Volume 101 Issue 18 by The Collegian

The Collegian Walla Walla University

Volume 101

Issue 18

2 MAR 2017

6 10

devotional

column

SCIENCE

dear reader,

These are a few of my favorite things about Walla Walla University…

Welcome to all the March University Days visitors! Your energy and blissful youth are things that college students wish we can go back to. While we may give you weird looks in the Caf simply because we don’t want to wait hours in line for food that repeats each week, I hope that each visitor will feel the special family-oriented atmosphere that makes Walla Walla University so unique. In honor of this fantastic place many of us have called home for four or five plus years, our feature will highlight throwbacks of WWU and how our school has grown throughout the years. Also, we will highlight some throwbacks to when we were younger, so, for all those nostalgic seniors out there, get ready for a blast from the past. This is going to be the last issue for this quarter. I wish you the best on finals and a fabulous spring break. You can send any comments, questions, or contributions to aswwu. collegian@wallawalla.edu or matthew.moran@wallawalla.edu. As always, enjoy and IPFY (i.e. I’m praying for you) every day!

#1 Our school has many places to study on campus. #2 Our school has an esoteric history about a “half-tree” symbol. #3 Our school has some really cool underground tunnels. #4 Our school has a wall of alumni signatures in the Belfry room. #5 Our school has counseling services available at no cost. #6 Our school has a fantastic (and free) Career Development Center. #7 Our school has a full-fledged television production studio.

That’s right. You don’t have to go all the way to Hollywood to find a large green screen, intricate sets, and professional cameras, lights, and mics. The CTC houses a state-of-the-art recording and film studio that is available for use by communication majors. So if you want to feel like a star, feel free to contact Jerry.Hartman@wallawalla.edu or commlang@wallawalla.edu and possibly take a tour or record in our very own WWU film studio. If you get nothing out of this, I hope you leave knowing one thing: you are Editor-in-chief not alone, and there are people who are there to pick you up and get you on Matthew Moran your feet.

context

@ONNIT

Table of Contents | 02 News & Senate | 03 Week in Forecast | 04 Global Service | 05

editor-in-chief Matthew Moran assistant editor Abigail Wissink Head layout editor Frank Ramirez Head Copy editor Sophia Rich

life

Perspective

columnist Joni Harris

news writers Kyler Alvord Lauren Epperson

Fashion writer Angelica Chan

food writer Mason Neil feature editors Michael Jensen Ysabela Ramirez Bryndilynn Goodlyn

Life editor Micah Hall

humor writer Micah Hall

backpage editor Lauren Wahlen

opinion writer Yvanna Hammen-Alvarez

religion writer Vixie Bailey

Feature | 06 Devotional & Religion | 10 Opinion & Creative Writing | 11

layout designers Anna-Marie Vargas Claudia Curtis Geoffrey Lopes Hannah Chebeleu

Copy Editors Katherine Beckner Amelia Pekar

@BOSTINNO

Devotional writer Christina Moran

@SMART GETAWAYS

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.

Culture/travel writer Darling Su ACA/SM Editor Stephanie Septembre Science writer Jordan Brooks Creative writing editor Mac Ford global service writer Daniel Villarreal

Cover Credit: ASWWU 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 11:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

Office Manager AnneMarie Vixie distributor Victoria Ico

The Collegian | Volume 101, Issue 18 | 204 S. College Avenue, College Place, WA 99324 https://issuu.com/aswwucollegian

NEWS/SENATE CONTEXT 3

SENATE IS THIS THING ON? Kyler Alvord News Writer

any incredible doors have opened because of the digital age, and the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (NAD) is taking advantage of new technology by hosting a 90-minute Facebook Live event on March 14 at 8 p.m. CDT (7 p.m. PST) to answer students’ questions about issues facing the Church. The video stream, called “Is This Thing On?”, will originate from Union College, where

Dan Jackson, president of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, and Alex Bryant, executive secretary, will meet with a live audience and lead the discussion. Those tuned in online will still be able to join the conversation by tagging #NADnow along with their questions on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. As the country moves toward a more open-minded culture, many college-aged Adventists are finding themselves butting heads with traditional doctrines of the church. The NADs idea to host “Is This Thing On?” shows that they are interested in what millennials have to say, and a lot can be solved by simultaneously

@ASWWU

This week, Senate had seven bills in old business and zero bills in new business.

chatting with college students from across the nation. In a statement about the event, Jackson said, “We have the opportunity to dialogue, pray,...and work through issues together.” March 14 is only the beginning of a series of live streams. The NAD hopes to schedule more episodes of “Is This Thing On?” in the future, visiting different locations each time. Every member of the church deserves a voice, and these episodes will work to break down the communication barrier between young constituents and church administration. Additional information and updates can be found at www.facebook.com/nadadventist.

OLD BUSINESS F.L. 8 - N.O.F.A Cancer Awareness Campaign G.L. 8 - Faculty and Staff Attendance Requirement These bills were tabled indefinitely. G.L. 9 - Constitutional Statement of Inclusivity G.L. 12 - Cyclical Hiring Process These bills were tabled for one week. P.L. 31 - Amelia Pekar for Collegian Copy Editor

We’re ready. Listening. Engaged. Questions?

P.L. 32 - Mathew Shedd for ASWWU Spiritual These bills passed.

new BUSINESS No new business

College Facebook Live Event Union March 14, 2017

Dan Jackson Alex Bryant

President, Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America Executive Secretary, Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America

www.facebook.com/NADadventist

@NADadventist

#NADnow

SPRING SPRINT Lauren Epperson News Writer

pring Sprint will be taking place Sunday, March 5 beginning at 9 a.m. This 5K run will go to support the ASWWU Global Service project, Hope in the Hills. Registration fees are $15 per person or

$40 for a team of four people. You can fill out a registration form online. Everyone is welcome to come and join in the fun. Bring your furry friend and run or walk the 5K in order to help support the refugees. There will also be a raffle after the event and prizes will be awarded. Smoothies will also be given to all the participants. This event is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the nicer weather, while still supporting the refugees. Take a break from your

studies and enjoy a refreshing jog around campus. The run will begin at the WEC and continue around past the cemetery. Come participate or just cheer and encourage those running by. Volunteers are always welcome to come help with Global Service events. Please contact ASWWU if you would ever like to help with events.

If you have any questions about these bills, contact your senator. More information will be available in your Senate update email! There is an opening for a senator in District 7 - Hallmark Apartments/ Faculty Court/University-Owned Housing. Email Chris Ghazal if you would like to run.

WEEK IN FORECAST SATURDAY

FRIDAY

THURSDAY

@RUNOFPLAY

@ONNIT

@1001TRAVELDESTINATIONS

Mar 2

Mar 3

Mar 4

March University Days

King Lear 8 p.m. Harper Joy Theater

Brent Bergherm’s “Design and Photography in Northern Europe” 1 p.m. CTC 128

Choir and Orchestra Concert 4 p.m. University Church

Ultimate Frisbee 2 p.m. Sittner Hall field

Breakfast Club 7-9 p.m. SAC The Festival of Shorts 8 p.m. Village Hall

MONDAY

SUNDAY

@THETATTOOHUT

TUESDAY

@ CATCHTHEWAVE

@ ASWWU

Mar 5

Mar 6

Mar 7

Spring Sprint 5K 9 a.m. WEC

Dr. Barbara J. Grosz’s “Intelligent Systems: Design and Ethical Challenges” 4 p.m. Olin Hall at Whitman College

Walla Walla Symphony Series: A Joyful Mix 7 p.m. Cordiner Hall at Whitman College

Music Minor Recital: Chloe Mallory, mezzo-soprano 2 p.m. FAC Auditorium

I Cantori Benefit Concert $10 suggested donation 6:30 p.m. FAC Auditorium

The Festival of Shorts 2 p.m. Village Hall

Coming up

March 9 and 11 The Festival of Shorts 8 p.m. Village Hall

March 12 The Festival of Shorts 2 p.m. Village Hall

March 16-27 Spring Break!

GLOBAL SERVICE CONTEXT 5

125th ANNIVERSARY HIGHLIGHT What does the Honors Program mean to you? Why did you decide to become an honors student?

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED THAT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT DANIEL VILLARREAL Global Service Writer

he Honors Program at Walla Walla University was established in order to create a platform for students who wanted to be challenged by an integral, multidisciplinary curriculum that was composed of many areas of study. Since its conception, it has created an environment for students who wanted to stretch their minds with different types of classes and areas of study. The Honors Program is a separate track of general studies that is not a major or a minor in itself. By their nature, the courses offered by the Honors Program have a different flavor from the ones offered by the regular general studies courses. Instead of using textbooks, Honors courses rely heavily on primary sources to help students develop independent critical thinking

skills. Honors courses take an interdisciplinary approach that depicts the unity of knowledge. Because of this reason, some courses are teamtaught by professors in different disciplines. The Honors Program relies on small courses that allow students to interact with their professors and classmates. This intimacy allows for conferences and tours of museums and historical sites. The Honors Program also organizes cultural events such as trips to theatrical performances, musical events, lectures, and outdoor trips. All things considered, the program is composed of students. That is the reason why it was conceived and why it exists. And as students provide their feedback and opinions, it continues to grow and evolve.

Amelia Pekar: I joined the Honors Program because my sister told me to, and it's one piece of advice I will always thank her for. As clichĂŠ as it is, my Honors classes make learning exciting in a way that, for me, is really hard to replicate in larger, lecture-based classes. The small classes also ensure close contact not only with the professors, who are fantastic, but also with students who are genuinely interested in learning. Even though Honors students come from many different disciplines, it's hard not to be friends with these people after surviving Western Thought with them. The camaraderie between Honors students has been a hugely positive factor in my experience at WWU. Even if the classes weren't amazing, I'd still recommend the program purely based on the relationships I've made. Matthew Moran: Due to my previous experiences, I held a negative view towards Adventist education when I first came here. Thus, I wanted to be part of the Honors Program because I knew that it would help me gain skills and knowledge that range beyond the traditional texts that Adventists are used to. I also joined the Honors Program because I wanted to become a more critical, experienced thinker and writer. Interestingly, through our philosophical discussions, the Honors Program helped me value the quality education I was receiving at this Adventist institution. Furthermore, it helped me establish a stronger faith in my loving Savior. I will forever remember Rachel Held Evanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s "Searching for Sunday" as my favorite book that helped me see the value and potential of a vibrant faith in Christ. The Honors Program also helped me develop relationships that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Abigail Wissink: I joined the Honors Program during winter quarter my freshman year. I wanted to be more academically challenged, and was interested in the reading lists for Western Thought and other Honors courses. I was definitely more academically

challeneged, but I gained so much more from the Honors Program than academic knowledge. I have made my closest friends through Honors, and I can credit my work in the program for helping me to be able to achieve many goals throughout my collegiate career, including working for The Collegian for the last three years. My decision four years ago to join the Honors Program has changed my life for the better, and I will always be thankful for it.

HONORS PROGRAM FACULTY Bob Cushman Larry Aamodt Beverly Beem Dan Lamberton Karen Clausen-Brown Kellie Bond Ron Joliffe Gregory Dodds Montgomery Buell Terry Gotchall Terrie Aamodt Linda Emmerson Roy Campbell Tom Ekkens Cheris Current Carl Cosaert David Thomas Paul Dybdahl Pedrito Maynard-Reid

6 PERSPECTIVE FEATURE

NOTHING LIKE THE THROWBACKS #tbt bryndilynn goodlin Feature Editor

Matthew Moran Contributing Writer

s some of us near the end of our college career and prepare to go out into the real world,1 there is a sense of nostalgia towards for past days. The world has changed a lot since the “good ol’ days,” and this week we will give in to this nostalgia and spend some time reminiscing. Not only has the world changed around us, but our own campus has changed too, due in part to the graduating classes of old. Although we may not consider all of the changes good, we can be thankful for what they have taught usboth about ourselves and about the world around us. And as Owl City reminds us in “Unbelievable,” “It’s unbelievable / This is as good as it gets / It’s unbelievable / Don’t know what’s gonna happen next / It’s unbelievable / You haven’t seen nothing yet.”2 He reminds us that as great as the past was, and the present is, we have so much to look forward to. But for now, we hope you enjoy reminiscing with us. #tbt

FEATURE PERSPECTIVE 7

Walla Walla University Throwbacks: • Throwback to when Walla Walla University was Walla Walla College. I knew that at one point in history, Walla Walla University had once been Walla Walla College, but I always thought that that was long, long ago. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it was actually less than 10 years ago! According to Wikipedia, prior to September 1, 2007, WWU was WWC, and ASWWU was ASWWC. That means that this September, we will be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Walla Walla University’s status as a real university. That’s super cool! • Throwback to when we could cross the street without waiting for “Walk sign is on.”3 Back in the day (as in last year), the entire College Avenue was closed for construction and you could cross the street anywhere, anytime. People would skateboard down the street and frolic through as if they had not a care in the world. Although it was frustrating that it took so long to complete,4 I think most of us secretly miss the wide open street without cars or a loud, obnoxious walk sign. If you haven’t had the chance to turn up with ASWWU video’s PSA, then don’t “Wait! Wait! Wait!” and watch that as soon as you can. It might help you with navigating across the crosswalk. Then again, it might not, because apparently people still cross the street whenever they feel like it. • Throwback to when the plaza between Village Hall and Meske Hall was a less beautiful place to stare longingly into your significant other’s eyes.5 Thanks, class of 2015. There was a time when the plaza was a cracked, dimly lit, concrete expanse that was less than romantic. Some of us remember many date nights ending over there and thinking that it would be nice to close the night with a much more beautiful sight (although the sight of him/her makes everything around you disappear, right?). Now, thanks to the beautiful bricks, plants, and lighting, you can give your significant other a romantic goodnight kiss in an equally romantic location. Just another proof that our school condones and upholds the reputation of Western Wedding University.

• Throwback to when we had to drive to find our hot drinks and company. Once upon a time, the class of 2010 and ASWWU got together and from that union created one of the best hipster hangout places in the world. The Atlas is full of good music, great people, and many amazing places to study. And on the rare occasion that you don’t know anyone there but still want to converse, you can always count on the baristas for some great conversation and an amazing drink to boot. Whoever said that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth obviously hasn’t been to the Atlas.

JOSH MCKINNEY

• Throwback to when library outside seating was not a thing. When you are walking towards the library, you may or may not notice a small green bench over to the left. Without this conveniently placed bench, couples had nowhere to exemplify their Christian love towards each other near the Administration Building. Now you have a place to cuddle on warm spring evenings. Obviously the class of 2008 had their priorities straight. This bench even helps to satisfy Ellen White’s recommendations for dating in a public setting. Just make sure to leave room for Jesus. Or, if you are lucky enough to score this bench during spring quarter as a single person, relish the moment and sprawl yourself onto the entire bench. Your significant other could just include your backpack and your heavy biochem book. Not going to lie, that biochem book is an overly attached girlfriend who requires every single minute of every day. I would suggest that you break up with biochem, but she has her beautiful moments.

• Throwback to when Foreman’s lobby was prettier than Sittner’s. Who knew guys cared so much about what their lobby looked like? From what legend has told us, guys have a hard time maintaining a clean room. Thus, the school felt it would be nice to give the guys a place where they can hang out and not be amidst piles of smelly clothes and old boxes of food. Under former boys’ dean Tom Blackwelder, the Sittner lobby was remodeled by Judi Rich of Rich Interiors during the summer of 2013. Unfortunately, this meant that Sittner lobby looked much better than Foreman’s smaller lobby. If you wanted to go to a great study place and watch some sports, Sittner lobby became the place to go. And we guess this would make sense since Foreman lobby was being overtaken by couples. You could say that they made the Sittner lobby nicer so as to attract all the single ladies. Or, it could simply be a reward for all those people who wanted to focus on school or sports without getting distracted by the Foreman couples. Whichever theory you think is better, we’re absolutely sure that both are true.

• Throwback to when Smith Hall didn’t have an elevator. Not too long ago, Smith Hall looked quite a bit different than it does today. Not only did it not have an elevator, it looked far less beautiful than it currently does. But months of construction and painting later, we now have a beautiful, handicap-friendly psychology and education building. Now we just have one question: Can we make these renovations to Rigby too? The drinking fountains need help and no one wants to ride the utility elevator. Obviously, changes need to happen.

TOMMY MOEN

JOSH MCKINNEY

• Throwback to when you had to have your own skis to go cross-country skiing. Before Mountain Rents was established thanks to the generosity of the class of 2006, students at WWU had to have their own equipment every time they wanted to go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, camping, etc. Now, if you want to spend the weekend outdoors, you can head down to Mountain Rents inside the SAC and rent (for a very affordable price) the equipment you need for your great adventure.

JOSH MCKINNEY

• Throwback to when we didn’t have a random clock outside the FAC. Honestly, what is the purpose of this clock with the Ad Building’s clock so close by? Aesthetic appeal, maybe? And does it even run? We’ve never noticed. Let’s be clear though, we are not trying to dis on the class of 2000’s gift. We’re sure you had good intentions-we’re just not sure what they were.

• Throwback to when it was sketchier to walk the campus at night. It was a dark and stormy night-well, maybe not stormy, but definitely dark. And it was every night. Street and sidewalk alike were dark except for the random, dimly lit street lamp and the lights emitting from some of the buildings. And then WWU said “Let there be light,” and a couple years later, there was light. Now, as you travel across campus or from the various parking lots at night, it can still be a bit sketchy, but at least we have good lighting in most of it. FEATURE CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

8 PERSPECTIVE FEATURE

THROWBACKS TO LIFE FROM THE LAST OF THE MILLENNIALS • Throwback to when children watched “Zoboomafoo,” “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” and “Reading Rainbow” instead of whatever mindless shows that children watch nowadays. As every 90s kid can probably testify, you actually learned something when you watched “Reading Rainbow” or “Zoboomafoo.” These shows captured our imaginations and had us excited for all the things we would learn about in school. Now, kids watch shows like “Curious George” which basically goes through the life of a silly monkey doing weird, naughty things. I’m not against adorable monkeys, but if I had to give my kid either a show about a monkey’s journeys and a guy reading classic books, I would probably choose the guy reading classic books. Also Disney Channel was better. “Teen Beach Movie” is basically a sad attempt to recreate the magic of “High School Musical.” Seriously, if you had to choose between “Suite Life of Zack and Cody” and “Hannah Montana” or “Liv and Maddie” and “Girl Meets World,” I think we know which one you would choose. However, I admit that “Descendants” was actually pretty good but that’s just because they went back to the old way of classic Disney storytelling.

•Throwback to when the world was singing “Let it Go” like it was never going to let it go. I mean, it wasn’t just a little kid thing. I can name countless college students and grownups alike that sang the songs like they were going out of style. In fact, I know one guy who knows the songs from “Frozen” better than my friend Elise knows “Hamilton.” And that’s saying something. But I just have to ask: What about “Tangled” or “Moana?” Can we focus on those too? “Frozen” was cute, but can we let it go now? • Throwback to when Justin Bieber sounded like a girl. 2010 seems like so long ago. It’s amazing how “Baby” can turn into “Love Yourself.” Who woulda guessed? I know there are still lots of JB haters out there, but I think I’m starting to join the Belieber side of things...maybe. Ok, so maybe not so far as to become a Belieber, but I’m definitely warming up to his music. Keep it coming JB. • Throwback to when flip phones were all the swag.6 There was a time when flip phones were all the rage and you had to do that special head-toss like Channing Tatum in “She’s the Man.” When you opened up your fancy flip phone. Unfortunately, I didn’t get mine until that fad was over and it was smartphones that were cool. Now it’s just us hipsters who are left to carry on the flip phone swag.

FEATURE PERSPECTIVE 9 • Throwback to when MTV was music videos and not dating shows like “Are You the One?” Actually, this is a throwback that MTV is going to capitalize on by creating MTV Classic. I think all of us millennials will appreciate re-runs of classic shows that remind us of when the internet, cellphones, and rap began to take precedence in our society. Just another reminder of how old we are and how many changes we have seen in our lifetime. Imagine what we are going to be saying in 10 years. Maybe MTV will be filled with young’uns like JB putting on reality TV shows. For now though, let’s try not to cringe too much when we see 20 people fighting to find their “perfect” match that probably won’t last anyway.

• Throwback to when “Bill Nye the Science Guy” made us all want to be scientists when we grew up. My favorite sound to hear in elementary school was “Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill Nye the Science Guy” accompanied by a weird retro-80s music. I think all of us thought this is what it would be like to be a scientist for the rest of our lives. For several of us in the field of science, we can probably attribute much of our love for exploration and scientific principles to Bill Nye who captured our imaginations. If you feel like rocking out to one of Bill Nye’s amazing scientific music video parodies, I recommend “Bill’s got Boats” and “Cellular Haze.” But forewarning, you will experience feelings of nostalgia and probably burst out into dancing.

• Throwback to before Netflix was a thing and you had to go down to Blockbuster to rent your VHS.7 Every week in the summer, my mom would take my sister and me to the Blockbuster a few blocks from our house. We would always rent two or three familiar movies such as “Beethoven” or “Home Alone” as well as one experimental movie that we might or might not watch during the week. There’s just something different about physically going through a video aisle and reading the descriptions on the back of the VHS or DVD. You would meet new people who shared the same video interests as you and feel like you are a part of a much larger community. Now with Netflix, you only interact with your established friends and only have a limited selection of old movies that, in my opinion, were much better. Then again, this is probably just my 90s nostalgic throwback attitude coming in. But hey, it was a different time when people trusted each other and felt free to share more of their experiences with friends and strangers alike. INDIE WIRE

MTV GRADSPACE

• Throwback to when Britney Spears was the right of passage to being in the cool group. Although I was definitely a teacher’s pet and self-acknowledged nerd, the cool kids always invited me into their friendship circle. While this thoroughly confused me since I was the only guy and they were much older than me, I was mostly confused by their obsession with Britney. So, one day, I had one of my other friends show me some Britney songs so I could flaunt them in front of my new cool friends. It worked and we spent hours choreographing Britney moves. Would I say I regret it? Definitely not. If you asked me to group dance “Oops!...I Did It Again,” I could probably do it with my little posse. Obviously, I was the one small guy in the front kinda like Michael Jackson back in the day, although I feel that it's blasphemy to compare myself with Michael Jackson. However, since I’m not at the same level I was at when I was younger, I can’t promise that I can still do that today. Anyhow, Britney definitely helped me figure out a lot of things in life. When I was confused in a relationship, I sang “Baby One More Time.” When I get upset, I sing “You Drive Me Crazy.” People might not agree with me, but I think Britney’s still got it. She will always be one of my first cool friends and I will thank her for that.

YOUTUBE

TV SERIES

•Throwback to when Game Boys and Super Mario brought people together. Remember the days when everyone would argue over tricks to use in “Super Mario Land,” or who was the best first-gen starter Pokémon? Although if you grew up hardcore Adventist, you obviously don’t know any of these references. Or, you just won’t admit to them because Pokémon and Super Mario are sins and from the devil. Regardless of which camp you find yourself in, these were simpler times when we were amazed by simple graphics and revolutionary technology. My personal favorite was “Kirby’s Dream Land” where my best friend and I would trade the Game Boy every other level as we battled the bosses to finally fight King Dedede. Sure, technology has allowed us to play multi-gamer mode on a large flatscreen TV with absolutely amazing music and pictures. However, for us 90s kids, nothing can ever replace the simplicity of this old, childhood pastime.

• Throwback to when we cried while watching “Free Willy” and then went to visit Keiko (the real Willy) at SeaWorld. Spoiler alert for anyone who has not seen “Free Willy” and, if that applies to you, then I recommend that you stop whatever you are doing and watch this instant 1990s classic. This film struck such a deep chord within me as a nine-year-old child. My parents had to pause the film and remind me it’s all fake when I was crying hysterically over Wade and the other bad guys trying to kill Willy. From that day on, I wanted to become a marine biologist and ensure that no one could ever mistreat such emotional and beautiful creatures like Willy. In that spirit, I remember going to SeaWorld as one of my most favorite annual trips each year. Although I didn’t like the idea of captivity and didn’t know any of the tragedies revealed in “Blackfish,” I was captured by the majestic orcas and dolphins who embodied my sense of curiosity and adventure.

WIKIPEDIA

Or, God forbid, into our parents’ basements. https://play.google.com/music/preview/T7rpgpa557ddljf2acyj55rs5tu?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics&u=0# 3 Although, honestly, who really waits for that? 4 And I think we can agree that the paving days were the worst. 5 You know who you are, you disgustingly romantic couples who spend way too long outside of the girl’s dorm trying to say goodbye to your bae. We see you. 6 Who says that has to end? #Istillhaveflipphoneswag 7 Not going to lie, I still miss those days. There were some great selections. 1 2

10 PERSPECTIVE RELIGION & DEVOTIONAL

GIFTS vixie bailey Religion Writer

here is something about being out in nature that brings the heart closer to God. I'm not going to lie: There are days when I sit in church and feel like it does nothing for me. Thankfully, I have an awesome job that allows me to take Sundays away from the school and get out in nature. With all the snow that we have had this year, there is one obvious choice: snowboarding.1 So one recent Sunday found me hitting the slopes at Bluewood. There is something special for me about snowboarding. Maybe it's the fact that I actually had to put effort into learning how to move with a fiberglass-coated plank

PEXELS

attached to my feet. Maybe it's the thrill of flying over snow at speeds of 30 plus mph. Maybe it's just that in the moment that my board touches the snow, I'm free. I'm not a stressed out college student, I'm not socially awkward, I’m not struggling to know what I am doing with my life, because life makes sense when I am snowboarding. It all fits together and works, even if it’s just until 4 pm.2 I don’t have some cool Bible connection for you today. I’m not going to pull some analogy out of nowhere; it’s just logic. There are certain things in life that I think God gives us to help us stay happy. For me, it’s snowboarding, among other things. And you know what, it’s perfectly OK to feel close to God through some random sport, an art session, looking through a microscope, or any other good thing. We are told that “every good and perfect gift is from above,”3 so why would it be wrong to feel closer to God

through a gift He has given you? God wants you to be happy. If you think about it, that was one of His goals at creation: to make us happy. He spent six days creating the perfect world for us to live in, where everything was good. He loves us, and because of that love He wants the best things for us. So what makes you happy? Is it playing an instrument? Is it drawing? Is it working with kids? Jumping in cold water?4 Skiing? Writing? Or, heaven forbid, math? Whatever it is, know that it’s a way you can connect with God if you simply open your mind. We think that there’s a box that God fits in and there are only a few ways to connect with God, but it’s lies, all of it. God is there in church, but God is also there on the slopes. So there I was, four Sundays ago, strapped in at the top of a black diamond, and as I slid over the edge and started carving the snow, I took in a breath of the

cold clean air whisking by and I thanked God for that day, for the moment that I was spending free from the cares of college life, from the craziness of social media. My phone was off, and for seven hours, I was free from the buzz of life and it was just God, the snow, and me. And you know what? It was the perfect gift.

1 Or skiing for the other half of society... 2 When the lift closes. 3 James 1:17 4 If so, find my roommate and she will join you…

LEARNING FROM FAILURE christina moran Devotional Writer

humanist, Leonardo Bruni, was an advocate for the education of Greek literature. The learned man should permeate their mind with Greek and Latin knowledge, Bruni would say.1 Bruni believed that the study of these subjects would enhance one’s skill of art and language. Reading from well developed and stylized authors and analyzing the chosen words and structure of sentences will improve one’s writing.2 Above all, Bruni states, one should pay special attention to the ancient orators and the poets.3 However, knowledge alone is not the only requirement to become a Renaissance man. Without the “expression” of obtained knowledge, knowledge is nothing.4 “Expression” will set us apart from Joe Blow.5 If one wants to attain intelligence, one must be mindful of a diversity of subjects: first and foremost, history. In theory, the

study of history will allow one to understand the present and equip for the future. Initially, I thought no one ever learns from history, even from our own personal history. The carton of milk is tipped over once again. And someone wants to cry because of the spilled milk. Sometimes the same mistake is repeated. But after two spilled cartons of milk, Joe Blow would know not to knock down the third carton of milk (hopefully). So Bruni was right. The study of history makes a big difference. My personal history is a lesson book. I have made countless of mistakes. I have learned what does not work and what does work. There is a time to talk and a time to speak. And saying nothing at all is better than saying something that will hurt other people. God allows us to make mistakes in order to learn from them. Failure may be a part of God’s plan for you. Not that He wants us to fail, but rather, through our failures, we can learn a lesson or two from them. When we look at our personal history, we realize that the hand of God has been working mightily in our lives, guiding us to

where we are in the present and equipping us for future spiritual battles. “He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”6

1 Perry, Marvin. Image and Reality: Source Readings in Medieval and Early Modern History. Mason, Ohio, Cengage Learning, 2011, pp. 94-99. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. 4 Ibid. 5 Ibid. 6 Hebrews 12:10-11 ESV.

WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Here are some options for worship activities on campus this week: Heubach Morning Worship - Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. (1 CREDIT) Heubach Worship - Tues 9 p.m. (2 CREDITS) Fireside Worship - Thurs 9:30 p.m. (1 CREDIT) Hispanic Ministries Worship - Mon 7:00 p.m. (1 CREDIT) Hall Worship - Wed 9:30 p.m. (1 CREDIT) Prayer Meetings - Wed 7 p.m. (1 CREDIT) Vespers - Fri 8 p.m. (2 CREDITS)

CREATIVE WRITING/OPINION PERSPECTIVE 11

FLICKR FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE mac ford Creative Writing Editor

his challenge caught my eye while I was browsing "terribleminds," an irreverent and creative writing blog by Chuck Wendig.1 I love photo-related writing prompts, so this sounded like it would be fun to try. I hope it inspires you, too!

THE STAFF

ditor

The rules: 1. Go to this link: http://bit.ly/1tce4CQ Based on an algorithm, Flickr picks a random sampling of their most interesting photos. Your job is to incorporate as many of them as you can into a piece of short fiction. (The original challenge was to just use one but I love the way the different photos play off of each other and inspire different stories. It’s up to you!) 2. Click “reload” until you find the set of photos that makes you want to fill in the gaps. Some of the photos are kind of cheesy— one refresh gave me all photos of birds, which made me question the accuracy of this Matthew Moran Editor-in-Chief

OTHERNESS

rson

Frank Ramirez Head Layout Editor

Yvanna Yvanna Hammen-Alvarez hammen-alvarez Opinion Writer Opinion Writer

therness. I Christina hadn’t heard of this Moran word before but I have experienced Devotional Writer r it. Otherness is simply the element of differentness. When I was in my early high school years, and even before that, I Chan be just like everyone else. len really wanted toAngelica Fashion Writer I went, or everywhere riter I was the odd one so I thought. A young mind doesn’t know how to process being “weird.” For me, this was because I was home-schooled, shy, and Mac Ford Creative & main multi-racial. Those were Writing the three Contribution iter factors for feeling strange. Editor When I realized that I wasn’t like my other friends, I wanted to change myself to become like them. I wanted to go to a Katherine Beckner ales real school, andCopy magically Editorchange to a super outgoing person. I knew I couldn’t change ethnicities but that was just fine with me, because I was actually learning to love that aspect of my life. I wasn’t a bitter kid—I loved Geoffrey Lopes my life. I just struggled with where I fit in. Layout Designer ner Once I was in those tough teen years I was embarrassed about everything. I was always curious about how my dad could and talk to them, and ez just go up to people Bryndi Goodlyn Feature Writer r how he didn’t mind being himself and being goofy in public and how he didn’t care what people thought. I also wondered how my mom was so amazingly convicted of her wonderful beliefs and opinions and how she could share this with tact and respect.

Micah Hall Life Editor & Humor Writer

“interestingness algorithm.”Try to focus on connecting the objects in the photos and don’t get too distracted by the photos themselves, unless you get nine bird photos. You don’t have to connect those. If you get nine birds, you get a free pass. 3. Write flash fiction or a short story using the generated photos as inspiration for setting, characters, themes, or random objects that show up in your story. Flash fiction is usually 100 words or fewer, and short fiction is usually at least 1,500 words. Also, if these photos aren’t doing it for you, try Pinterest or Unsplash or do some

more specific digging around Flickr. But I do think there is something valuable in trying to use whatever you’re given and making your brain work a little harder. 4. Send it to me and win a gift card! Send your story to me at mackenzie. ford@wallawalla.edu. The best one wins a $10 gift card to Walla Walla Bread Company! Happy writing!

1 http://bit.ly/2mv9JyY

Abigail Wissink Assistant Editor

Kyler Alvord News Writer

Although she would get a spectrum of reactions, she was just fine with that because she was convinced that she was Vixie tryingBailey to Drew Sihotang Religion Writer believe Writer in what was best. Religion It took a few years to realize that I could be like that too. In fact, we all can. OneHarris of the things I don’t understand this Joni Emily in Huso culture is the idea that society tells people Columnist Columnist to be themselves and then shows them what mould they must fit in order to do that. I mean, that’s pretty oxymoronic.Darling There is Su only Mason Neil we should fit for ourCulture one mould benefit&and Travel Food Writer of others, and that isWriter the benefit Christ’s. Romans 12:2 says it beautifully: “And do not be conformed [be conventional] to this world,Villarreal but be transformed by the renewing Daniel Jordan Brooks of your mind,&so that you may prove what Global Service Science & Tech Global Humanitarian the will of God is, that which isWriter good and Engineering Writer acceptable and perfect.” That verse changes the perspective of things, doesn’t it? We’re not supposed to fit in and we’re Claudia Curtis Lindsay Luna not supposed to feel comfortable in being Layout Designer Copy Editor the “same.” Diversity is something absolutely beautiful, and when God is in the center of our difference and “weirdness” that beauty becomes something absolutely exquisite. Michael Jenson Brandon Pierce Feature Writer The important that God’s Feature Writer thing is to be sure standard is the one that makes us different. It’s hard to make a positive change when you’re the same as everybody else. Cody Wilson AnneMarie Vixie My challenge to you, dear Social reader,Media is & Office Manager Photographer that you break out of this world’s pattern for what you “should be” and sink into God’s loving arms. The latter mould sounds a lot better to me, but it’s also a lot more difficult because it’s different. The following verses should help with the difficulty: “Peace I leave

with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” ( John 14:27). And, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). The beautiful promises God gives us in His Word makes it all worth

it. Sure, it can be frightful to be obviously different, but God will give us His perfect peace and guide each one of our steps. Otherness doesn’t sound like such a bad thing now, does it?

COLLEGIAN

MATCHMAKER

BROOKE THOMPSON

NOAH DAUNCEY

COMMON GROUND: FRESHMEN, FILM CONCENTRATION, ENFP PERSONALITIES

It’s time to reveal this week’s chosen single people. Come by the ASWWU offices to pick up your gift card or contact matthew.moran@wallawalla.edu. Enjoy your sponsored date!

12 LIFE ACA & FASHION

ACA PERSPECTIVES: IVORY VOGT What was the most surprising thing? I didn’t really have culture shock. I definitely went into it with the mindset that I wanted to be friends with the locals and really immerse myself in the culture, but I was surprised that I really made a lot of friends with the people from Walla Walla University [and] from the other Adventist colleges from the States. I’m surprised that I formed really deep friendships in a matter of a short time.

Stephanie Septembre ACA/SM Writer What inspired you to go to Sagunto? I already knew I was going to have to go as part of my major with International Communications, and I was really excited to go just to experience a new culture, live in a different place, and just master Spanish a little more. I had taken Spanish for four years in high school and then two quarters in college, but I still felt I couldn’t have a real conversation in Spanish, so I was just really excited to go and just really practice it on a daily level. What were your expectations? I definitely expected to have a more rigorous work course schedule. I didn’t realize we’d have a lot of vacation time. I didn’t even know that we’d have trips, and we had trips to go to Southern Spain. We visited some major cities, like Sevilla, Granada, and Morocco. I didn’t necessarily go to travel-I’d been to Europe before-but I was really happy that we got to do those trips.

What was an average day like? The classes, I believe, started at 9 a.m., so we’d wake up, go eat in the cafeteria, then we’d go to class and class would end at about 1 p.m. every day. Afternoons were free; oftentimes it was siesta from 2-4 p.m., so that was quiet hour on campus. They had programs we could choose from: You could do flamenco dancing, you could do guitar lessons, you could do cooking classes, and you could do internships, so I decided to do guitar lessons and I decided to do an internship with a media station there, HopeMedia Spain. Other things we’d do in the evening: A lot of people would have dinner and go to the gym on campus. Going to the gym was a big thing. People from the local community, even non-Adventist people would come and use that gym. There was indoor soccer, and then they had a weight training gym and cycling. Things would go pretty late, like going to the gym until 10:30. What was the most challenging part? The most rewarding? The most challenging part was definitely coming

back. I really loved it there, and I definitely cried when I had to come back. The most rewarding part-probably the friendships that I made. Getting to see different places, growing as a person-you learn a lot when you travel. I feel like you can really be yourself, and I think that for me was most rewarding. Like in college, I would look back at it as maybe one of the best experiences if not the best experience I’ve had.

When you came back, did you feel you had learned as much of the language as you’d hoped? I probably could have pushed myself more while I was there. I was in the most advanced level class, and I felt I kept up well with it. I learned a lot through the classes I took, but I probably learned the most by just interacting with the people there. For me, it was really important

to learn the language and I definitely think I did the best that I could to learn in the three months that I was there. What are the best parts of the ACA program and maybe some points for improvement? I think the best parts are that they give you an outline of how you should learn the language, but they also give you a lot of leeway to do things that you like in the electives that you get to choose. In general, helping you learn the language, helping you get a chance to travel, helping you make new friends, and helping you grow as a person. I think it would be helpful for some to have the professors push them more, maybe encourage them to learn the language more. After we would take classes in the morning, if you weren’t on top of it and wanted to make friends with local kids, it would be easy to just recluse to your own room and not really learn the language. And I think a lot of people go just with the motive to travel, but I think it’s important to stress that learning the language makes you a better traveler. I think we could encourage other people to learn more. What would you say to anyone considering studying with ACA next year? I definitely would encourage it to anyone. I think the experience makes you a better person, it makes you grow-it truly does-while you’re traveling while you’re out of your comfort zone. If you don’t get a chance to do it in college, a lot of people don’t get a chance to do it afterward, so [I] definitely would encourage it now. If you’re thinking about it, just do it.

STUDENT STYLE: ADELINE TOMARARE Angelica Chan Fashion Writer

elcome to Student Style, where we explore Walla Walla students’ unique style and fashion choices. Today, we have Adeline Tomarare, a junior music and art double major. I asked to interview Addy because she has such a put-together athleisure style. Her style is always as bold and fun as her bangs. What do you do for fun – do you have any unique hobbies or interests? Music, messing around with makeup, and watching YouTube.

Who or what inspires your style? I don’t think anybody specific inspires me, but I’ve been really into K-Pop, which really influences how I would like to dress if I had the money. Maybe they influence my hairstyles more. How would you describe your sense of style? Comfortable, but not lazy. What are your favorite trends right now? Or do you follow trends? I’m really into the bomber jacket thing right now.

If you could raid anyone’s closet, who would it be and why? Probably Rihanna or Zendaya because they’re amazing and they just don’t care what other people think about what they’re wearing.

Where are the items in your outfit from? Jacket: TJ Maxx, Crop top: Macy’s, Pants: JC Penny’s, Shoes: China (from Wish the App), Earrings: Walmart. Why did you choose this particular outfit? When I was thinking about what to wear, the outfits I

kept coming up with weren’t things I would actually wear. This isn’t completely lazy, but it’s still comfortable. It’s still a little cold outside, so I added the jacket. Where do you like to shop? There are places I would like to shop at, but most of my stuff comes from JC Penny’s and Ross and places like that. I occasionally shop at places like H&M. I would love to shop at places like Urban Outfitters. What fashion advice would you give to other students looking to improve their style? Dress what you feel comfortable in. If you want to go over the top, then go over the top. If you just want to wear band tees all the time, then do that. Don’t go making yourself uncomfortable just to fit in with everyone else.

CULTURE/ COLUMN LIFE 13

MY WORST TRAVEL EXPERIENCES Darling Su Culture Writer

hings don’t always go according to plan. Along with the happier moments of traveling, I believe it’s important to reflect on the not-so-pleasant times, the times you reluctantly forced yourself out of your comfort zone in the hope that “magic” would happen. Because life is too short to be a wimp, you take a chance. However, life can be unpredictable when you travel and there might be some hiccups and bumps on the road. Here is a look back at my worst travel moments over the last two years of traveling. Bloody Passport Control After a 12-hour flight, my airplane had finally landed safely in my hometown, Sao Paulo. Upon arrival, I felt a soul-crushing nausea and I had a feeling my nose was running, but since I was still in line to pass through customs, I couldn’t go to the bathroom. I bent down

to grab my luggage, and noticed the drops of blood on my shirt. As with most things, remaining calm is one of the most important things you can do, right? Instead of panicking, I stuck a tissue in my nose as if it was the most normal thing that could happen at an airport, and patiently waited to reach customs. I know everyone gets an occasional nosebleed,

traveled by bus. We took a bus from Bogotá to Cartagena, which was supposed to take approximately 12 hours. But since the bus driver stopped a few times along the way, we arrived in Cartagena at 2 a.m. instead of 8 p.m. In Colombia, criminal gangs are known to operate at bus stations; no wonder we were experiencing an adrenaline rush.

but it was definitely the wrong place and all I could think was “Why is this happening to me right now?!”

While we were sitting down and waiting anxiously for a taxi, I could feel the stare of the people watching us. No taxi yet. During that long half-hour, one of the longest in my life, I wondered if we would come out of the situation alive. By some miracle, a police car drove by and we were taken to our hotel by the Colombian cops.

Stranded at a Bus Station When my friends and I were backpacking on a tight budget in Colombia, we figured we could see more of the country if we

Should I Trust? Probably Not Another awful moment was when I refused to listen to my instincts. It was our last day in the beautiful Sayulita, Mexico. Check-out at our hostel was at 11 a.m.. However, we wanted to spend Christmas Day on the beach. We met a couple who offered accommodation for one night. Even though we had traveled together for a few days, we politely said no. They suggested we could at least keep our luggage at their house, so we agreed. I hope this isn’t a mistake, I thought. Traveling requires a lot of trust—you have to trust your intuitions when you find yourself in a new situation. Not everyone is bad, right? Yet, I had a bad feeling. We came back to their house to get our luggage, and they returned it. Unfortunately, they refused to give my phone and camera back. Yup, should have listened to my gut feeling.

WHO RUNS THE ASWWU: MEN joni harris Columnist

t is well known that nationally, men outnumber women in leadership positions. In the 114th Congress, only 107 women (a record high number) sit in the 535 seats.1 Among the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, only 26 are women.2 Zooming in, this underrepresentation of women also occurs within the Seventh-day Adventist church. Of the approximate 4,000 pastors in the North American Division, only 107 are female.3 Zooming in even further, university campuses nationwide have predominantly male-run student government. Although more women than men attend college, only one-third of the student body presidents are women.4 At Walla Walla University, we as a student body just elected an all male ASWWU cabinet for the 2017-2018 school year. We currently have only one female cabinet member, and only three out of 15 department heads are female. Within ASWWU, which does not have an inclusivity or non-discriminatory statement in their

governing documents, there have only ever been six female ASWWU presidents. There are many reasons for this underrepresentation of women, but I only have 500 words, so I’m going to stick to why it is important that we have women run for leadership positions on the WWU campus: Women are typically less hierarchical and lead with compassion, empathy, and a more inclusive negotiation style.5 Including women brings new skills and different perspectives, broadens the way we arrive at solutions, and increases the amount and quality of the solutions we arrive at.6 Female leadership changes the norms and breaks down social and cultural barriers. So, if you are a woman on this campus with ideas, talents, and passions that you believe would be effective in an ASWWU position, I encourage you to apply to be an ASWWU department head or for any other ASWWU position that would float your boat. Of course there are countless other ways you

can make an impact on campus and have your voice heard, and if that is more of your style than an ASWWU job, pursue it to your heart’s content. Because yes, we need Marys and we need Marthas, but we also need Jonis and Gabrielles, Lucys and Fridas, Carlys and Billie Bob Joes. We need representation from and the voices to be heard of minorities, including LGBT+ individuals and people of color. In the coming quarters we must hold ASWWU accountable to hire diverse and qualified individuals with the aim of representing the whole of the student body and resulting in a more effective student government.

1 http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/women-government 2 http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/01/14/women-and-leadership/

3 http://www.nadministerial.org/article/370/for-nad-pastors/

pastor-life/women-clergy/why-the-nad-needs-women-pastors/ wanted-more-female-pastors-essential-for-the-harvest

4 https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/11/04/female-students-still-scarce-student-government-executive-positions

5 http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/29/opinions/women-rising-benefits-society-young/ 6 Ibid.

14 LIFE HUMOR/FOOD/COLLEGIAN WISDOM

COLLEGIAN WISDOM

Woman charged with killing husband after fight over burned casserole. Didn't know someone could be so passionate about Special K Loaf.

Minn. deputy looking for cow in road hits cow in road. It didn't moove fast enough.

Australia man accused of firing shots into home identified by mullet.

HOW I MISSED MY FIRST KISS micah hall Humor Writer

am a very attractive and smooth-talking man. For this reason, it may surprise you that I did not have my first kiss until I was 16.1 When I was 15, I was given the opportunity for a first kiss. Unfortunately, I missed it. Here is the story of what almost became my first kiss so that if any of you are still looking for your first kiss, you will not let it pass by unnoticed. I was a sophomore in high school and, even then, I was widely considered to be the heartthrob of the campus.2 I was rehearsing for "Little Women"3 where my character was going to kiss Jo March on the mouth. I was very excited for this. I had been eagerly awaiting my first kiss for a while and I thought that the stage would be a good place to make my grand entrance into the world of kissing.

Opposers got schmeared.

Australian producer mistakenly included in Oscars "In Memoriam" segment. Segment produced by Steve Harvey.

Thankfully, I learned a lot from that moment. I learned that, if you want to kiss someone, you should just kiss them.4 Never, ever attempt to arrange the specific aspects of the kiss. While those kissing nuances are great in theory, they are weird and bad if you vocalize them. I hope this article helped give you a little insight into the world of romance. If you have any more questions about love, please email micah.hall@wallawalla.edu.

This is excluding kisses from puppies, my mom, and my brother. 2 I was remarkably reminiscent of Zac Efron in "High School Musical." 3 I played the male lead, Laurie. 4 With consent. 1

SAVE RESOURCES, LOOK CUTE Mason Neil Food Writer

Business in front, felony in back.

Fight on UK train after people placed bagels on travelers' heads.

I was also a bit shy about this kissing business. I didn’t want anyone to know I was nervous or that I had a crush on the person I was about to kiss. As we got ready for our first real kiss, I decided I should break the ice. I didn’t want this kiss to be awkward. I needed to think of a joke. After a couple minutes of nervous rehearsing, the time came for the kiss. Our director paused us so she could grab a costume. As our director walked away, I turned Miss March and said, “On a scale from one to ten, how much tongue should I use?” Before she could answer, a voice yelled from the costume room, “No tongue, Micah! We want zero tongue.” Our director had heard me. She rushed into the room and sat down next to my scene partner and me. I was told that she had changed her mind and we were going to change our real, soft, and good kiss to a lame and fake kiss. I was secretly crushed.

coffee tumblers is that they’re never quite cute enough, but that’s not an issue here. KeepCup offers a wide variety of colors and designs so no one is forced to settle for ugly.

his week at CommUnity, Bea Johnson of Zero Waste Home1 showed us some of the ways she’s managed to live without creating more than a jarful of waste per year. As I have discussed before, the kitchen is one of the places where we use the most resources. Simple foodrelated and lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on the amount you consume on a daily basis. Here are three items that will help you save resources and look cute while you’re doing it, too. KeepCup2 The KeepCup is just about the cutest reusable coffee cup I’ve ever seen. After an Australian guy at the Patisserie told me all about his country’s greatest company (KeepCup), I was sold. I guess there is something about an Australian man with large arms explaining to you why it is your duty to use a reusable coffee cup that is really effective. My biggest issue with

Cotton Produce Bags4 I have too many totes, but I could use a few more cotton produce bags. These lighter bags are perfect for buying fresh produce and other bulk groceries. When buying bulk foods, putting your purchases in new plastic bags each time defeats the purpose. They’re not the cutest things on the planet, but most cotton bags can be colored and customized with fabric pencils.

AMAZON

BentoHeaven Bento Box3 Bento boxes are cute, trendy, and perfect for someone who actually eats a lighter lunch. With an air of condescension, pull out your bento box just before your coworkers leave for lunch, and let the consequences of their decisions be silently implied. You won’t have any friends after that, but all the environmentalists will applaud your bravery.

AMAZON

http://www.zerowastehome.com https://us.keepcup.com/?country=United%20States 3 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017QBK7ZI/ 4 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HHBD3TY/ 1 2

SCIENCE LIFE 15

IS PUGET SOUND IN DANGER?

A DISCUSSION OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION monica culler Contributor

he term “ocean acidification” is sometimes mentioned when talking about climate change, but the way it works and the threats it poses are not well understood by the general public. In 2012 only 50 percent of the American public viewed ocean acidification as a serious threat to the ocean,1 and in 2014 almost 80 percent of the British public had never heard of it.2 In Google Scholar alone, there are almost 35,000 scientific articles about ocean acidification, and since an average of $31.7 million of federal funding went to ocean acidification research and monitoring in 2014 and 20153 it is clear that this is a topic on which the general public should be better educated. The chemistry of ocean acidification is very well understood by scientists. The ocean is a highly buffered body of water, meaning there are dissolved chemicals from rocks and minerals that stabilize changes in pH to keep the overall ocean pH relatively stable.4 Since the Industrial Revolution, however, humans have been burning fossil fuels that emit unnaturally large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. The oceans absorb up to 30 percent of the atmospheric carbon dioxide, which calculates to be about 22 million tons per day.5 Despite the natural buffering capabilities of the ocean, this is too much CO2 dissolving into the oceans for the buffering system to keep up. The absorbed CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). This reaction has two effects on ocean chemistry. First, carbonic acid releases a proton (H+), which reacts with carbonate (CO32-) in the water to form bicarbonate (HCO3-). This is where the term “acidification” comes from. The pH of a solution is essentially the concentration of protons present, where the higher the concentration of H+, the more acidic the solution is. Since the Industrial Revolution began there has been a decrease in ocean pH of about 0.1 pH units.6 While this does not sound like much, the pH scale is base-10 logarithmic, meaning that a change in pH of one represents a 10-fold change in proton concentration. This change in pH of 0.1 actually represents about a 30

percent increase in acidity, the fastest known change in ocean chemistry in over 20 million years.7,8,9 The second effect excess carbon dioxide dissolved in the oceans has is a reduction of carbonate ions available for calcifying organisms to use. Many marine organisms (such as corals, shellfish,

Oyster growers in Washington State have already recorded nearly an 80 percent decrease in juvenile oyster survival.12 Coral reefs have also been shown to have an increasingly difficult time building their calcium carbonate skeletons when in lower pH seawater.13 Coral reefs provide a habitat to many marine organisms, as

GOOGLE IMAGES

and calcareous plankton) build calcium carbonate shells or skeletons by extracting carbonate and calcium from the water. When the carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, the excess protons react with carbonate in the water, causing a reduction in available carbonate for these organisms to use. Many organisms will therefore be unable to develop adequate shells or skeletons in this environment, instead forming weak skeletons. In addition to fewer available resources, acidified oceans also compensate by taking carbonate from already formed calcium carbonate shells. This has been extensively demonstrated in pteropods, which are a major food source for animals like juvenile salmon and whales. In acidified waters, the pteropod’s shell will dissolve in a few weeks.10 While the chemistry of ocean acidification is well documented and understood, the biological impacts of it are less understood. Many studies have shown that calcifying organisms are strongly impacted by ocean acidification. Over 30 percent of marine species in Washington’s Puget Sound are calcifying organisms,11 indicating that ocean acidification will have profound impacts in our nearest ocean.

well as coastal protection from storms. Coral reefs in Bermuda have declined by 25 percent over the last 50 years, and scientists are attributing this to ocean acidification. 14 When combined with the increase in seawater temperature, particularly observed in tropical reef ecosystems, corals are not only subject to weakened skeletons but also to mass bleaching events that have been recorded recently. 15 Many physiological studies have also been done in the past decade to determine how organisms are responding to ocean acidification physiologically, such as in metabolism regulation and reproduction ability. These studies, since they have been done on thousands of species of organisms, have seen varied results. In some studies, such as one I participated in a few summers ago with octopuses in the Salish Sea, researchers are finding that ocean acidification is negatively affecting organisms’ abilities to survive and thrive in a changing environment. Other studies have demonstrated that there are some organisms which seem resistant to changes in ocean pH.

One thing to remember when doing marine research, however, is that studying a single organism is like reading only one word, maybe even one letter, in the novel that is the ocean—marine ecosystems are complex and well-balanced. Therefore, when disturbances cause a decrease in the populations of a few organisms, profound effects are seen throughout the interconnected ecosystems in the ocean. We are already seeing this in several situations, and it is predicted that it will only get worse. While this conversation may seem discouraging, I don’t think we are at a “place of no return” yet. A systematic change to how we get energy is crucial in reducing our carbon emissions. In order to reduce the increasingly high concentrations of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, which are then absorbed by our oceans, we must shift from burning fossil fuels for energy to using clean, renewable energy sources. We are already seeing the negative effects of ocean acidification in many situations, but this shift to clean energy is the only way to prevent the profoundly worse predicted effects from becoming a reality.

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/water/marine/oa/20120523_ publicopinion_presentation.pdf http://psych.cf.ac.uk/understandingrisk/reports/cardiff_ ocean_acidification.pdf 3 http://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/sites/oap-redesign/ Documents/IWGOA/Fourth%20Report%20on%20OA%20 Research%20Monitoring%20FY%2014-15.pdf 4 http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-acidification 5 Ibid. 6 http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/ What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3F 7 http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-acidification 8 https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/ publications/1201017.pdf 9 http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/ Acidifying+Water+Takes+Toll+On+Northwest+Shellfish 10 http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/ What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3F 11 https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/ publications/1201017.pdf 12 http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/ Acidifying+Water+Takes+Toll+On+Northwest+Shellfish 13 http://www.nature.com/news/landmark-experimentconfirms-ocean-acidification-s-toll-on-great-barrierreef-1.19410 14 https://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/oa/description/ oaps_intro_oa_and_reef.php 15 http://www.nature.com/news/landmark-experimentconfirms-ocean-acidification-s-toll-on-great-barrierreef-1.19410 1 2

SIDE

SUNNY

KANYE WEST CONTEXT 13

sleep is for the weak lauren wahlen Backpage Writer

on’t you think that professors should offer two different kinds of syllabi to students? Ya know, one that says the actual dates that projects are due, for the good students, and one with an alternate schedule with all the due dates set a couple weeks early. That way, students who wait until the night before to start a 30-page research paper1 are unknowingly working ahead of schedule. It’s kinda like the whole “move your clock forward five minutes and you’ll trick yourself into showing up on time” dealio, just in a grander, more panic-inducing kinda way.2 But instead of doing this professors treat us as if we’re responsible and, what? Able to manage our time? D’okay... But it's all good. We’re not completely without hope, thanks to an ancient ritual known as The All Nighter. And because I consider myself to be a bit of a professional3 procrastinator, I’ll share my step-by-step guide for a successful night of cramming n’ crying. So for all y’all who read “due” date but think “do” date, yer welcome. Results may vary, depending on participant’s level of caffeine consumption and their level of desperation.4 1. Supplies: Preparation is key. To pull a successful all-nighter, you’ll need way more than just your school supplies. Water bottles, plural, to eliminate the temptation of going to the drinking fountain every five minutes for “just one more quick break.” Snacks, so you won’t find yourself buying Takis from Walmart at 3 a.m. Been there, done that. The 3 a.m. version of Walmart is not a fun place to be. Don’t forget to bring your chargers, headphones, gum, basically anything that you might need to go home for. Cuz once you go home to pick up something you forgot, it’s already over. You ain’t goin' back to the computer lab once you’re within 200 feet of your bed. 2. Study partners: You’ll want to study with someone who’s just as behind as you are. If they only have a couple hours of homework to do, they’ll leave before you and you’ll probs break down and just say, “Ya I guess I should get some sleep before class too…” but NO! Don’t give in. Drop those almost-caught-up friends, just for the night. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life. Surround yourself with the students that are super stressed, cuz they’ll yell at you if you try to leave them alone with all those engineer nerds roamin' the halls of Kretchmar.

3. Location: This is all up to personal preference, but this is my quick review. Keep in mind, I’m ADHD so concentrating is a real bear for me. My room: No way. My room is a selfmade trap. Between my comfy bed, Netflix, my guitar, and my cat, there’s no chance of success. WWU’s library: Nopeity nope. I spend the whole time focusing on being quiet which leaves zero brain power for actual studying. Atlas: No go. The music is always too good and I end up singing along.5 Coffee shops: I wish. This used to be my ideal place, but now that I’m broke I can’t go or I’d feel like a jerk for not buying anything. The Fishbowl: YES. There’s noise, so I don’t have to be silent-silent, but I also never understand what anyone is saying so it’s not like I’m tempted to engage in their conversations.6 Whitman library: YASSS. It’s not too quiet, and it’s open 24/7. Which is perfect cuz...Ima need to study 24/7 if I’m gonna pass my classes. 4. Thought Process: The hardest part of the all-nighter is just convincing yourself it’s worth it and that you can do it. It’s all in the mind. 30 page paper? Well, 1 page is the title page so boom it’s basically 29 pages now, 28 not including references, which is 14 pages single-spaced. 14 pages is just twice as much as seven, and seven is the perfect number so Jesus take the wheel and let’s do this.

TWO TRUTHS

& A LIE

Last week’s lie: "In the 1960s, the college finally dispensed with its practice of paying employees based on gender or family status" Want free coffee to get you through this awful part of the quarter? It’ll help you pull an all nighter so you can finally tackle that one report you’ve been putting off! Email lauren. wahlen@wallawalla.edu with the fact down below that you think is actually a lie. The first one to get it right wins! In 1897 a Greek teacher planted the first Mountain Ash tree on campus as part of a ceremony commemorating the ancient languages. Walla Walla College had its first pipe organ concert in 1940. A total of 12 college students graduated in 1917. It was a new record for the college!

VERBATIM “And now for the fun part of the machine: the shaft!” —Professor Steve Lee, referring to a machine in chemical analysis 1 I had to finish my report at a casino in Vegas this last weekend cuz I went for a friend’s wedding and that was the only place I could find wifi at 2 a.m. It's safe to say that I really brought down Cosmopolitan's vibe. 2 Panic is necessary evil for procrastinators. It sucks, but the fear of not graduating is the only thing that gets me out of bed every morning. 3 Okay so I get that this isn’t a legit profession, but if it were something I could get paid for, y’all know I’d be making Bill Gates look poor. 4 Greater risk of not graduating=decreased risk of giving up and just going to bed. 5 Then again, what else can they expect if they play "La La Land"?? 6 Second degree differential equations, am I right?

“That’s the chair clearing its throat.” —Professor Dan Lamberton, on the noise it makes when being pulled across linoleum "Well you obviously must not be dating, otherwise you would know!" —Professor Jonathan Duncan, responding to a student asking what day it was. It was Valentine’s Day. Email me at lauren.wahlen@wallawalla.edu if you hear a faculty/staff member say something hilarious/amazing/stupid. I lowkey feel bad that I’m asking you to listen in class, cuz who wants to do that? But help a sister out, would ya?

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