midst of the rejoicing and the praises, there are the gut-wrenching cries of helpless humans for the power of God to shine.

In the index of my NIV Study Bible, it summarizes what each Psalm is about. A quick count revealed that almost one-third of the Psalms are prayers for protection, cries for deliverance, or the lamentations of a hurting soul.

Writing music is difficult; more often than not, it takes emotional highs or lows.1 For me, I either get to be so elated that I get hyper and embarrass myself, or so depressed that I can’t even cry; there is no in between.

At the dark times times, I resonate with the Psalmist, “When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and

night, while people say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’”2 This week I found myself at a low. It’s lonely being an introverted weirdo who always looks like a hot mess. I go to work, class, and back to my room. I did not even realize I was depressed until it had made me physically sick. So I prayed for the one thing that makes this Oregonian happy: rain. I must admit I thought little of the poor Californians out there slowly melting as I prayed for more rain. Today I woke up at least mildly content; then I thought of all the people being affected by my selfish desire for the grey, cloudy gloriousness that has descended on the Walla Walla Valley, and decided to come clean.

I believe that my penchant for water falling from the sky comes partially from a poem I read a while back. It gives a lovely

PEXELS

explanation for rain from God’s point of view in the last verse: “Whenever you feel down, discouraged or dismayed, Remember that My tears look like rain.”3 So the next time you break out your umbrella, remember that somewhere, someone is crying, and God is crying with them.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”4

I speak from personal experience. Also, have you heard classical music? That can be some pretty dark stuff…

2 Psalm 42:2-3 3 Okay, so maybe I wrote that. It’s still a nice poem. Don’t judge. You should hear the whole thing.

4 Psalms 34:18 1

FEATURED WRITER: CHRIS ANDERSON mac ford Creative Writing Editor

C

hris graduated from WWU last year with a BS in mechanical engineering.

He now works as an engineer, but he secretly wishes he could spend all day writing poems.

His poetry is candid and spare and beautiful, and he says his favorite writer is Edgar Allan Poe. He also draws inspiration for his writing from Rupi Kaur.

I see hope I see hope Not as the light at the end of the tunnel Or the people on the sidelines Screaming “You’re almost there” I see hope As a tree, uprooted, on its side The shock and surprise Of being more

I don’t know I don’t know if I have a purpose But that isn’t the problem The problem is that I want one The chains of freedom Don’t keep the American flag Wrapped so tightly around your heart That it keeps it from beating

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Create from your pain Create from your pain Do not let it define you The painter is not defined by his brush They are partners

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Writing prompt: This week’s prompt is from The Steal Like an Artist Journal by Austin Kleon. If you’re inspired to write anything, I’d love to read it!

Send your piece to mackenzie.ford@wallawalla.edu.

Write a letter to someone you hate. Try to make them laugh.

10 THE STAFF

ditor

PERSPECTIVE

Matthew Moran Editor-in-Chief OPINION/COLUMN

Yvanna Yvanna Hammen-Alvarez hammen-alvarez Opinion Writer

Opinion Writer

R

ecently, I have noticed that vital concepts areChristina becoming Moran less important Devotional Writer in the minds of many.

The influence of these values have become misunderstood and devalued, and their meaning has been made to seem as an opinion rather than Angelica Chan len self-evident truths.

These convictions include Writer iter God’s existence,Fashion Jesus’ resurrection, and the belief that it is not by works but by faith that we are saved. These have been beliefs Mac Ford that I have personally adopted into my faith Creative & and are clear truths in theWriting Scriptures.

As I Editor ter mentioned, one Contribution of these beliefs is that it is by faith and not actions that we are saved Katherine Beckner Copy Editor

ales

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NO INFO GOES ON THI

A YEARNING FOR TRUTH Frank Ramirez Head Layout Editor

rson

er

Abigail Wissink Assistant Editor

Micah Hall Life Editor & Humor Writer

Kyler Alvord News Writer

I long for the day when we will all through Jesus Christ, and it is because of believe the truth and be united as one family the love we have for God that we want to Vixie Bailey Drew Sihotang under God’s loving authority, where right become like Him through His character’s Religion Writer Religion Writer will be right, wrong will be wrong, and there blueprint: the Ten Commandments.1 will be no fabricated “gray line” as to what is But I repeat, lately I have observed true and what is false. that these pillars are trivialized, and it is a Joni Harris Huso My hope for humanity (although a dangerous path to go down. I trulyEmily miss the Columnist Columnist childlike one I admit, although “Let the days when I knew what I believed in and I little children come to me”2 was said for knew that those I looked up to believed the a reason) is that we would not divide on same.

Darling Su complex arguments that distract from what If we allow man-made controversies Mason Neil toFood pull Writer us apart from these beliefs, ICulture suggest& Travelwe are truly here to do: (1) Love God with Writer all that is in us and (2) Love everyone we do some thorough re-evaluating.

I am around us.3 Loving everyone is difficult in going to do this as well—I want neither and of itself, but following God’s example my comfort nor my opinions to get in the Daniel Villarreal helps us do that. A natural effect of loving way of the Word of God. After all,Jordan isn’t it Brooks Globaltruth Service Science God’s that&transcends the opinions of& Techsomeone is wanting to be more like that Global Humanitarian person and with that person. To love God all humans? Isn’t His opinion whatWriter should Engineering Writer is to want to be more like Him. To be like matter to me? Not mine or anyone else’s?

Lindsay Luna Copy Editor

Him, we must go to the sacred document that shows His character and love: the Holy Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, we find countless miracles, true stories, and wondrous accounts of the love God has for us. To love Him is to emulate Him. Reading every word, believing Him fully, and praying with dedicated hearts: these things can lead us to the perfect plan God has for our lives.

Let’s not battle anymore. Let’s not get distracted. Rather, let’s tell others of the great hope that’s coming soon in the clouds. Let us echo the peaceful Maker that provides the offer “Come to me.”4 Exodus 20 Matthew 19:14 (NIV) 3 Matthew 22: 37, 39 (NIV) 4 Matthew 11:38 (NIV) 1 2

Claudia Curtis Layout Designer

UNITY IN UNIVERSITY Geoffrey Lopes Layout Designer

Brandon Pierce Feature Writer

Michael Jenson Feature Writer

ASWWU PHOTO

PROCEDURES IN SCHOOL RECONCILIATION Bryndi Goodlyn Feature Writer

joni harris Columnist emily huso Columnist

I

t is tradition that students/fans wear school colors to sporting events. It has recently come to our attention, however, that many of you in the stands have not been adhering to this tradition. This affects the unity that we experience on campus. We cannot simply ignore this problem and pray that it will go away. Because of this we have constructed a document for senate to vote on in regards to those of you who have been directly defying unification by not wearing orange and green in solidarity with your school.

It is RECOMMENDED (strongly encouraged): Every student will don the green and orange.

AnneMarie Vixie Office Manager

Cody Wilson Social Media & Photographer

Even in the summer and winter when it makes no sense to wear fall colors on a daily basis.

Even if green and orange become gang colors, we will still wear them, because unity, regardless of the social context we find ourselves in.

If it is found that a student does not comply, senate will meet again in a year to discuss methods of encouraging compliance.

You may have come to the conclusion that what we are arguing for is uniformity rather than unity. We assure you, however, that this is not true, and our proposition is in the best interest of school unity. Our esteemed colleague, Ned Nilson, agrees with us wholeheartedly.

Also, on a completely unrelated note, have you guys seen or read “The Hunger Games”? Remember the part where everyone in one district has to have basically the same job and then how the capital gives a huge presentation of power to keep people from revolting? Ya, that was a great fictional film.

Remember, there’s no “i” in university!

COLLEGIAN WISDOM “GTA V” is used to teach autonomous cars how to drive.

In other news, one Tesla just ran over 200 pedestrians.

Russia reveals “Satan 2” missle that could wipe out an area the size of France.

Thankfully it is just France.

Photo surfaces of Eric Trump stealing lemonade at an In-N-Out. How do you think he got so rich?

The world’s largest church is eroding from people peeing on it.

At least it isn’t number 2.

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CONTRIBUTION/DEVOTIONAL PERSPECTIVE

IN THE GUISE OF HISTORY WHY PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN REGRESSIVE FEMINISM taylor kelln Contributor

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he past century has seen extraordinary progress in the area of civil rights. Part of that includes women’s rights, brought on in two iterations of feminism, notably, first and second-wave feminism.

First-wave feminism gained ground in United States in the early half of the 20th century and mainly focused on suffrage and legal inequalities.1 Second-wave feminism denotes the period of feminist activity continuing through the 1960s to 1980s, which concerned itself with redefining a woman's place in marital and family life as well as within the workplace.2 Though separated by time, these feminist forerunners found common ground in promoting and encouraging women

to be strong figures in society and in the workplace. This brings us to the form of feminism continuing from the 1980s until today, not surprisingly known as third-wave feminism.3 Third-wave feminism is a bit of conundrum as it seems to abandon the values of its earlier iterations. Intentional or not, in many ways, it even contradicts those values by setting up safe spaces and coddling the minds of its followers. In this way, thirdwave feminism has resulted in regression, rather than progression for women's issues.

Christina Hoff Sommers, host of the Factual Feminist series and self proclaimed equity feminist, gave an interview where she touched on the aforementioned point. In the interview, she said, “At Brown University, they had a debate. So, it was a feminist—two feminists actually—a libertarian feminist

and [. . .] another feminist debating rape statistics, and you would think that’s perfect.

What more could the students want? They can hear both sides, and their side is well represented.” She went on to explain that many students didn’t want the debate to occur at all and even ended up forming a safe room as a result. Sommers claims that “[. . .] in that safe room they were playing tapes of frolicing puppy dogs, they had bubbles, coloring books, play dough . . . . I, and many of feminists of my generation, look at it and think this is infantilization.

This is the opposite of what feminism should be. And when I got to college, we threw out the dorm counselors and the guardians of our virtue and all that. We wanted to be in charge.”4 Despite this, many continue to involve themselves with feminist circles

I’LL STICK WITH BEING ME Christina Moran Devotional Writer

I

am proud to say that I was born and raised in good ol’ California—where the beach is twenty-five minutes away, winter is roughly 60 F, summer can potentially exceed 100 F, and we have the greatest eating places around (not to brag). And I find this beautiful. Up here in Washington, when I scurry along the slippery sidewalks, late (yet again) to my psychology class, I shake my head and whisper quietly to myself, “I miss you, California.”

California is beautiful with its tall, untrimmed palm trees, its sunny days and not so sunny days, and the 6 o’clock traffic down the 91 freeway is also beautiful in its own special way. Uprooting myself from such a paradise into a foreign land was not the easiest feat to accomplish. But I have slowly learned of Washington’s way of

things. The leaves of the trees change as the seasons pass. Hues of red, orange, and yellow leaves fall upon the ground, welcoming us to yet another day, a day closer to winter. I have also learned of the serenity of snowfall. Each snowflake quietly makes its impact upon the ground accumulating to one or even two feet of snow. I learned and continue to learn that Washington is indeed beautiful.

Now, what if Washington wanted to be exactly like sunny California? Sure, it would be nice for awhile, but if and when you decide to visit the grey, mysterious skies of Washington and soak in the rain, it would cease to exist, just because Washington wanted to be the same kind of beautiful as California. I would dearly miss Washington, with its magnificent display of the changing of the seasons and whatnot. California is beautiful and so is Washington.

Sometimes I feel as though I am not as successful as my friends with their perfect scores on their Western Thought quizzes (but does such a person exist?) or not as

gorgeous as Keira Knightley or not as good in math like Dr. Jackson. We convince ourselves that we’re not good enough or we question, “Why did God put me here if there are already so many people good at things I can’t excel at?” I am not as beautiful and as good as everyone else. It’s tempting to allow social media and the successes of other people dictate the way we see ourselves. It is also emotionally draining.

According to society’s distorted definition of beautiful, we persuade ourselves that we are but a hot mess. But look—we all are. And the funny thing about it is that God still thinks we’re beautiful. “[You] are fearfully and wonderfully made [for] marvelous [is the work of God, our Creator]...[and] my soul knows it very well.”1 The next time you feel like the lone ugly duckling, remember that you are beautiful—not in the same way as your friends are, but in the way God designed you to be. And who are we to say that God’s creation is no less than good?

1

Psalms 139:14 (NIV)

11

and continue to count themselves among the ranks, even when the current form of feminism undermines the most basic value of its forerunners. I believe this is because many view feminism through a nostalgic lens rather than evaluating it on its current merits. When they look at feminism, they see its historical significance and wish to continue to promote women taking a more assertive place in society. Little do they know, the current iteration of feminism is more concerned with establishing a right to not be offended.

If a reader wishes to continue this conversation or provide criticism, then I invite them to post a reaction on the WWU app so we and others can continue the conversation together. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-wave_feminism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-wave_feminism 3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-wave_feminism 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RNaspc5Ep4 1 2

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PERSPECTIVE ACA/CULTURE

MUSHROOMS IN MAJURO Kayla nash ACA Contributor

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ushrooms... Everyone knows what mushrooms are, right?

Wrong.

Very wrong.

I knew I was getting myself into something small when I stepped onto an island with a land area of only 3.7 square miles. But I didn't realize how microscopic this world was until I stepped into an even smaller classroom filled with kids who only understand what happens on these 3.7 square miles in the middle of the Pacific.

The little box in my lesson-plan book labeled for seventh-grade science on Monday read: "Fungi: Teach characteristics of fungi." The previous few lessons had been about bacteria, a difficult concept to teach since the germ theory is virtually nonexistent here (I have yet to witness a kid here actually wash their hands. Ever.). So naturally, I was relieved to be talking about something that is actually visible to the naked eye.

"How many of you like to eat mushrooms?" A hand raised.

"Miss, what's a mushroom?" Another kid excitedly raised a hand.

"It’s what you eat on pizza!"

"Yes, yes it is!"

I desperately grasped at the opportunity to try to connect this seemingly simple subject to something in their small reality.

Yet even this example only connected with half of my classroom. The rest have never eaten pizza with vegetables on it because of the expense attached to produce here. I tried again.

"Who here has seen moldy bread?"

Literally everything molds here, I think to myself, there is no way they haven't seen moldy bread.

"Miss, what does moldy mean?"

My insides slowly died. Scrambling, I asked, "What do you call it when your bread gets green fuzzy spots all over it?"

"Ohhhh! Miss, we call that expired" (Almost everything here is expired already).

Nonetheless, getting to this point meant a small battle in the war had been

won. Who knew I would ever be this excited that 18 seventh graders were familiar with moldy bread?

After class, I rushed back to my good ol' friend Google, only to find that mushrooms don't really exist on this island and that most of the fungi here is in the form of mold (not surprising). The next day I came to class armed with a PowerPoint full of pictures of mildew-y showers, athlete’s foot, ringworm, and the most bizarrelooking mushrooms the Internet had to offer. Their world grew a little bigger.

Perhaps this is how Jesus felt coming to this earth. God's character was and is far bigger, more expansive, and more beautiful than anyone ever thought. And Jesus was sent to try to take our very limited experiences and make meaningful connections to things our small minds can comprehend. In the end, he just decided to show us his character in an act of unconditional love, and our world grew a little bigger.

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HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON FLIGHTS Darling su Culture Writer

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n last week’s article I wrote about the five cheapest destinations you can travel to without having to spend more than $30 USD a day. But finding the right destination can be just as important as finding a cheap flight ticket, since the flight only can sometimes be the biggest part of your trip expenses.

So how do we reduce the cost and find the cheapest ticket available? Based on four years of constant travel, I’ve learned some important tricks that have helped me buy tickets at a reasonable price. So for all of you who still wonder how I afford to travel from Walla Walla to Amsterdam twice a year while working at the DX, here are some answers: 1. First of all, forget about the myths. I once was taught to buy tickets on Tuesdays at 6 a.m., but the

truth is there is no specific hour or date of the week that will magically turn a $1000 ticket to a $400 ticket. A study by CheapAir. com analyzed 560 million flight searches, and found that the optimal time to buy is on average seven weeks in advance (for domestic flights). Others have suggested a sweet spot of between three and seven weeks in advance. The worst time is within 14 days of flying, or too far in advance, more than five months. For international flights CheapAir.com found the sweet spot to be 11-12 weeks prior to departure.1 2. Sign up for a travel rewards credit card.

You can accumulate points on money you spent on regular expenses. Once you have accumulated a specific amount of points, you can get discounts on flights and other benefits such as free baggage checks or priority boarding.

Now that you know how to save your money, here are some websites that will help you even more: ITA Matrix. This website lets you search the entire month so you’re able to see when it’s cheapest to fly. If you search for a destination, how long you will stay, then click “See calendar of lowest fares,” you’ll be

able to see how much a ticket costs each day of the week for that month.

Momondo. This is the website I use the most because it searches all airlines on English websites and non-English websites.

My trick here is not to buy the ticket itself from this website, but to find the cheapest ticket here and buy the ticket on the website of the airline.

STA travel. The travel company provides student discounts if you are a under the age of 26. It claims to be the world's largest travel company for students and young people.2 Keep in mind you have to remain realistic.

Always compare the prices on different websites, and know how much you can pay for a ticket. Don’t wait too long for the perfect price, and only go for the price you feel comfortable with.

1 2

http://www.ytravelblog.com/how-to-find-cheap-flights/ Diethelm Keller Group – STA travel- overview

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HUMOR/FOOD LIFE

13

JESUS HAD GAY GRANDFATHERS MICAH HALL Satire Writer

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eligion and politics can be a dangerous mixture.

One of the biggest political battles of the last decade was the fight for marriage equality. The campaign against same-sex marriage was led by the religious right.1 What people don't realize is that Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity2, had two gay grandfathers.

Important note: this article gets pretty deep into theology. If you don't like theology or are easily confused, feel free to just assume I am right.

Many Christians believe that the Bible prohibits same-sex marriage. This could not

be further from the truth. When you look at the genealogies of Jesus, you will notice that Joseph, Jesus’ father, has two dads.

The two genealogies are found in Matthew 1:16 and Luke 3:23. Despite both genealogies claiming to go through Joseph's side of the family, these genealogies are vastly different.

This presents a problem. Some scholars say that one of the genealogies is Mary's, but they could not use her name because she was a woman.3 Some scholars say this means the Bible is wrong.4 I have a better theory. I believe that Joseph had two gay dads.

You will notice that Matthew says Joseph's father was called Jacob, but Luke says his name was Heli. Some might say this is a contradiction, but it makes perfect sense when you realize Joseph was raised by

two dads in a loving, consensual, intimate relationship.

By placing a consensual, monogamous, same-sex relationship in the Bible, God shows His wholehearted approval of intimate relations for all people no matter what their sexuality.

This goes a long way toward fixing the problem of God saying He is good but then holding bigoted views on many subjects.5 There is only one problem with my theory: it is too simple.

The Bible is usually very confusing.

Much of it is boring or doesn't really make sense. This theory is very simple. That seems to indicate it is not strictly biblical.

This theory very easily ties up one of the Bible's most confusing contradictions.

TASTE BUD TRIGGERS Mason Neil Food Writer

J

ust a block up from my childhood home was a pizza joint called Pizza Gourmet.

Every Friday my sister and I would conspire to pressure our mother into letting us pull out the well-worn takeout menu that sat in the drawer under our telephone. We’d stare at the list of pizzas, pretending that today we might actually order something besides a large pizza with black olives on one half (mine) and mushrooms on the other (hers).

Once that formality was behind us, we’d move on to the side orders. Our usual choice was the cheese sticks, a logical companion to the half-inch thick platter of cheese known as the American Pizza—yet the real goodness was the fried pickles. They were of the spicy variety, a tough sell to most ten-year-old kids, but we loved them.

They came with horseradish sauce which we assumed was some botched attempt at making ranch dressing. As we would slowly work our way through the spears, my mom

and sister would reminisce about how they had once had fried pickles just like these in Florida. I didn’t remember this memory but I understood that somehow fried pickles had become a surrogate for past family vacations, a taste bud trigger.

With our move out of that house and my decision to come out west I’ve not been able to have spicy fried pickles in some time.

So when I heard that Wingman had some, I made a dinner date with a good friend and prepared to be pulled back into my younger days of wannabe skateboard shoes and illfitting cargo pants.

The pickles were not disappointing.

They don’t have quite the spice factor of Pizza Gourmet’s, but no food is ever going to live up to some idolized and half-forgotten idea of past meals. The entreé was decent, the service was smooth, and the company was delightful. But the chance to walk down that old block from the house on Canoe Club Road to Pizza Gourmet was what made my evening. Perhaps I’ll return to make more memories wrapped up and sealed in the flavor of those fried pickles.

If you have any praise for this theory or any questions, feel free to email me at micah.hall@wallawalla.edu.

If you have any criticisms, feel free to email Matthew Moran at matthew.moran@ wallawalla.edu.

1 More like the religious wrong. Lol. Feel free to steal

this joke.

2 Jesus was also God. This is a big deal in the Christian world.

3 God chose to give the job of writing the Bible to some very sexist people.

4 Do not trust these scholars.

5 I am still working on a theory about why God ordered so many genocides.

FACEBOOK.COM/WINGMANBIRDZ

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LIFE SCIENCE

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MIGRAINES AND MOUTH BACTERIA jordan brooks Science Writer

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t is interesting that everything humanity claims to understand is founded on information that is collected, processed, and interpreted by the brain—an entity not clearly understood. The mystery that surrounds the human brain has become more intriguing in recent years with more and more research establishing a link between natural, digestive bacteria and the brain’s functionality.

In general, problems seem to be a common guiding force for science, as people see the need to address them and often make impactful discoveries in the process. This is true to for the study of the brain as well, and one problem that many people face in that realm is migraines.

Migraines are an excruciating, hyperform of headaches. Around 38 million people in the U.S. suffer from them, so it is unfortunate that their causes are not well understood.1 It seems that many different scenarios play into migraine episodes including food, hormonal changes, stress, and sensory stimuli. It is interesting that aged foods, such as wine and fine cheeses, and processed foods in particular seem to ignite migraines.2 Aged and processed foods contain high concentrations of nitrate,

which can be reduced to nitrite by mouth bacteria. When nitrites enter the blood stream, they can then be converted to nitric oxide which is thought to improve vascular health by decreasing blood pressure and improving flow. Because of their relationship to cardiovascular health, medications for cardiovascular disease often contain nitrates. Interestingly, people taking these medications typically experience headaches and migraines as a side effect.

Building on the clues presented by the commonality between food and medication causes of migraines, scientists have recently established a link between nitrate-reducing bacteria in the mouth and migraines.

Antonio Gonzalez and Embriette Hyde, researchers at the University of California San Diego Center for Microbiome Innovation, published a study that analyzed the oral bacterial composition of research participants who also indicated the level at which they suffered from migraines on a survey.3 After taking 172 oral samples and 1,996 fecal samples for research participants, the bacterial genomic data was analyzed via the bioinformatic tool, PICRUSt, and they found a significant increase in genetic data that encodes for bacterial enzymes that interconvert nitrate, nitrite, and nitric oxide. In other words, people who suffer from migraines are significantly more likely to have higher concentrations of nitratereducing bacteria in their mouths.

While Gonzalez and Hyde’s finding is revelatory for those who suffer from migraines, this only a preliminary finding that needs further investigation. The data establishes a correlation between mouth bacteria and migraines, but does not reveal causality. It is not clear if the high presence of nitrate reducing bacteria causes migraines or if the prevalence of migraines suffered by an individual causes an increase in nitratereducing bacteria. From this initial study, further investigation can build from a strong foundation. Gonzalez and Hyde specifically plan on focusing the scope of the study on different forms of migraines, specifying which oral microbes are expressing these nitrate-reducing genes, and measuring nitric oxide levels in the circulatory system.

The exciting new link between mouth bacteria and migraines is part of a growing chain of research that continues to reveal an interesting connection between the bacteria in our bodies and the way the brain—the cognitive structure and force through which we define our reality and existence— functions.

It is fascinating that things we define as not ourselves may impact the way we define our ourselves.

1 https://migraineresearchfoundation.org/aboutmigraine/migraine-facts/ 2 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/migraine-headache/symptomscauses/dxc-20202434 3 https://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2016/10/161018132608.htm

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FASHION/SPORTS LIFE

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OUTFIT INSPIRATION INSTEAD OF COSTUMING ANGELICA CHAN Fashion Writer

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alloween is the perfect holiday to geek out and dress up as anything you want.

But since it’s also on a school day this year, you might not want to go to all your classes in full Spock costuming. One great option for those looking to pull in the spirit of the day while not going all out is to wear an outfit inspired by a character. You can absolutely draw sartorial inspiration from science fiction, fantasy, comic book, or any other genre. While we may not be able to live out the adventures of time travelers, superheroes, hobbits, or space pioneers, we

can certainly take some fashion ideas from them. Here are some easy steps to a low-key Halloween outfit: 1. Choose a character. This can be your favorite person from a movie, book, or a celebrity. This is completely up to you, so choose someone/something that gets your creativity flowing. Remember that you don’t have to limit yourself based on gender, age, species, etc. You can totally draw inspiration from Eeyore if you want to. It’s not a costume, so you can interpret the character design any way you choose.

2. Look at the colors. Since you’re not going to make your outfit a “costume,” colors play a huge role in clueing people into who you’re

dressed as. Consider what colors are used and where they’re located on the character.

In creating your outfit, you’ll want to find pieces with similar colors, and try to wear them in similar places for easy recognition.

It’s not just about matching the colors, but also about getting the overall look.

3. Look for pieces. If you’re only going to wear the outfit a few times, you probably won’t want to spend a whole lot of money on it. The best approach is usually to look in your closet before heading out to the nearest clothing store. It can save you some time, and save you from the realization that you basically just bought a duplicate of something you already own. If you don’t have what you’re looking for, thrift shops

are always a great option to keep costs low.

Remember that the colors and styles don’t have to be exact, but they should be close enough to your character’s that others can tell what you’re trying to replicate. Also think about what the weather will be like when you wear the outfit. You can add tights or leggings or add a jacket to your outfit to keep you warm.

4. Accessorize. This is my favorite part of all. When you have the basics of your outfit together, the right accessories can tie it all together and make it unique to you. You can use jewelry, hats, belts, bags, gloves, and shoes to really perfect your character’s look.

Maybe your character is Ariel and has a distinctive item (her fork) that you can pull into your outfit via some eclectic jewelry.

Q&A FT. FOLUWASOMI OYEFESO MARISSA ROSALES Sports Writer Foluwasomi is a senior bioengineering major and treasurer of the Bioengineering Club. He has also played in the men’s soccer team for four years, this being his last.

1. Do you have a certain routine before games?

Black tape on forearm, white tape on shin guards, and on-field prayer.

2. What is your pre-game playlist?

Black Eyed Peas and Andy Mineo #keys2success 3. Did you feel like you made an impact on the team this year?

Definitely, it took some time to develop chemistry with the newer players, but I’ve been able to work well with them and improve my gameplay too.

4. What was the highlight of your season?

Every time I can nutmeg1 (futbol lingo) someone on a fast break.

5. Who is the most underrated player on the team and can you give a brief description of a play they did that was most memorable?

Anibal Castillo, he has seriously been working to improve himself and has played through many games despite injuries.

6. Any new players that you can see making an impact on next year’s team?

David, once he learns to pass!

7. I know this year you had new coaching staff, what did you appreciate about them?

Was it a new style of coaching?

I have serious respect for the new coaches and the amount of effort that they have put into the team. Despite losses, they always encourage us and push us to improve. Every trip with them is a good time.

8. I know you didn’t have the greatest season; however, did the away games and hard losses unify you guys as a whole? Do you see next year’s team building up from this year’s losses?

It taught us to value the meaning of dedication and accountability. We’ve all been

trying to work hard despite differences in gameplay and if the guys keep pushing as hard as they do, they will definitely see more wins next year!

9. Your position was defense but, if you could have played another position, what would it have been?

I’m naturally a wing player, but you gotta do what you gotta do for the team.

10. Any improvements you recommend for the upcoming team?

Run…RUN! Soccer is all about stamina and

PEXELS

a strong mentality, if you have that then the rest comes naturally.

11. How hard was it to balance your tough schedule since you are a bioengineering major?

Piece of cake. *Laughs nervously.* 12. How did you feel your last season of soccer went for you?

I didn’t get the season I wanted, but I’m glad for the experiences that I’ve had with the team. I look forward to them doing big things in the future!

Sidenote: Men’s volleyball, women’s basketball, and men’s basketball will be starting up, so stay tuned for schedule updates. This weekend is the last for men’s soccer, and women’s volleyball is coming to an end at the beginning of November.

1Nutmeg: Futbol lingo for when a player

kicks the ball in between another player's legs.

P

SIDE

SUNNY

IS BLOCK

KANYE WEST CONTEXT

3

my top five write-in candidates ‘Tis the season to be fall-y (get it, like jolly? So sorry. That was terrible.) by visiting the pumpkin patch1, and traipsing around the “haunted” corn maze2. But this year, fall isn’t just about embracing your inner basic white girl by shamelessly ordering a Pumpkin Spice Latte… it’s also the time to vote.

As I was filling out my ballot during class (#multitaskingskillsonfleek), I couldn’t stop staring at the “write-in” option. That beautiful, clean line was just so tempting, especially after reading all of the other available options. I didn’t end up writing anyone in because I don’t want to waste my vote, obvi, but still. It didn’t stop me from wishing that one of the candidates below had a chance.

If they did, I would have written in one of their names before you can say, “Did Trump

*

really say bigly, or was he just trying to say big league?” So, without further ado, here’s my top five write-in candidates that I really wish stood a chance of winning: Obama: He had his faults, but no one can deny that he was pretty fly for a president. I kinda sorta wish he could stay for one more term. Plus, I’m gunna miss being able to blame literally everything on the guy (saying “thanks, Hillary…” just doesn’t really have the same ring to it). Oh, and we can’t forget about the fact that Obama and Biden’s friendship is #bffgoals.

Dr. Wilson W. Wilson: I know he’s a fictional character, but I’m going to ignore that right now. Wilson is da bomb. Not only is he amazing at giving advice and knowing basically everything, but he has a friggen Ph.D in Cultural Studies. And no offense to the good ol’ U.S. of A, but it would be nice to have a leader that actually cared about

CONFESSIONS

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other cultures for once. Plus, if he can talk some sense into Tim Allen, I’m pretty sure he can fix this country.

Morgan Freeman: We all know that he has the voice of an angel, so why not make him the voice of our nation too? Sure, he’d probs put us to sleep the second he started delivering his inaugural address, but I’d take that over a guy who thinks Afghan is a country3. Plus, he played God in a couple different movies so that mean’s he’s kinda sorta prepared to be a leader, right?

My mother: If you’ve overheard me on the phone with my mother, you may recall me saying things like “you’re not in charge of me,” “it’s my life,” and other super-lame phrases sixth graders tend to screech their parents as they exert their independence.

However, I’ve finally come to realize that she’s actually super wise. Aaand not just wise: she’s really really intimidating when

“

she wants to be. If she became president, I’d give Putin and Kim Jong-Un no more than three months until they wised up and agreed to do whatever my mom says is best.

Hermione Granger: 1) She’s super smart and always ready to learn 2) She’s hella competitive 3) She def would have slapped Trump across the face on more than one occasion 4) She knows magic, which might honestly be the only thing that can save this country. Evanesco Wage Gap!

10% for the pumpkins, 90% for your new fall profile pic.

The only horrific thing about that maze was the mud that will probably never completely come off of my shoes.

3 Trump thought Afghan was a country. I can’t make this stuff up, you guys.4 4 youtube.com/watch?v=93hx02jEm28 1 2

VERBATIM

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lauren wahlen Backpage Writer

“I went to the haunted corn maze and peed my pants a little.”

–Sincerely, maybe wear a diaper next time?

“That is not a proper stick figure.”

–Professor Don Riley, on someone’s homework assignment

“My best friend since Freshman year is getting married and I don’t think I will be asked to be in her wedding.”

–Sincerely, at least you won’t have to pay for a bridesmaid dress.

“Mountain Dew is the ultimate life-giving substance.

It’ll pickle your innards so you’ll never die!”

–Dr. Curt Nelson

“I ate an entire loaf of pumpkin bread today... and half a pumpkin pie on Friday. It’s fall and all I wanna do is eat pumpkin everything. But it’s okay, because baking is exercise, right?”

–Sincerely, don’t worry, you’re super healthy, pumpkin is a vegetable.

“Boys, you’re having a hard time going to ‘men.’”

–Dr. Kraig Scott

As per usual, tell me your confessions at lauren.wahlen@wallawalla.edu. I’ll keep them anonymous, I promise. And I won’t break confidentiality cuz I’m a decent human.

Feel free to email me at lauren.wahlen@wallawalla.edu if you hear faculty or staff say anything awesome. I realize this means you’ll have to actually listen in class, but hey.

Wouldn’t hurt to get on your prof ’s good side by paying attention for once.

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