Volume 101 Issue 22 by The Collegian

The Collegian Walla Walla University

Volume 101

Issue 22

27 APR 2017

DYSLEXIA: A CLIMBING START

6 3

letter to the editor

food

columnist

DEAR READER, Throughout this year, we have highlighted many of our esteemed writers. I hope you will enjoy and learn disenfranchised and marginalized groups on our about another aspect of what makes each person unique. campus. These include our features on Martin Luther You can send any comments, questions, or King Jr. during Black History Month, LGBT policies contributions to aswwu.collegian@wallawalla.edu or at Walla Walla University, and conservative views in matthew.moran@wallawalla.edu. Adventism. Ultimately, we want to continue to cultivate As always, enjoy and IPFY (i.e. I’m praying for you) an environment of love and acceptance at Walla Walla every day! University. The Collegian is committed to ensuring that every person feels they are able to speak through our public platform. In the words of Dr. Kraig Scott, this is a “safe place” where everyone can learn and grow through the beautiful diversity of humanity. To continue this tradition, we will be highlighting learning disabilities, specifically dyslexia, which is a very personal topic for one EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MATTHEW MORAN

CONTEXT

Perspective

ASWWU

Editor’s Note | 02 Letter to the Editor | 03 Week in Forecast | 04 News & Collegian Wisdom | 05

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

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

IVAN CRUZ

Feature | 06 Devotional & Religion | 09 ACA & Creative Writing | 10 Food & Opinion | 11

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

Copy Editors Katherine Beckner Amelia Pekar

LIFE

Devotional writer Christina Moran

ANGELICA CHAN

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 1:00 A.M. on Thursday, April 27 , 2017.

Office Manager AnneMarie Vixie distributor Victoria Ico

The Collegian | Volume 101, Issue 22 | 204 S. College Avenue, College Place, WA 99324 https://issuu.com/aswwucollegian

NEWS CONTEXT 3

UNKNOWN POET BILL GERBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

hile attending Parent Weekend last October at WWU, we were invited to a meal off campus, and enjoyed a delicious breakfast with our son Beau, as well as a number of other wonderful WWU students. Some of these students we knew, and others we met for the first time. While consuming our pancakes, we listened and heard various stories and accounts of student life. One story caught my ear. It was the sad account of how some young men were not having any success with their dating life. As a final, seemingly desperate resort, they were passing notes beneath the door separating the gentlemen from the ladies in Meske Hall. These notes were actually invitations to a date. I cannot recall if the author’s identity was revealed, but contact info was given, and after passing the note, a waiting game began. As of this breakfast, success had not been realized. Well, my heart went out to this one particular young man who was relating this tale of relational woe. Again, I cannot recall if I then expounded about my similar personal experience, and the answer my friends and I found to combat similar issues of loneliness, or “jealousy,” as we watched hundreds of couples walking to Friday vespers and church while knowing, through lonely male intuition, the masses of couples that were out each Saturday night. The answer? Poetry. Yes, it was as simple as that. In college, my friend and I struck upon an idea. We had been poets in high school and had written a poem a week for the enjoyment

of the student body masses. Then we wrote and sold poems for guys that were too shy to ask girls out for banquets, et al. We came up with the idea of being the “Unknown Poet” at WWC and we would write personalized poems for certain young ladies. Not just average, run of the mill Robert Frost or Helen Steiner Rice poems, but poems of unrequited, anonymous love and admiration. Poems that would touch their hearts and imaginations, and would convey feelings that could never be conveyed openly or face to face. Poems where we could change the name and read them to the next, and the next and the next girl. We soon found our rhythm and would write a new poem each week—well, for 17 weeks anyway—until the year ended. I ended up being the voice, and in our innocence of youth I tried to sound like a young Steve Martin. We were the Unknown Poet. We would call on many a Friday night. We had quite a list of names, and we would go through our list until we found someone in their room. Then when done, we would call another, and on we would go until it was too late. The ladies loved the poetry. They almost died wanting to know who I was. But we could never reveal my/our identity. We had a speaker set up and often we had quite an audience on our end. While this actually didn’t produce many actual dates, we knew we were wanted and much loved, and we just knew if the gig was up, the dates would be non-stop. That affirmed us. So, in case one is curious of the beauty and depth of our prose, here is number eight of 17, one of the best. I chose a name at random and put it in here as an example, but any two or three syllable name will work.

ELTEONLINE

Without your love, I fall all to pieces; Without you close, we will never have nieces. Oh do not ignore me as you have been for months— Oh please say you love me, oh just say it once. Oh Katie, Oh Katie, I melt like the ice, I fall like a comet, I tumble like dice. I faint like a fainter, I drown like a rat, I cry like a baby, I hang like a hat. I weep like a willow, I sigh with the breeze; I crash like a race car, I buzz like the bees. I pain like arthritis, I pine like a tree; I sink like a freighter, I’m lost like a key. Oh Katie, without you, my whole life is naught— You’ve stolen my heart, my soul, and my thought. If I were with you, a new man I’d be; If you were with me, a new man you’d see. Like a weighter who lifts weights, a strong man I’d be, A stainless steel padlock, with you as my key. I’d be a 426 Hemi, with power that’s stock; A quart crystal wristwatch, the ultimate in clock. You’d make me so happy, that hyenas would sound sad; You’d take me from a Nissan, and put me in a Cad. I am an ugly duckling, you’d turn me to a swan;

I used to shop at Payless, you’d take me to the Bon. You would be the sunshine on a dark and gloomy day, The International Harvester, in a field of ripe hay. Like a bag of bullion, my worth would go up, And you’d be the Kool-aid, and I’d be the cup. The possibilities are endless, oh Katie my dear, But should we never meet? That is what I fear. Like a 5 speed with over drive, I would not have a tranny— My plane would crash, my chute not open, I’d land flat on my fanny. So Katie, my child, this forever I’ve known: A poet in love, whose feelings have shown. And if perchance you see me, how about a wink? Yes! You would be the Draino, that would unplug my sink. Well, it doesn’t get much more romantic than that last line. Can you see how that would win over the coldest of hearts? So guys, if you are not connecting with that special someone, or that special anyone, consider letting your linguistic juices flow. Consider the power or measured meter, poetry and/or prose and let your inner self do the talking for your outer self.

WEEK IN FORECAST FRIDAY

THURSDAY

HOLBROOKINDIANSCHOOL

SATURDAY

PIXA KAI KOPTIZKE BAY

CALEB RISTON

apr 27

apr 28

apr 29

Homecoming Weekend

Financial Aid Priority Deadline for 2017-18

Awards Celebration CommUnity 11 a.m. University Church

Holbrook Indian School Info Session 5 p.m. Smith Hall

Atlas Art Auction 1 p.m. Atlas

Bird Walk 6:30 a.m. Rigby Hall Parking Lot

“More than the Sabbath” by Dr. Timothy Golden 2 p.m. Library Reference Room Piano Vespers 6:30 p.m. FAC Auditorium

Wind Symphony Concert: “Joyride” 4 p.m. University Church Homecoming Birthday, Messengers...Fireworks! 7:30 p.m. University Church

Homecoming Vespers: PRISM 8 p.m. University Church

SUNDAY

TUESDAY

MONDAY

STILLWATER AREA HIGH SCHOOL BANDS

WALLA WALLA FOOD TRUCK NIGHT

EAGLE LAKE CLASSIC

apr 30

May 1

may 2

Homecoming Weekend

Fall Registration Opens for Freshmen

InTents Community 11 a.m. University Church

Homecoming Weekend 5K Fun Run/Walk 7:30 a.m. WEC

InTents Community 11 a.m. University Church

19th Annual Alumni Car Show 10 a.m. Havstad Alumni Center Parking Lot

Walla Walla Food Truck Night 5 p.m. Airport Incubators on Piper Ave.

Coming up

Spring Jam and International Food Fair May 7

Walla Walla Symphony: Beethoven’s 9th 7 p.m. Cordiner Hall at Whitman College

Spring Banquet May 21

NEWS/COLLEGIAN WISDOM LIFE 5

COLLEGIAN WISDOM

THE AFTERS BRING BLESSING TO COLLEGE PLACE

THE AFTERS

KYLER ALVORD NEWS WRITER

n Saturday night, the band behind “Light Up the Sky” and “Never Going Back to OK” performed in the Winter Education Complex for Walla Walla University students and the community. The Afters, who formed in 1999, have won numerous awards for their work, and their established sound was brought to the campus by ASWWU Spiritual. The WEC didn’t reach its full capacity, but the energy among the crowd made up for the intimate turnout. Lindsey

Haffner, senior English and French major, claimed that the energy was “top level,” and noticed that even those who were unfamiliar with their music demonstrated incredible enthusiasm. At one point in the night, lead singer Josh Havens asked if anyone knew the song “Beautiful Love.” Caught in the moment, Haffner raised her hand and caught their attention. “To be honest, I don’t know the song all that well, but suddenly the eyes of the lead singer were upon me and he was inviting me on the stage,” she said. Without hesitation, Haffner hopped up and stole the spotlight. “He was looking back at me—probably to help me with

the words—and so it almost felt like a ‘High School Musical’ situation, minus the romance and high school. So just musical. I don’t know. It was sensational.” Though most people didn’t get the same hands-on experience as Haffner, the crowd response proved positive. The Afters called it one of their favorite performances to date. WWU has a history of inviting high-profile Christian artists to campus, including Switchfoot, Building 429, Phil Wickham, Kutless, and Gungor. While The Afters didn’t hold the same kind of name recognition as previous bands, students were shocked to realize that many Christian classics can be credited to the group.

Gold Coast police urging victims to drop complaints to improve crime statistics. They tried asking people to “do less crime,” but that didn’t work.

Hundreds of guinea pigs overrun Blue Mountain Humane Society. More like overFUN.

A drunk man was arrested for knocking over Silicon Valley’s crime-fighting robot. Roboflop.

SPRING JAM MEETS INTERNATIONAL FOOD FAIR LAUREN EPPERSON NEWS WRITER

pring Jam and the International Food Fair are Sunday, May 7, from 1 to 6 p.m. Though this event has previously been held on Centennial Green, due to extenuating circumstances this year it will be moved to a currently undetermined location. ASWWU Global Service and ASWWU Social have joined together to host the annual Spring Jam and

International Food Fair. There will be lawn games, food, music, and so much more. Food will be featured from a variety of countries including Japan, China, Thailand, Mexico, and many more. All the proceeds made from the food will go to the Hope in the Hills project, helping refugees in Rwanda go to school. Music will begin at 3 p.m., showcasing some of the best bands of our own WWU students. There will be a variety of music and fun on the lawn, a great way to close the school year.

Study shows all mammals take approximately 12 seconds to poop.

ASWWU

Were mammals with smartphones included in this study?

Trump says he has no plans to pull out of NAFTA. If he doesn’t pull out soon, he might end up with a new trade agreement.

6 CONTEXT FEATURE

DYSLEXIA: A CLIMBING START YSABELA RAMIREZ FEATURE EDITOR

am a dyslexic, a climber in the field of academics. But, every parent wants their child to “get off to a running start” in school. I can still remember overhearing my mom bragging to a friend about how her 5-yearold nephew would cheerfully read off the words on every billboard he passed. I too wanted to be a source of pride to my mother, so I tried to sound out the words on every billboard we passed too. However, I was 9 years old by the time I was able to do this. I quickly discovered that no one found it at all noteworthy that a 9-year-old could read billboards and store signs. But for 9-yearold me, dyslexic me, reading billboards was an accomplishment. I could understand concepts and was thirsty to know and understand more about the world around me, but I couldn't seem to get the basics. Reading was an incredible challenge, and spelling was all but impossible. My “slowness” in these categories lead to a shame that followed me even after I had been recognized as one of the top students in my high school class. I lived in fear that one of my classmates would happen upon one of my un-edited papers riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, and come to the conclusion that I must not be that smart after all. I felt like an imposter. I

have only recently had the confidence to talk about dyslexia. When an estimated 10 to 20 percent of people have dyslexia, it is important to talk about it. I have come to realize that it is only by talking about dyslexia that we can break down the stigmas that come along with it, and create spaces in which dyslexics can be encouraged and supported. My journey to literacy started, like most people's, when I began to learn to talk. My parents never spoke of delayed development in my speech patterns. I loved to listen to adult conversations and demonstrated a good grasp of language from a young age. In a book of phrases from my early childhood, my mother recorded me stating at the age of 6, “Mommy, I believe it is high time that I had a purse with a lipstick and a little card with a picture of myself on it.” My parents had no reason to be concerned with my language development until I started school. In kindergarten I struggled to learn my alphabet and would selectively and inexplicably forget letters. In first grade, I simply could not understand phonics. By then end of the second grade, I could barely read a three-letter word. I remember struggling to read the word “said.” I would struggle and struggle until I would

finally get it. Then on the very next page, I would come upon the same word and sound out “say-id” or “sah-id.” My dad, in frustration would say, “No, Bella. It is the same word as the one on the page before. Pay attention!” My parents were concerned by the amount of difficulty I was having in learning to read so they took me in to be tested. The results of the test showed that I was dyslexic. Throughout elementary school I struggled to learn to spell, spending hours studying for my weekly spelling tests only to get C’s—despite countless hours of studying and one-on-one help from my parents. Despite my struggles with dyslexia, I was somehow able to pass both Englishrelated AP exams and garner a reputation as being one of the best writers in high school. (Granted, this could have been because of my comments in class more than my actual writing skill.) But how did this happen? How did I develop the skills it took to go from the student whose elementary teachers thought would not make it to high school, to being a student who is on the verge of successfully completing a Bachelor of Arts in English? To answer this question, it is important to understand a few things about dyslexia and to understand the power of personal drive and perseverance.

WYNNE EYE ASSOCIATES

FEATURE CONTEXT 7

DYSLEXIA AND THE BRAIN Dyslexia literally means difficulty— ‘dys-’ —with language—‘-lexia’. Dyslexia and other disabilities such as ADHD do not correlate with IQ levels. In fact, dyslexics often display signs of intelligence verbally but have severe difficulty when learning to read and spell. A recent article published in the journal of Psychological Science found that though “in typical [nondyslexic] readers, reading [ability] and IQ development are dynamically linked over time…[but, correlation between reading level and IQ is] not perceptible in dyslexic readers.” It is not that dyslexics are less intelligent, it is that their brains are wired differently from other people. Learning to read is not like learning to see or learning to speak because there is no specific place in the brain dedicated to reading activity. When people learn to read, they they are using the speech center (temporoparietal cortex) and visual center (occipitotemporal cortex) of the brain simultaneously. When a person learns to read they are training these two parts of their brain to work together in order to decode symbols to create meaning. Both the temporoparietal and occipitotemporal cortexes as are located in the left hemisphere of the brain, but dyslexics tend to favor the right side of the brain. Because of this, the signals sent to and through the brain follow a different and longer path through the right side of the brain before they make it to the left hemisphere where most people process reading. Simply put, the dyslexic brain is wired differently than the non-dyslexic brain. In brain scans, this different wiring is revealed as low levels of activity in the temporoparietal and occipitotemporal cortex when reading. This inactivity, however, is not necessarily without a remedy. Research has shown that it is possible to retrain the brain in this regard. Guinevere Eden, director of Georgetown University’s Center for the Study of Learning, decided to conduct a study in which she would conduct brain scans of dyslexics before and after working with them on their reading skills. An NPR reporter records one such session as follows: "Take a picture of the word "MEAL,"" Tiffany's tutor said one afternoon as they neared the end of that day's six-hour session.

The tutor was holding up a flash card with the word M-E-A-L printed on it, waiting for Tiffany to take a mental picture of the bold letters. Covering the card, the tutor gave Tiffany a puzzle: "If I erase the 'A' in that word, what word would we see?" "Erase the 'A'? Can I see it again?" Tiffany said, contorting her face in concentration. Then, she ventured a guess: "It would be MEAL? No! It would be MAAL." With a little bit of help, she figured it out: "It would be MEL!” After conducting such one-on-one help with students, Eden found in the follow up brain scan that there was an increase in brain activity in the regions that relate to reading. Although dyslexics are shown to have lower activity in some regions of their brain, they display higher activity in other areas of the brain—namely the right hemisphere which contributes to such things as creativity and intuition. It is not surprising that while dyslexics have difficulty with written language, they often excel in creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking, and even display large and advanced vocabularies and verbal communication skills. All these scientific studies may be fascinating, but the most convincing evidence for dyslexics' intelligence and aptitude for success is probably found in the real-world success and intelligence of dyslexics themselves. Dyslexics are overrepresented in the realm of successful businessmen, with studies showing that 35 percent of company founders in the U.S. are dyslexic and 20 percent of business starters in the UK are dyslexic, as compared to 10 to 20 percent of the population having dyslexia. Famous dyslexics include such people as Tommy Hilfiger, Steve Jobs, and Agatha Christie. If a dyslexic can climb over the initial mountain of difficulties they face in childhood, they will likely be very successful adults.

DYSLEXIC READERS

FACING THE CHALLENGE

The first obstacle a person must overcome when facing a challenge is a psychological one. It is really no different for dyslexia. One must believe they can succeed in order to have a chance at success. Dyslexia is technically classified as a learning disability. Unfortunately, people often confuse learning disabilities with intellectual aptitude. When children are delayed in learning to read it is said that they are “slow.” Some children with learning disabilities are made to feel they possess inferior intelligence to their peers. This can come from self-comparison to their peers but can also come from the excuses made on their behalf by well-meaning adults. When I was entering high school I took a test that confirmed my status as a dyslexic. I met with the school counselor to discuss the results and in the course of our conversation, she told me I should be satisfied with C’s. Thankfully, I had already received enough positive reinforcement and achieved such a high level of success that this comment had little effect on me. However, not every child is so lucky. The compounding of repeated failure, snide comments made by peers, and discouragement from adults can easily frustrate dyslexic children’s drive to push through the challenge they face. In his TEDx talk, “The True Gifts of a Dyslexic Mind,” Dean Bragonier suggests that what dyslexic students need more than anything else is to be introduced to their strength instead of being constantly beat on down with their weaknesses:

NON-DYSLEXIC READERS PEDIATRICSINREVIEW

“We have to take these students who are so disenfranchised, so frustrated, so thirsty for positive reinforcement and introduce them to that cognitive skill set that they have... I can attest that once you have [captured a dyslexic's attention], they are ravenous, they are thirsty, they have built up this moxie and this grit—and then all of a sudden you are revealing something that they are better at than their peers; this is a brand new message. We need to reveal to dyslexics their abilities, we need to empower them to access within themselves a new narrative, we need to allow them to become self-actualized." I found this to be true for myself, in that it was the discovery of something I loved and was good at that motivated me to pursue my academic career in earnest. It really started with my love of stories and general curiosity about the world around me. As a child I absolutely loved stories. I would beg my mom to read to me, or better yet, invent a story that could be told over the course of several weeks. My dad would tell me that through books the doors of knowledge could be opened to me and that if I could learn to read, I could do anything. The end of my fourth grade year was when I broke through the reading barrier. I was home sick from school and was terribly bored—the television was not an option for me. Naturally, I begged my mom to read me a story. But she simply did not have time. So, she made a deal with me: If I read one chapter in my American Girl book, she would read the next one and we would switch off back and forth. Not seeing any other options, I agreed and set myself to the difficult task of reading an entire chapter. When I was done, I went to ask her to read the next one. She agreed to, but said I would have to wait for 15 minutes or so. This seemed like a very long time to me when I knew I might be able to read several pages in that time. So, I kept reading it myself. I don’t think my mom read another line out of that book, and I didn’t ask her to. I had found the key to my beloved stories and I could not get enough. I felt I had missed out on so much time when I could have been consuming stories. So I spent every spare moment with my books— locking myself in the bathroom for a half an hour at a time and hiding a flashlight next to my bed. By the time I was in junior high I was reading books far beyond my level. I took "Les Miserables" to summer camp the summer after sixth grade and made quite an impression on my counselor. My love of stories had pushed me to overcome my difficulty in learning to read. Though I loved stories for as long as I could remember, it was in junior high that

8 CONTEXT FEATURE

I first discovered my love for literature and for the English language. My language arts teacher taught critical analysis based on her graduate program to her junior high students—and I could not get enough. Critical thinking was my strength and I was finally able to use it in the classroom setting. She also gave us poetry writing assignments in which we were graded on how closely we followed the form of sonnets, haiku, and the like. This gave me the opportunity to use my creativity and play with the sounds of words. The discovery of something I was good at truly motivated me to excel in the classroom, and by the time I graduated junior high, I had surpassed my “impossible dream” of a 3.5 GPA and graduated with a 3.7 GPA. Having confidence and finding something they excel at is not the end of the battle for a dyslexic: They still have a mountain to climb, and that takes work. Advocates for dyslexics try to expel a common myth that “Children with dyslexia are just lazy. They should try harder.” I would be the first to stand up and say that laziness is not the problem. Who would be able to look at a child who spends seven plus hours studying 20 spelling words every week with only the promise of a C, and come to the conclusion that they must be lazy? Failure is certainly not a problem of laziness for dyslexics. However, even though laziness is not the cause of their struggle, working harder is a big part of the solution to it. Even with the help of learning techniques and tutors, a dyslexic will not learn to read and write unless they are willing to push through frustration and put many hours into mastering the skill. I don’t want to minimize the extensive support and hard work it took to get me to the place I am. For almost every hour I studied spelling, my dad was studying it too. My mom fought to get me accommodations in the classroom and aided me with my homework—typing out my written assignments through my sophomore year of high school. My parents made sure that I never doubted my intelligence, insisting that I could do just as well as the next person. I was determined to prove them right—even if it took double the work and double the time. I would spend seven plus hours every week studying a list of 20 spelling words, only to get a C average in spelling. Out of all the spelling tests in my elementary career, I did manage to get 100 percent on one—something which is still a source of pride to me.

DYSLEXIA THE GIFT If you embark on some causal research on dyslexia, it won’t take long to find people claiming that dyslexia is a gift—not a disability. I admit, I myself might have made this claim once or twice. But saying dyslexia is a gift does not mean that every dyslexic is a genius. What it does mean is that dyslexics have brains that are wired differently from most people and that difference allows them to see the world from a different perspective—many dyslexics are known for their ability to “think outside the box.” Creative thinking is a fantastic asset, but there is something else dyslexia offers to the dyslexic, and that is the challenge itself. Now, it might sound strange to say that the struggle is a gift, but hear me out. While the fact that dyslexics must struggle to succeed more than their peers may seem sad and unfair to some, it may be a blessing in disguise. I believe that the challenges of dyslexia can be seen as an opportunity in the same way a businessman views a challenge as an opportunity. In her TEDx talk, “Why the best hire might not have the perfect résumé,” Regina Hartley uses the example of dyslexia to prove her point that struggling can be beneficial in and of itself: “In a study of the world's most highly successful entrepreneurs, it turns out a disproportionate number have dyslexia. In

the U.S. 35 percent of the entrepreneurs studied have dyslexia. What’s remarkable [is that] among those entrepreneurs who experienced that post-traumatic growth, they now view their learning disability as a 'desirable difficulty' which provided them an advantage because they became better listeners and paid greater attention to detail. They don’t think they are who they are in spite of adversity, they know they are who they are because of adversity. They embrace their trauma and hardships as key elements of who they have become and know that without those experiences they might not have developed the muscle and grit required to become successful.” While a running start might seem to be the most desirable in early education, one should not overlook the children who are given a mountain to climb from the very beginning. Even though it might take them longer to catch up with their peers, once they do, their climbing start will have helped them develop the strength and skill to take on many diverse challenges. To the dyslexics and those with other learning disabilities, I say: Take courage! A struggle is nothing to be embarrassed of. Seek the help you need, discover your passion and work hard to accomplish your goals. I’ll be cheering you on from here!

DEVOTIONAL & RELIGION PERSPECTIVE 9

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN JEW CHRISTINA MORAN DEVOTIONAL WRITER “Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.”1

ast year, the touring choir of Walla Walla University, I Cantori, sang "Even When He is Silent," which was composed by a young Norwegian composer, Kim André Arnesen.2 As I sat in the second alto section of the choir, I pulled out the score for "Even When He Is Silent." I scanned through the score, noting that the only musical interpretation inscribed on the left top of the first page read “with hope.”3 Roughly half of the members knew the song from the previous years. I was among the newbies who had to sight read the song. Dr. Scott, our conductor, cued us to begin. The song began with an A minor chord. The next measure was sung in 3/4 time, which switched to common time the measure after, only to return

to 3/4 time and then to switch to 2/4 time. The song continued to change time signatures and digress to different chord structures and patterns, but amidst these musical technicalities, my heart filled with joy listening to the calm and hopeful piece Kim Andre Arnesen composed. Dissonant chords followed consonant chords, advancing and creating music. At the end of the song, Dr. Scott shushed us to a ppp (pianississimo, otherwise known as really quiet). The soprano, alto, tenor, and bass notes of the last chord built a C major chord and the song ended. Dr. Kraig Scott motioned us to be seated and he told us the history behind the lyrics of "Even When He Is Silent:" During the dark years of World War II, there was an imprisoned Jew in the Cologne concentration camp. He or she was locked in a dark cold cellar, with no access to the gentle warmth of the sun. The Jew wrote a poem:

“I believe in the sun even when it is not shining And I believe in love, even when there’s no one there. And I believe in God, even when he is silent. I believe through any trial, there is always a way But sometimes in this suffering and hopeless despair My heart cries for shelter, to know someone’s there But a voice rises within me, saying hold on my child, I’ll give you strength, I’ll give you hope. Just stay a little while. ... May there someday be sunshine May there someday be happiness May there someday be love May there someday be peace….”

IMGUR

This Jew believed that the sun continued to shine even though he or she could not feel the warm rays of the sun beat upon their shoulders. Furthermore, they believed that God was alive and watching out for them even in their dreary situation. To us, this Jew’s life was debilitated, with no opportunity to experience freedom in this world and with no chance of living a life outside of the Nazi concentration camp. To God, this Jew showed that they found even more satisfaction than freedom on this earth. They found freedom in God in the worst of circumstances.

This poem was found written on the wall of the cellar, to be discovered many years after the war.4

Psalm 55:17 NIV. Wikipedia contributors, "Kim André Arnesen," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia,https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kim_Andr%C3%A9_ Arnesen&oldid=761967371 (accessed April 25, 2017). 3 Arnesen, Kim André. Even When He Is Silent. 2012. Oslo, Norway, GIA Publications, Inc. - Walton Music. 2012. 4 WordPress. "A Poem of Belief by a Jewish Prisoner in a Nazi Concentration Camp." Accessed April 19, 2017. https://sairyd.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/a-poemof-belief-by-a-jewish-prisoner-in-a-nazi-concentration-camp/.

slightly humbled Jonah arrived where God wanted him to go, and evangelized a whole city. Ironically, Jonah then had a literal argument with God because he wanted to see the Ninevites destroyed. While the book of Jonah ends without telling whether or not Jonah learned his lesson, there is a lesson in it for us: arguing with God is exhausting and pointless. God isn’t going to force us, but He does know what is best and is always attempting to steer us toward an easier path. It’s like a parent telling their child to not touch the hot stove top. More often than not, as soon as the parent is not looking, the kid touches the stove and of course, gets burned. The second we think God isn’t looking, we do exactly what He was trying to keep us from doing.

It would have been so much easier for me if I had listened to God in the first place. For one, I wouldn’t have taken classes that are now worthless to my degree, and therefore I would now have more money or useful credits. I also would have been more prepared for my summer of pastoring. It would have been better if I had talked things out with God, even if that involved throwing shoes and telling Him off, because if I had physically talked to God instead of letting my actions say no, I would have lost and therefore saved time. Yelling at God may sound almost blasphemous, but it's far better than ignoring Him and wasting time. When was the last time you argued with God? Did you actually talk to Him, or did you pull a Jonah?

1 2

JONAH VIXIE BAILEY RELIGION WRITER

o you ever argue with God? I do literally all the time. I don’t know why I even try because He always wins. Infinite God verses finite Vixie; that’s like showing up to a gunfight with a toothpick. There is no way I could ever win, but I still think I know better. There are two different ways that I get into arguments with God. First is literally arguing Him. I yell, scream, cry, usually throw my shoes and often my phone at Him (because that works so well…), tell Him how He is messing up in my life, and cry some more before I finally admit that He’s right and I am wrong. The other way

I argue with Him is passive-aggressive: not listening. Perhaps one of our biggest arguments was over my major. I told Him He was wrong by picking another major. I thought this would prove that I wasn’t supposed to be a theology major; turns out I was wrong and He was right. Perhaps one of the biggest arguments that is recorded in scripture is the one recorded in the book of Jonah. God said “go” and Jonah ran to the other side of the world in an attempt to argue with God. While Jonah didn’t actually vocalize anything, his actions said “God, you are wrong. I don’t need to go to Nineveh.” Think how different the story would be if Jonah had simply obeyed. But no; he just had to resist God. One storm and a three-day fish ride later, a stinky but

10 LIFE ACA/SM & CREATIVE WRITING

ACA PERSPECTIVES: VICTORIA SMITH ALVAREZ

STEPHANIE SEPTEMBRE ACA/SM WRITER

he following interview was conducted with Victoria Smith Alvarez, who is a freshman French major. She plans to study in Collonges sousSalève, France, during the 2017-2018 academic school year. Why do you want to study in France? Well, of course, one of the biggest reasons is that I want to learn French and I want to learn to communicate with people in the French culture. As well as just being in France, traveling Europe— that just sounds amazing. How much exposure have you had to French? I started studying French on my own when I was probably 12 or 13. I got

a bunch of books, and my friends knew I was obsessed with French for a long time, so that was pretty much all I got for birthdays and Christmas for a long time, French stuff: French books, French movies, French art, French food. Then I kind of forgot about French for a while—I didn’t have that much time to study during high school. Then this year, I’ve taken two quarters of French with Jean-Paul. How will going to France benefit you as a French major? As a French major, going to France would help me transfer credits that I need for my French major. Going [abroad] will require me to take some classes in France which will transfer through the ACA program directly [towards] my French major. What are your expectations for next year? I expect to come back mostly fluent in French as well as having a larger, broader understanding of the world around me and of the French culture.

What are the required steps in order to go abroad through ACA? First of all, I went to the ACA meetings, which I know not everyone has been able to do, but I was able to talk to the director of ACA and she gave me a lot of meaningful and helpful information. Then I printed out the application on [the ACA website]. I filled it out online with all the requirements, such as of course name, age, birth date, all that common stuff as well as the more specific things. Do I want a French roommate? I said, yes I do. Do I need specific food accommodations? No, I don’t. So as soon as I filled all that out, I went around to all the different teachers and staff members that it requires signatures from. All of them were very excited and very supportive of my decision. The only thing that I have left to do at this point is print out two passport pictures and attach them to the application and turn it in to academic records. They send it to ACA, and they choose whether to accept me or not.

Do you have any reservations about studying in France? I do. I’ve never been in a country where I don’t speak the language before. It’s either been somewhere whether it’s English or where there’s Spanish, so I understand either way. So I think that’ll be a real challenge. I’m looking forward to the challenge, and I believe that by the end of the year I will definitely feel like I am understanding and able to communicate. Do you feel prepared to go to France? Probably not. I will prepare myself slowly but surely. I know that when I get there it’s probably going to be way more crazy, way more amazing, and way more scary than I imagine. But I like to think that by the end of the year I’ll be like, “This is the greatest thing I’ve ever done.”

MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2017 (SO FAR) MAC FORD CREATIVE WRITING Here are some of my favorite books— so far!—from my 2017 reading list.1

GOODREADS

1. "The Association of Small Bombs" by Karan Mahajan (Fiction) “The bomb was a child, a tantrum directed against all things.” A bomb goes off in a busy Indian market, killing many, including the two sons of the Khuranas, a middle-class, middle-aged couple. Framed by this horrific event, you get everyone’s perspective—the boy who survived, the grieving couple, the bombmaker, the bomb. It’s really, really brilliant—I’ve never read such striking, authentic images of grief. This book has stayed at the very top of my list since I finished it in February.

2. "Crooked Kingdom" by Leigh Bardugo (YA Fiction) “That’s the problem with Ketterdam, Jesper thought as they stumbled uncertainly through the dark. Trusting the wrong person can get you killed.”

3. "Bright Dead Things" by Ada Límon (Poetry) “Sometimes, you have to look around at the life you’ve made and sort of nod at it, like someone moving their head up and down to a tune they like.”

This sequel to the YA novel "Six of Crows" is everything you could want out of an escapist adventure story. There’s magic and guns and costume disguises and tightrope-walking and moves and countermoves. Read "Six of Crows" and then this book and then cry and reminisce. (And forget any genre snobbery—this is just really, really good storytelling.)

These poems will blow you away. They’ll make you want to be a poet. “How to Triumph Like a Girl” had my heart proud and racing and “I Remember the Carrots” stunned me completely. Límon writes about nature, religion, feminism, grief, and longing in such a beautiful, distinctive voice, and I can’t recommend this collection highly enough. 1

None of these were published in 2017—I just read them in 2017!

FOOD & OPINION LIFE 11

CHEAP TACOS WORTH THE BUZZ MASON NEIL FOOD WRITER

ast Thursday I was feeling particularly hungry and light on cash. It’s a common situation for me, and last week my overwhelming cravings and underwhelming wallet pushed me across the border to Bomb Tacos. It has taken me four years of living in the Walla Walla valley to try out the small orange taco truck on the right side of Highway 11, just two miles past the Oregon border. Marked by an orange and black sign that says “Bomb Tacos” in gothic font, this truck may seem underwhelming at first. I’ve been to my fair share of food trucks and don’t find them to be my favorite—they often only accept cash, you still have to wait for the food, the fact that it comes out of a truck does not guarantee that food will actually be good, and once your food is finally ready, there may not be any places to sit. These factors alone

seem ample enough to stop me from ever eating out of a mobile eatery again, but when you’re down to three dollars and a few quarters, $1 tacos start sounding much more attractive. And yet, these tacos are fabulous. Through the small window in the side of a repurposed trailer, you can watch the dream team cook up fresh ingredients prepared just minutes before being served. Ignore my previous grunts and grumbles—after first trying out Bomb Tacos, I am now always in the mood for a drive across the Oregon border in pursuit of economic eats. And the best part of such cheap prices? You still have some cash left over to let the cooks know how much you appreciate their food! Seriously, please tip the most important people in your life. I encourage anyone with a hankering for fresh, authentic tacos to skedaddle south and scarf up some delectable comestibles. MASON NEIL

MY OPINION ON FOOD YVANNA HAMMEN-ÁLVAREZ OPINION WRITER

ecently, I was sitting at the Express with a few of my friends and we were all eating a different assortment of things and we started to talk about the differences of how we eat certain foods, different diets, and diverse ways of eating certain foods. Here are some of the opinions I expressed in this fun conversation.

Baked Beans Can we just talk about baked beans for a second? When I was 13 I wrote a poem about why I didn't like baked beans. I never thought people could actually like baked beans. I think baked beans should be exterminated. That's my opinion on baked beans.

Pineapples + Pizza Can we not? Fruit and pizza do not go together unless it's tomato. That's just fine. But sweet, yellow fruit on pizza is a no-no.

Dipping Fries in Milkshakes Nope.

Sweet or Dill pickles?

Double-Dipping

Again, sweet flavored savory food is not supposed to happen. It's a disgrace to the world. Dill pickles is where it's at.

Nike says "Just do it!" So go for it. I think it's a waste to not double dip. That's a whole half-carrot we're talking about with any ranch on it! Unacceptable.

Vegan Diets Can we have more options for vegan eaters? Like, I eat fish occasionally and ice cream and yogurt, but not cheese. We need vegan cheese available everywhere. That'd be awesome!

Cupcakes So you've heard that the proper way of eating a cupcake is taking the top off from the bottom and flip the frosted side to make a sandwich out of it. This is not right. If you see this being done, run.

Juice or Water Water! Water tastes great and keeps you way more refreshed and energized than juice ever will. Drink at the very least 8 cups of water a day and see the change! Just as a side note, even though I don't like these foods... we can still be friends.

12 LIFE HUMOR & CULTURE

THREE TIPS FOR LOSING WEIGHT MICAH HALL HUMOR WRITER

MYHEALTHYLIVINGCOACH

I am a foodie. I can tell the difference between an applet and a cotlet with my eyes closed. I am a good expert. At the beginning of this quarter I started a diet. As of today, I have lost over 10 pounds. This makes me a diet expert. Here are my three tips for losing weight. 1. Don't try to be healthy. There is a diet myth out there that says that you need to eat more vegetables and healthy foods to lose weight. This is wrong. All you have to do is eat less food. If you start eating vegetables and other bad and gross foods, you will hate your diet and want to end it. Instead of eating healthy food, eat food that has fewer calories. A slice of angel food cake French toast is only 85 calories.1 You can eat 20 of those a day and still lose weight.

2. Eat more fast food. The easiest way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories than you use in a day. This forces your body to burn fat. This means that calorie counting is essential to a good weight loss plan. Unfortunately, calorie counting is hard. I suggest eating a lot of fast food to make this part of your diet easier. Fast food places have calories listed right on their menu. A McDonald's cheeseburger is only 300 calories. You could eat five of those a day and still lose weight.

slowing, eat four apples. I wasn't seeing very good progress last week, so I ate four apples. The next morning, I lost a pound and a half through the power of pooping so much it hurt. Seeing my progress that day helped show me that my diet is working. If you have any other questions about weight loss, please email micah.hall@ wallawalla.edu. You can also follow my weight loss blog by visiting www.medium. com/micahsgoodfoodexperience.

3. Keep tracking your progress. It is encouraging to see your weight drop during the week. Weigh yourself every morning to make sure you see all the progress you are making. If it seems like your progress is

You can see a very good recipe for angel food cake French toast here: https://medium.com/@ micahhallsgoodfoodexperience/week-3-angel-food-cakefrench-toast-7b98aa7dbb89

TEACHING IN POHNPEI: Q&A WITH JENNIFER SOUSA

DARLING SU CULTURE WRITER

hinking about teaching abroad, but haven’t quite made the leap to commit? Many say teaching abroad can be the most rewarding experience in their lives so far. In this week’s article, I highlight my roommate’s experience in Pohnpei where she taught high schoolers for a semester. Tell us about yourself. My name is Jennifer Sousa. I was born in Brazil but was raised in Dallas, Texas. I am a junior mechanical engineering student at Walla Walla University. What inspired you to teach in Pohnpei? I’ve always wanted to go overseas as a student missionary but that sentiment was intensified when Maddy [Baird] left us her beautiful legacy. Why do you think WWU students should be missionaries? The adventure and personal fulfillment is inexplicable, as well as the opportunity to be the change.

What did an ordinary day as a teacher look like? There was no ordinary day. Every day was a surprise in terms of a new class I had to teach for either that day or that week, events that I had to organize, or music programs I had to lead. My main goal for each day was to keep the students interested and involved in the subjects/events. Spiritually, how did teaching have an impact in your life? Teaching made me connect with kids that came from all kinds of backgrounds. I saw how broken some of my students were, and how desperately they sought fulfillment, some in godly ways and others in destructive ways. That truly made me realize how much humanity needs a savior, and how now more than ever we need to seek the kingdom and shed our light. How would you describe your experience in one word? Explain. Growth. Most times if not all, it is necessary to be completely selfless. Sometimes you might feel underappreciated and overworked, but the joy of seeing your student march down the aisle at graduation is immeasurable.

What is the most remarkable memory you have from Pohnpei? The sound of my students singing together in chapel. Nothing like soulful young voices harmonizing in worship. I get goosebumps everytime I reminisce. If there is something you could bring back with you from Pohnpei, what would it be? All of my students, I miss them all. Also, If I could, the entire island of Antatoll. It is paradise. What did you miss about the United States while you were away? Now that you are back in Walla Walla, what do you miss the most about Pohnpei? I really missed warm showers, and accessibility to resources. Now that I am back, I miss the simplicity of life on the islands. Looking forward, how do you think this experience helped you reach your future goals? Other than equipping me to handle high-stress situations and making me a much more flexible person, this experience made me realize that I can achieve more than I find myself capable of. Also, leadership skills galore.

JENNIFER SOUSA

FASHION LIFE 13

STUDENT STYLE: KRISTINA KOZAKOVA

SENATE This week, Senate had three bills in old business and five bills in new business.

ANGELICA CHAN FASHION WRITER

elcome to Student Style, where we explore Walla Walla students’ unique style and fashion choices. Today, we have Kristina Kozakova, a senior international communications major with Hispanic emphasis and a music minor. I asked to interview Kristina because she always looks so classy and put-together. What do you do for fun—do you have any unique hobbies or interests? I've been heavily involved with music through school, but I still like to do it outside of school too. I also enjoy traveling and hanging out with friends. Do you have any fashion icons? They’ve changed throughout my life, but my number one icon for the last five years has been Olivia Palermo. I love her style. I constantly look up her outfits on Pinterest because she’s so classy yet she manages to innovate so many classic looks like the black dress. She put something together with it that you just didn’t expect, but it’s still understated. How would you describe your sense of style? I wear things I think look good on me, and that I feel comfortable in. I don’t think I’m really fashion forward—stores like Forever 21 stress me out. I really like feminine things and classic styles. What are your favorite trends right now? Do you follow trends? I like how other people look in trendy things, but I don’t think I’m a very trendy person. I definitely follow trends in fashion magazines and on Pinterest. I really like the minimalist and monochromatic styles that have been popular lately.

If you could raid anyone’s closet, who would it be and why? Emma Stone, Olivia Palermo, and Emma Watson. I especially love Emma Stone’s red carpet outfits. I love red carpet gowns. I’ll probably never have an occasion to wear them, but I love looking at them.

OLD BUSINESS F.L. 12 - Tim Wise Event Expenses G.L. 16 - Campaigning in the Dorm (amended) These bills were passed.

Where are the items in your outfit from? Shoes: DSW, Jeans: H&M, Sweater: Aerie, Shirt: H&M

G.L. 17 - A Change to Cyclical Hiring This bill was tabled for a week.

Why did you choose this particular outfit? (Were you influenced by the weather, schedule, etc.) Today was a lazy day, and this was a baggy shirt, so I felt comfy in it. I wear this sweater a lot, and I just like how it looks. My mom always tried to teach me that you won’t have any difficulty choosing an outfit if you have a good base of things to choose from, so I’ve been trying to get rid of stuff and buy things I know I’ll like for a long time.

new BUSINESS F.L. 13 - Pool Cues for the SAC G.L. 18 - Abolishment of the Media Board

Where do you like to shop? I like a lot of places, but a lot of them are expensive. My favorite store right now is probably H&M—I have so many things from them. I’ll never leave that store without buying something. I also really like Loft, Zara, and ASOS. And Old Navy. Don’t sleep on Old Navy. What fashion advice would you give to other students looking to improve their style? Less is more, and I don’t mean that as in less clothes. I think people underestimate classic styles—things that have been proven to look good on people for ages. Also, I think knowing the philosophy that you can never be overdressed isn’t true, but it’s always good to look a little better than you may have planned. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to dress up more often. Try to wear sweatpants and leggings less as you move on from college. But if it’s your thing, do what suits you. It’s important to be comfortable and not try to be like someone you’re not. Just choose something you really like wearing.

G.L. 19 - Disciplinary Process Rework G.L. 20 - Hiring Process Deviations G.L. 21 - Amending Job Descriptions

If you have any questions about these bills, contact your senator. More information will be available in your Senate update email! ANGELICA CHAN

14 PERSPECTIVE SCIENCE & RESPONSE

FEYERABEND: CATALYZING CREATIVITY IN SCIENCE JORDAN BROOKS SCIENCE WRITER

hen you hear the word “science,” a number of things probably come to mind: a Bunsen burner aflame beneath a redhot crucible; harmfully colored liquids being shifted from one container to the next as they mysteriously change hue; multiple iterations of meticulous measurements being made on a boring black benchtop. No matter the visual, science seems to scream of tedium and suffocate its practitioners in its careful methodology. But is this colloquial vision of science an appropriate definition? Like many abstract ideas, science is hard to define, and scientists and philosophers have argued over its definition for decades. A common, generalcollege-course textbook typically defines science by its methodology. In other words, things that are scientific follow the scientific method, which is purported to be a universal, failsafe way to objectively answer a question. While this definition is a good approximation for the majority of scientific work, a closer look at scientific discoveries throughout history that have shifted the way we view reality depict the unpredictable and creative methods used to break into new paradigms. Paul Feyerabend is the philosophical champion of arguing against any scientific method proposed to define science. In his book "Against Method," Feyerabend states, “Science is essentially an anarchic enterprise,” and then goes on to defend this stance through historical examples. One of the main ideas that Feyerabend’s argument hinges on is a critique of what is called the consistency criterion. The consistency criterion suggests that new scientific theories need to jive with old scientific theories. For instance, Einsteinian physics explains phenomena described in Newtonian physics in addition to its explanation of previously unexplained phenomena. Feyerabend turns to the trial of Galileo as a case study against the consistency criterion. In his time, Galileo was a proponent of new ideas that did not jive with the old ideas, so according to the consistency criterion, Galileo was not being very scientific. In addition, he was using the newly developed and little understood telescope to support his claims. It is as though Galileo was essentially saying, “The telescope shows that everything we know about the universe is wrong,” but he did not provide evidence for why the telescope should even be trusted. Because of this, Feyerabend notes, “The

church at the time of Galileo was much more faithful to reason than Galileo himself, and also took into consideration the ethical and social consequences of Galileo's doctrine.” In hindsight, we simplify Galileo’s story and praise him for his genius and condemn the church for its intellectual shackles; however, if he were making the same claims today about a new discovery, who is to say we would believe him? After all, he used unconventional tools and seemingly illogical reasoning to argue something outside of his current paradigm. It seems the process through which reality-shattering discoveries are made is not consistent. You can’t think outside the box if you presume the box is the only thing that exists. Science is a creative endeavor, and because of this, Feyerabend argues science needs more theoretical anarchy so that institutional rules or guidelines won’t cripple science by not allowing scientists to think and experiment creatively. Perhaps Feyerabend is a bit extreme in his view of science. After all, consistency is one of the reasons science holds so much weight in truth determination. However, it seems important to remember his push to catalyze more a creative approach to analyze the natural world, especially because this is often left out of science education.

TIM WISE RESPONSE Scott Bieber Chief of Police City of Walla Walla (509) 527-3757

ast night, April 26th, I attended the lecture put on by Tim Wise entitled "White Lies Matter." As you might imagine, in my position as a police chief, I was very curious as to what Mr. Wise had to say about the criminal justice system and more specifically about the men and women who put on the uniform as police officers. I’ve read and heard other individuals speak on this topic who vilify those of us who have chosen law enforcement as our profession, so I was very interested Mr. Wise’s thoughts. Although I wouldn’t mind having more in depth conversations with Mr. Wise about one or two of his assertions, overall I was very impressed with his level of knowledge and how he presented the material. His information challenged me to think not only about the last 32 years and my career in law enforcement, but also about

LONGING FOR A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO RACISM CARL P. COSAERT CONTRIBUTING WRITER

am opposed to racism. It does not matter what country, culture, or ethnic group in which it occurs—past, present, or future—all forms of racism are wrong—period! It is for this reason that as Chair of the Faculty last year, I supported President John McVay's decision to found the Donald Blake Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Culture. This last week I also gladly supported the suggestion that the School of Theology, like many other departments on our campus, encourage our students to attend the center’s inaugural lecture last Thursday night by offering colloquium credit. I had never heard of Dr. George Yancey before, but that did not matter. I assumed the presentation would move our campus forward in a positive manner against racism. Unfortunately, after attending the lecture, I found myself conflicted about what I heard, and ultimately disappointed—so much so that I made an appointment to talk about my concerns with Dr. Timothy Golden, the director of the Blake center, and with Dr. Pedrito Maynard-Reid, who is in charge of the diversity council. The overall goal behind Dr. Yancey’s presentation was to identify the ongoing challenge of the presence of racism in the

United States in the 21st century. He wanted the audience to understand that there is no such thing as bad or good white Americans, and that to be white is to be racist. He wanted us to look in the mirror to see where we subconsciously hold or express racist ideas ourselves—even here on the campus of WWU. In doing that, he said WWU could become a safe place where “we can dwell near each other.” While I long for WWU to be that kind of place, unfortunately, I feel that the way in which Dr. Yancey presented the topic largely negated the purpose of his presentation. Instead of confronting the problems of racism and providing helpful solutions on how people from all racial backgrounds can move forward in restoration and unity, his presentation veered into somewhat of an excessive, profanity-filled harangue against whiteness. No, I do not support the horrible letters sent to Dr. Yancey. They are appalling. But I also do not agree with Yancy’s conclusion when he said in response to those letters, “That is white America.” Making such generalizations about all white people and identifying the problem as “whiteness” does not solve the problem—it only made him sound racist himself. That sort of talk only stirs up strife and division and leads to the building of walls instead of bridges. While the hate mail he received obviously represents the views of

the organization I lead, the Walla Walla Police Department, and its practices and policies. I appreciated Mr. Wise acknowledging that most people in law enforcement are not bad people, and that they really want to do the right thing. I too acknowledge that the history of policing, even recent history, has been abysmal, from its origin as slave patrols to the actions of Bull Conner in Birmingham during the Civil Rights movement, to the shooting of Tamir Rice in Cleveland. Those of us in criminal justice leadership positions certainly owe it to our communities to find the correct policing balance between guardian and warrior—with a much heavier emphasis on the guardian side. Thank you to Walla Walla University and everyone who played a part in bringing Mr. Wise to our community for this lecture. I know it is never easy or inexpensive to get nationally acclaimed people to our community to speak. Travel logistics alone can sometimes be challenging. I applaud Walla Walla University’s administration, faculty, staff and students for their efforts in bringing about thought, introspection, and conversation about difficult and sometimes emotionally charged topics like race and criminal justice in America.

some white people, they do not represent my views, nor do they represent the views of many white people from across this country, or the feelings of all the white people on this campus. Please do not misunderstand me on this point. I am not trying to defend “white culture” or trying to rewrite or gloss over the ugly chapters of American history—or even the faulty history of the church. There are many things we should all be ashamed of—things that should never be repeated. Dr. Yancey was right in saying that we need to tell the truth. But the truth is that the problem of racism is rooted in something that goes far deeper than the color of our skin. It is the condition of our hearts—a condition that the Bible calls sin. Unfortunately, this was exactly what was missing from the presentation. To limit the problem to whiteness ultimately downplays the real problem of racism. It masks the far deeper problem of sin that infects all of us. To limit it to whiteness only perpetuates the problem by planting the seeds of anger and hatred of blacks towards whites for the way they have been treated, and whites toward blacks for feeling attacked. The only real solution resides in the healing, cleansing, and change of heart that can be found in Jesus Christ—the other element missing from Thursday night’s discussion. We saw a glimpse of a Christian approach to racism last February from Pastor Terrance Taylor during the MLK convocation. If we are really going to move forward in confronting the problems of racism, we need to hear more of that in the future from the Blake Center.

COLUMN & INFO PERSPECTIVE 15

ITEMS THAT HOLD THINGS TOGETHER: A REVIEW JONI HARRIS COLUMNIST

Paperclips

Magnets

The good: Paperclips are great for small stacks of paper, they are lightweight, fit in a pant pocket, and are inexpensive in bulk. Can be used to get the sim card out of your iPhone. Available at all office supply stores. The bad: Once untwisted they are impossible to return to a perfect coil. They are also easily breakable. Can’t hold a large ream of paper together. The score: 5/10

The good: Don’t leave any holes or residue on the surface, come in many different shapes and sizes, they never weaken. Available at most office supply stores The bad: Not always strong enough, can be difficult to pry apart, may mess with certain types of technology. The score: 6/10

Tapes The good: Very sticky, available at all office supply stores, comes in a variety of colors and strengths. The bad: Can be expensive, some kinds require or function better, with a dispenser. Can be hard to get off some surfaces such as glass. Doesn’t adhere to all surfaces. The score: 9/10

Tacks The good: Great for a corkboard, sturdy. Available at all office supply stores. The bad: Hard to decipher between a push pin and a thumb tack, leaves a hole in the surface, the user of the tack may injure themselves fairly easily. The score: 4/10

Rubber Bands The good: Stretchy, come in different sizes and colors, very versatile. Available at all office supply stores. The bad: Can weaken in the sun or with age, is most often misused as a weapon in office tomfoolery. The score: 8/10

Staples The good: Sturdy and small, available at all office supply stores. Aids in flipping through sequentially organized paper. The bad: Requires a dispenser, can lead to injuries, intended only for paper like materials, only works on small stacks of paper. Can’t be undone without damage. The score: 3/10

Have you been a victim of sexual misconduct? We can help. Title IX Coordinator Team (509) 527-2141 (509) 527-2539 (971) 400-6672

JENNIFER CARPENTER COORDINATOR KRISTEN TAYLOR DEPUTY COORDINATOR ANNETTE RIEBE DEPUTY COORDINATOR Provides services and advocacy to Walla Walla University students, employees and visitors. Contact titleix@wallawalla.edu.

Campus Counseling and Health Clinic (509) 527-2147 (509) 527-2425

COUNSELING SERVICES HEALTH SERVICES Provides confidential counseling and medical services for Walla Walla University students and employees.

Off-Campus Resources (509) 529-9922 (800) 656-4673

YWCA 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE Provides confidential assistance for victims of sexual misconduct.

Campus Security (509) 527-2222 Provides on-campus protection, reporting and safety escort services.

Walla Walla University encourages all students, faculty, staff, and visitors to report instances of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct is a crime as well as a violation of WWU policy. You can use one of the reporting methods outlined below if you are a victim of sex discrimination or sexual misconduct or if you are a third party who is aware of sexual misconduct. Amnesty Policy An individual or bystander acting in good faith to report any incidents of sex discrimination or sexual misconduct to university officials or law enforcement will not be subject to disciplinary action per Walla Walla University’s Student Code of Conduct or Employee Handbook for violations of alcohol and/or other drug use policies occurring at or near the time of the incident.

Title IX Coordinator You may also report issues to the Title IX coordinator Jennifer Carpenter, who can be reached at titleix@wallawalla.edu or (509) 527-2141 or after hours at (509) 527-2222. The deputy Title IX coordinators, Kristen Taylor and Annette Riebe, are also available for reporting.

Off-Campus Off-campus counselors, advocates, and health care providers will also generally maintain confidentiality and will not share information with the university unless you request disclosure and sign a consent or waiver form. To report to someone off campus, contact the YWCA Crisis Center at (509) 529-9922.

Local Law Enforcement Call 911 or contact your local law enforcement.

Scan the QR code or go to wallawalla.edu/title-ix to view the Walla Walla University Title IX policy and to learn more about your reporting options. Ron Swanson - Vegetables on Vimeo

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KANYE WEST CONTEXT 13

ZOMBIES. LAUREN WAHLEN BACKPAGE WRITER

i, I’m Lauren Wahlen, and I’m obsessed with zombies. Not in a Tina Belcher kind of way, as in, I’m not...attracted to them or anything too weird...1 it’s just like, I can’t stop wondering if there’s any way for me to increase my chances of surviving a zombie apocalypse. I blame my obsession on this one dude I was seated next to on a seven-hour flight my freshman year. He warned me that he was about to watch as much of "The Walking Dead" as he could fit into this one flight, because his wife wasn’t okay with him watching it at home. Little meek and mild freshman Lauren was trying to play it cool,2 so I went the extra mile by assuring him that it was totally fine, I loved the show actually, it’s so good, feel free to watch it. I had never seen it before, and I couldn’t help but watch with silent horror/ fascination as I was introduced to the idea of a post-apocalyptic world for the very first time. How did the same four people survive all those zombies? Where did that guy learn

to shoot a crossbow? And how did everyone’s eyebrows look so on point if they didn’t have any tweezers? I realized I was gonna need to start researching, just on the off-chance I ever found myself vis-à-vis with a zombie. Throughout the rest of my college career, I’ve managed to do quite a bit of research on the topic. By research, I mean watch a lot of zombie movies. But it counts in my book, because a little over a month ago, I was able to maintain a 20-minute conversation on post-apocalyptic survival with my towtruck driver (it was a weird convo, but it was better than just talking about the weather or whatever). Since I’m a bit of an expert in this arena (again, by expert I mean TWD fan), I’ve decided that I’ll share part of my survival plan with you guys because the thought of me and my tow-truck driver (he had a disturbingly thorough plan) being the only survivors of the zombie apocalypse is lowkey bumming me out. #extrovert #zombiesdontmakegoodconversationalists Stuff n’ Things: If running into your ex at Walmart is the thing you’re most afraid of, you’re probs not down for facing a Walmart

full of zombies. And I’m pretty sure that would happen, considering they have basically everything there. So if you don’t want to die, you shouldn’t risk it. Just stock up on your fave things now, and you have nothing to worry about. What things do you need to survive? My list is: food (duh) and chapstick. I can’t survive a perfect world without chapstick, let alone a world full of zombies. Oh, and maybe some gas. And a weapon or two. I haven’t spent nearly as much time thinking about this as I previously thought. Weapons: I don’t have a lot of experience when it comes to combat, unless we’re talking laser tag, in which case I’m amazing. Now, will my superior laser tag skills help me survive the apocalypse? No. But will it at least make me look cool? Probably not. So I need to start prepping and practicing with an actual weapon because, as we all know, weapons are pointless if you don’t know how to use them...except for arrows. Get it? Pointless? ‘Cause arrows have points? No? OK. Bad joke, my bad. Squad: A friend group is much different than a survival group. In a friend group you

Hey, you guys! You know the drill. First one to email me the lie gets a free Atlas drink. WWU was the only Adventist college to be vegetarian from its very beginning. College Place had a smallpox epidemic in 1903. WWU’s college bakery closed down in 1966.

Although when I was in the 3rd grade, I did have a

crush on this boy who kinda gave off zombie vibes (he

smelled bad, walked around aimlessly, and growled a lot). Don’t judge me; he had a really cool backpack. Now that I’m thinking about it, maybe I just liked his backpack.

I didn’t have a good track record of successfully playing

it cool, but that didn’t stop me from trying. I’ve since given up. 3

I tried to learn, but I gave up ‘cause I talk fast, and it was

too frustrating not being able to say all the things in my brain! Plus, my spelling sucks. It just isn’t for me.

VERBATIM

TWO TRUTHS

& A LIE

have fun, in a survival squad you kill zombies and try not to die. So start looking for people that will help you not die. That weird guy in policy class who knows everything about plants? He just might save you from eating a poisonous berry one day. That obnoxious girl in econ who somehow knows Morse code? She might help you call for help when you need it.3 Just make sure you don’t get too close to any of them, because if you end up besties and they become a zombie and they try to eat your brain, that would not be #bffgoals.

"Who's your daddy?" — Professor Monty Buell, during a conversation about '80s music “Adventists are like manure. They pile up and they stink. You gotta spread them out.” — Professor Pedrito Maynard-Reid, talking about Ellen White’s plea to move headquarters from Battle Creek. *sliding his head against the wall* “Now, imagine my head is a sperm head" — Professor David Lindsey, while imitating how the sperm get into an egg 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, 'cause who wants to do that? But help a sister out, would ya?

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