Issue 14

Ne w s p a p e r o f Wa l l a Wa l l a U n i v e r s i t y

Collegian The

Volume 102 | Issue 14

DNA pg. 4

“I need someone to procure me a male.”

- Kate Beckner

February 8, 2018

Collegian Wisdom | Senate | Jobs | History | Religion | Media+Tech | Science | Feature | Week in Forecast | Food | Culture | Lifestyle | Outdoors | Opinion | Elections | Poll

THE PRESSURE IS REAL: FINDING “THE ONE” AT AN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY

Last Things First college place, wa | walla walla university

| February 2018 Issue 14

I Quit

By Meghann Heinrich Like many of you, I am hoping to graduate at some point. After that, my plans become infinitely less concrete.

I’d like to be hired somewhere—that much is certain. I’d really like to do something that remotely relates to my degree, but that is negotiable. I imagine I’ll work a handful of entry-level jobs, but I know that at some point, through circumstances beyond my control, I will need to quit. Best case scenario: I quit because I finally get recognized as the long-lost Irwin child, then move to Australia to hang out with Bindi, Robert and Terri and wrestle some crocs. It may be premature, but I’ve gone ahead and drafted a letter of resignation for when the time comes. For those of you who haven’t written your own letters of resignation yet, I encourage you to keep this one on file in case you need to use it on short notice.

Hey Thanks!

“Thank you Super Bowl Sunday for clearing out the library; I’ve never been so productive” “Thank you poo-berry tree for making the walk from the cafeteria to Rigby a little more interesting.”

“Thank you Buzzfeed for taking the time to make a vegetable puzzle quiz; without you I could never brag about my vegetable knowledge without coming off a little extra.”

To whom it may concern, Let it be known that on this day, the fourth of February in the year 2018, I quit.

Shocking, I know, and no doubt a blow to the morale of our company. Nonetheless, I will be taking my leave post-haste. My reasons for resigning are threefold and given in detail below.

Contact me via carrier pigeon. (WIKIPEDIA)

Continuing to do this job hinders me from pursuing my true passion: endorsing LinkedIn connections for “fire breathing.”

I know what you are thinking: “Couldn’t

she do both?” The answer is no. No, because when you are truly passionate about something, you don’t split your focus; you give it your all. Like Michael Scott of “The Office” said when he quoted Wayne Gretzky in episode 23 of season 5, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” I have over 150 LinkedIn connections, and a mere two have been endorsed for fire-breathing.

This endorsement could be what gives them the edge over other applicants. I owe it to them, and I owe it to me.

I don’t think I am what this company needs right now. It really is better this way. I know you’ll miss me—that goes without saying. I know you’ll find someone new, someone better.

Actually, not better—that’d be crazy.

Someone tolerable.

so shocked; it was bound to happen sometime, what with my dazzling skill set and dynamite personality. I’m sure you are wondering who had the nerve to whisk me away. I don’t mean to upset you, but it was SkyMall. They saw value where you only saw a time-wasting affinity for imagining almost-useful gadgets. Well, now I’ve found my calling. Rather, my calling found me.

You should know this wasn’t the most significant reason for my departure (I think that was clearly stated in number one), but it certainly helped.

If you have any further questions, you may contact me via carrier pigeon.

Kind regards, Your Name Here

I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I have been approached by another company with a job offer. Don’t look

Verbatim “I want a wife!”

- Professor Deborah “The Queen” Silva “If you drop the base...”

- Professor Kyle Craig, talking about acids and bases “I missed a parenthesis, I want to jump out the window.”

- Professor Tim Tiffin “Sorry I’ve got to cut class short today to make it to the local chapter meeting of the Illuminati.”

- Professor Terry Gottschall “This is one of those times you should flee like Joseph from Potiphar’s wife.”

- Professor Brent Bergherm

Email your faculty verbatim or thank yous to meghann.heinrich@wallawalla.edu to be featured!

© 2018 KYRA GREYEYES

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February 2018 Issue 14 | walla walla university | college place, wa

Follow Us

Editor-in-Chief Daniella Silva

Twitter

Assistant Editor Kate Beckner

@aswwucollegian

Instagram @aswwucollegian Facebook

Creative Director Kyra GreyEyes

@aswwucollegian

Life Editor Angelica Chan

Contact Us

Backpage Editor Meghann Heinrich

aswwu.collegian@wallawalla.edu

Head Copy Editor Brielle Tym Cover | Sophie Bailey

EDITOR’S NOTE

Writers

Layout Design Sophie Bailey Ashley Henry-Saturne Liam Hirst-Graves Copy Editors Geoffrey Lopes Karli Hart Jocelyn Griffin Office Manager Victoria Ico Distributer Sydney Peck Beau Gerber Advertising Manager Amanda Maizar

Feature Michael Jensen Jake Sloop Cynthia Ochoa Opinion Parker Bailey Savanna Pardo Food & Culture Daphne Novak Hannah Thiel Media & Tech Matt Fennell Outdoor Niqolas Ruud Science Forrest Sheperd History Zachary White Religion Peter Flores The opinions of our writers do not necessarily reflect the views of The Collegian or Walla Walla University.

CAR CRASH

Daniella Silva

By Kate Beckner

Dear Reader, A significant portion of our campus, myself included, will be graduating this year. At this time, it is likely many of us will be having to answer friends and family not only about what we plan to do next, but also who, if anyone, we plan to spend the rest of our lives with. It’s no secret that one of the traditional goals of an Adventist education is finding an “equally-yoked” spouse, and WWU, or should I say, “Western Wedding University,” has built up a pretty good reputation in this regard. However, our feature this week and poll question from last week explore whether or not grad-cap marriages are still seen as the ideal for students today. It also includes interview profiles with two couples and their opinions on marriage after graduation.

Should we still be encouraging students to marry young? You can read the full feature on page 5, and the poll results are included on page 8.

of us. I am personally excited about the candidate pool this year, and I hope you come to the ASWWU Elections CommUnity on Feb. 27. Elections are an important part of the continued legacy of student government at WWU. We hope you can take some time to read the platforms of each individual who is running in order to be well-informed voters in the upcoming primaries! The candidates’ pictures and platforms are featured on page 8.

Some students may already be aware that on Tuesday around 9:20 p.m. Brett Wilson, a senior accounting major here at Walla Walla University, was involved in a rather intense car accident. Thankfully, he and his two passengers only had minor injuries and were relatively unharmed. Unfortunately, those in the other car involved had more serious injuries, however The Collegian does not have information about their current condition.

As usual, please enjoy all your favorite columns and short sections throughout the issue. If you have any questions, comments or article submissions, you can email them to me at aswwu.collegian@wallawalla.edu.

According to Wilson, he was driving on Rose Street towards Taco Bell when he stopped at the red light on 9th Street. He had just started moving after the light changed when he saw a car coming fast from the opposite direction hit a bus. Next thing Wilson knew, he was “hit very hard” and his engine “went up in flames.” His truck was totalled, but he and his passengers, Jordan Lucas and Lindsey Shearer, only suffered minor bruising and whiplash.

Stay snazzy!

Daniella Silva

ASWWU primary elections are coming up on Feb. 20. Last week, The Collegian reached out to each of this year’s candidates to share their platform and vision for next year with all

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“God was looking out for us,” said Wilson. “It was surreal, but at the same time I was very thankful, it was a miracle we were all OK.” We at The Collegian are glad that Wilson and his passengers were kept safe and not seriously injured. *Quoted statements were obtained through text message.

When they got out of the car, they saw the engine from the other car next to his, with Wilson’s license plate embedded in it. The police that came to the scene said that the engine must

TITLE IX GUIDE Consent We know NO MEANS NO. But when it comes to consent, basically anything that isn’t a sober, consensual YES also means NO.

NO MEANS NO AND SO DOES: “I want to go home.”

“You’re not my type.”

(next to Tiki’s)

509-301-7550

have been propelled out of the other car, as witnesses estimated the car going between 80 and 90 mph. The police told them they were lucky to be alive, and he agreed.

“Wait.”

“I’m not in the mood.”

Staying still “I’m not sure.”

SENATE NEW BUSINESS PL28 — Hires for Election Board

“I’d rather be alone.”

PL29 — ASWWU Justices

“I have a girlfriend.”

GL5 — ASWWU TV Removal

“No thanks.”

Not kissing back “Don’t touch me.”

GL6 — Declaration of Candidacy Timeline Correction

“I like you, but...”

“I have a boyfriend.”

Not sure what counts as consent? Ask. If you want to be clear about consent: ■ Talk with your RA or dean.

■ Contact the Counseling and Testing Center: (509) 527-2147.

■ Contact the Title IX coordinator: titleix@wallawalla.edu.

Learn more at wallawalla.edu/titleix.

COLLEGIAN WISDOM Nearly 40 Condoms Given To Each Athlete At ‘SexuallyCharged’ Winter Olympics, Setting New Record

OLD BUSINESS FL12 — Speakers for Battle of the Bands (Passed) GL4 — Large Project Modification (Passed) FL13 — Journalism Convention Proposal (Tabled Indefinitely)

Thank you!

Senate meets Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. in WEC 217

But the Olympics are only for 16 days….

Tide Pods Must Be Changed To Be Less Delicious Looking, Lawmakers Say Because who doesn’t love the taste of chemicals foaming in their mouth?

Dog Steals Pancake, Starts Small Fire, Naps Me on a Sunday.

Heart-Stopping Arrow Poison Could Be the Key to Male Birth Control If you kill the man, he can’t get you pregnant.

Nintendo Finally Talks About Mario’s Nipples Nipplegate begins again.

ASWWU JOBS Marketing Graphic Designer Media Distributor

Global Service Marketing Officer

college place, wa, walla walla university

| February 2018 Issue 14

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HISTORY PERCEPTIONS ON DARWIN

Charles Darwin

The humble plant-collector who accidently turned the world upside down.

By Zachary White During my 16 years of Seventh-day Adventist education, I am not sure if I have come across a person more historically misunderstood by our community than Charles Darwin. When I was in middle school, the general reactions of vitriol, fear and intolerance which followed his name began to fascinate me, so around sixth or seventh grade, I checked out a nonfiction young adult book at the library titled “Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith” by Deborah Heiligman. The book detailed the courtship and marriage of Charles Darwin and his devoutly religious wife, Emma Wedgwood Darwin, as well as their discussions and struggles regarding faith in God. I enjoyed the book immensely and, since then, have been intrigued by Darwin as a historical figure. His life is a truly remarkable story of how a humble and cautious man who had studied theology at Cambridge in preparation for the priesthood became one of the most influential figures in human history. 1 His birthday, on Feb. 12—209 years ago next Monday— makes this week an appropriate time to reflect on the man whose theory of evolution by natural selection became the unifying theory of the life sciences, including biology, bioengineering, agriculture, zoology, anatomy, genetics and medicine. 2,3 Darwin’s groundbreaking theory, published in his 1859 book “On the Origin of Species,” can be roughly explained by a few basic principles: (1) more individuals are produced each generation than can survive, (2) variation occurs among offspring, some of which is heritable, (3) individuals with traits most suited to their environment will have a greater likelihood of survival and (4) isolation in reproduction will result in the creation of new species. 4 Darwin based this theory off of the immense amount of data he collected on his five-year voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, beginning in 1831.

Darwin’s time spent in the Galapagos Islands was particularly influential, as he carefully noted the variations and similarities between the various bird and reptile species on each island. 5 To me, one of the starkest misunderstandings of Charles Darwin as a historical figure seems to be about his character. Portrayals of Darwin as a strident, prideful or conniving man hell-bent on destroying Christianity are common but historically baseless. Regarding religion, Darwin was engaged in a lifelong faith journey that involved frustration, doubt and searching. Many scholars pinpoint the death of his beloved nine-year-old daughter, Annie,

in 1851 as a turning point in Darwin’s religious development. In a letter later in life, Darwin, once devoutly religious, wavered even in his admittance that he was an agnostic: “[W]hether a man deserves to be called a theist depends on the definition of the term: which is much too large a subject for a note. In my most extreme fluctuations I have never been an atheist in the sense of denying the existence of a God. I think that generally (and more and more so as I grow older) but not always, that an agnostic would be the most correct description of my state of mind.” 6 He did not take the implications of his work lightly and once compared the difficulty of sharing his iconoclastic theory to confessing to murder. 7 In an 1860 letter, Darwin wrote in more detail on his personal struggle to reconcile God and evolution: “With respect to the theological view of the question; this is always painful to me. I am bewildered. I had no intention to write atheistically. But I own that I cannot see, as plainly as others do, and as I wish to do, evidence of design and beneficence on all sides of us. There seems to me too much misery in the world. I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the Ichneumonidæ with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of caterpillars, or that a cat should play with mice. Not believing this, I see no necessity in the belief that the eye was expressly designed.

On the other hand I cannot anyhow be contented to view this wonderful universe and especially the nature of man, and to conclude that everything is the result of brute force. I am inclined to look at everything as resulting from designed laws, with the details, whether good or bad, left to the working out of what we may call chance. Not that this notion at all satisfies me. I feel most deeply that the whole subject is too profound for the human intellect.

A dog might as well speculate on the mind of Newton. Let each man hope and believe what he can.” 8 In 1871, Darwin delved even further into controversy with the publication of his second masterpiece, “The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex,” which ambitiously explores evolutionary psychology and ethics and famously posits the theory of common ancestry between humans and the great apes (hominidae). Because of Darwin’s position as a historically-misunderstood figure and also because of his skill as a writer, I am compelled to include more excerpts from Darwin’s own writing. The follow-

ing passage is from my favorite section of “The Descent of Man.” In it, Darwin describes the pitfalls of humanity’s higher brain functions.

“The same high mental faculties which first lead man to believe in unseen spiritual agencies, the in fetishism, polytheism, and ultimately in monotheism, would infallibly lead him, as long as his reasoning powers remained poorly developed, to various strange superstitions and customs. Many of these are terrible to think of—such as the sacrifice of human beings to a blood-loving god; the trial of innocent persons by the ordeal of poison or fire; witchcraft, etc.—yet it is well occasionally to reflect on these superstitions, for they show us what an infinite debt of gratitude we owe to the improvement of our reason, to science, and our accumulated knowledge. As Sir J. Lubbock had well observed, ‘it is not too much to say that Charles Darwin, 1868. Julia Margaret Cameron. (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS) the horrible dread of unknown evil hangs like a thick cloud over savage 1. https://www.newscientist.com/round-up/darlife and embitters every pleasure.’ forms, so different from each other, win-200/ These miserable and indirect conseand dependent on each other in so 2. https://www.biologycorner.com/lesson-plans/evoluquences of our highest faculties may complex a manner, have all been protion-taxonomy/evolution-notes/ be compared with the incidental and duced by laws acting around us. These 3. http://education.seattlepi.com/two-great-unifyoccasional mistakes if the instincts of laws, taken in the largest sense, being ing-theories-biology-6708.html the lower animals.” 9 Growth with Reproduction; Inheritance 4. https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~mcclean/plsc431/ which is almost implied by reproducPerhaps the most beautiful popgen/popgen5.htm tion; Variability from the indirect and passage of Darwin’s writing comes 5. https://www.britannica.com/biography/ direct action of the external ditions of from the final lines of “On The Origin Charles-Darwin life, and from use and disuse; a Ratio of of Species.” Using the example of a 6. https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/DCPIncrease so high as to lead to a Struggle riverbank brimming with life, Darwin LETT-12041.xml for Life, and as a consequence to writes that there is “grandeur” in the 7. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ Natural Selection, entailing Divergence perspective that all life is connected. charles-darwin-confessions/ of Character and the Extinction of While many Christians have been 8. https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/DCPless-improved forms. Thus, from the able to make their peace with Darwin, LETT-2814.xml war of nature, from famine and death, some never will. However, as I read 9. http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?pagthe most exalted object which we are the following lines, I cannot help but eseq=1&itemID=F937.1&viewtype=text capable of conceiving, namely, the prothink that a common ground might be 10. http://darwin-online.org.uk/Varioduction of the higher animals, directly found between all those who look upon rum/1872/1872-429-c-1861.html follows. There is grandeur in this view nature in awe and reverence, whether of life, with its several powers, having they are secular or religious. been originally breathed into a few “It is interesting to contemplate forms or into one; and that, whilst this an entangled bank, clothed with many planet has gone cycling on according to plants of many kinds, with birds singthe fixed law of gravity, from so simple ing on the bushes, with various insects a beginning endless forms most beautiflitting about, and with worms crawling ful and most wonderful have been, and Zachary White is a double history through the damp earth, and to reflect are being, evolved.” 10 and sociology major. that these elaborately constructed

RELIGION WOMEN & ADVENTISM

Party Like It’s 1915

Adventist Women in Leadership

By Peter Flores Two years ago, I ran for ASWWU Spiritual Vice President and won in a year when three out of four positions were filled by men. Last year all four positions were won by men. This year, however, we have an exciting opportunity before us: every single elected ASWWU position could go to a woman.

In fact, by default, two out of the four positions—Social Vice President and Spiritual Vice President—will be filled by women since they are the only ones running. I’m not sure, but I think that this could be the first time ASWWU had an all-women cabinet. Disclaimer: I am not advocating support for any specific candidates, I’m just making an exciting observation.

The last time that ASWWU had a female president was in 2012. The first time that a woman was ASWWU

Ellen White. (WHITE ESTATE)

or ASWWC President was most likely in 1980. I say “most likely” because I’m not sure about the gender of some of the names, but, assuming my guesses are right, the first female President was elected in 1980, and since then there have been a total of eight female Presidents of ASWWU. Considering ASWWU/ASWWC has had 95 total presidents, eight isn’t anything to be excited about. However, times are changing, and I don’t think we have seen the last of female representation in leadership.

In 1827, one of the most prominent Seventh-day Adventist leaders, Ellen Harmon, was born. From the start, she struggled because of gender; her own family expressed their alarm at her wanting to preach and publicly share her visions. Her brother begged

her not to “disgrace the family” by speaking in public. 1 Through the years, she advocated for women in the Adventist church and continued to do so up until her death. She said, “It was Mary who first preached a risen Jesus; and the refining, softening influence of Christian women is needed in the great work of preaching the truth now.” 2 White’s work did not go without success. In 1905, women held 20 out of 60 conference treasurer positions; in 1915 women held about two-thirds of all educational department positions, and 50 out of the 60 Sabbath School departments. White also impacted the number of Adventist women with ministerial credentials. Between 1884 and 1975, about 50 women were licensed as ministers. The cutoff of these numbers came in the late 1970s with the first questions about women’s ordination. Although the cutoff is sad, I still would never have ex- Sandra Roberts. (ESCOGIDAS PARA SERVIR) pected it to be the case that women were prominent leaders in the early history on the issue of women’s ordination century should be a benchmark for us. of the Adventist church. It makes me in respect to sections of the church It is most assuredly possible to relive think that when people mention going making their own decisions about the times of our rich history where back to historic Adventism, maybe they it. Whether or not you agree with women were represented equally in all are thinking of having more women in her being in the position, you should Adventist leadership roles. leadership roles. 3 realize that the last hundred years [1] The rise and fall of Adventist women in leadership. Article by Kit Watts (1975) Adventist Review have been steps backward for the The speculated reason as to Adventist church in terms of gender [2] White, Ellen “Daughters of God.” Review and why women were in so many leaderHerald, 1998. equality. Women have had to fight for ship roles in 1915 was the size of the [3] ibid church. There were fewer than 137,000 positions they currently hold while being members of a male-dominated members worldwide and women made [4] Sandra Roberts Becomes First Woman Conferdenomination. 5 ence President27 October 2013 | JARED WRIGHT up a larger proportion of the church leadership. Now, 103 years later, it really is hard to see the former strength of female leadership in the church.

Sandy Roberts, the current president of the Southeastern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, is the only woman in that role in North America. 4 Not only that, but she is kind of there illegally. The position is supposed to be held by an ordained minister, but since she is a woman, she can’t technically be ordained because of the “no” vote in the summer of 2015

That’s the reason that the prospect of having an all-women leadership team on ASWWU is so exciting. We’d be making history for our university, and we’d be making a statement to our church. Whether an all-women ASWWU executive team happens this year or some year in the future, I am of the opinion that times are changing rapidly, and more opportunities for equality in our church will develop.

Seeing the kind of female leadership that was witnessed in the early 20th

(Spectrum Magazine)

[5] The rise and fall of Adventist women in leadership. Article by Kit Watts (1975) Adventist Review

Peter Flores is a theology major.

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February 2018 Issue 14 | walla walla university | college place, wa

MEDIA/TECH TV, MOVIE, GAMES, PODCASTS

Art is Dead, the Sunshine Killed It

By Matt Fennell

Hey, wow! It’s February! For a minute, January felt like it was never going to end. Before we go on, a disclaimer: I started writing this week’s column on Feb. 2, which was a massively dark, dismal and damp day.

I thought I’d theme my reviews around the gray part of the year that usually lasts until about mid-February and did my best to talk about the sad, kind-ofdowner aspects of the stuff that I’ve been enjoying recently. The whole idea was inconsistent and half-baked, but I’d been reading a whole bunch of books with lots of layers and metaphors again, and decided that it might be fun to try to make some Art. When I submitted my masterpiece to the editors on the 4th, it was actually super sunny and warm outside. “No problem,” I thought, “it’ll be gray tomorrow.” This week then proceeded to be absolutely beautiful, which left me feeling torn between joy (at this sudden wonderful turn in the weather) and disappointment (at the weather for refusing to play ball with my bummer article). So at the absolute last minute, I’ve ditched all my artsy-fartsy melancholic symbolism and, without further ado, here’s another grab-bag of reviews of things that I like. Enjoy!

“Celeste”

Woah, a video game! It’s only taken 14 issues for me to write a real-deal, actual review (not a preview or cursory mention) of a video game that you can play right now. “Celeste” is a new game from Matt Thorson (“Towerfall”) and Noel Berry, available on all current-gen consoles and PC 1 for the extremely reasonable price of $19.99. “Celeste” is a mountain climbing game that is sort of a fusion of “Ice Climber,” “Super Meat Boy” and the dungeons from old Zelda games.

You play as Madeline, a college-aged

redheaded girl (represented in-game with both a high-res portrait and a neat little stylized chunk of pixels), who is determined to summit the mysterious and possibly magical Mt. Celeste. The game plays out across eight chapters as you jump and dash through a series of interconnected “puzzle rooms,” collect strawberries, and interact with a cast of wacky and loveable characters.

In fact, those characters are the reason that this game made my list this week.

I wasn’t expecting it to have a story at all, let alone a story that would keep me thinking about it for hours and hours after each of my play sessions.

Early in the game, Madeline inadvertently shatters a mirror that releases a dark, palette-swapped reflection of herself (normal video game stuff, really). This other Madeline chases her up the mountain, harasses her, slows her down, tells her that she’ll never make it and, perhaps strangest of all, claims that Madeline needs her. Eventually, in what might be the absolute best marriage of a gameplay mechanic and a plot point, Madeline comes up with a plan to deal with this dark, purple-haired doppelganger. What is that plan? Does it work? Is she able to scale Mt. Celeste? You’ll have to play the game and find out for yourself! With an excellent soundtrack, a SNES-era Donkey Kong 2 difficulty curve 3, tons of secrets to find and an excellent message about working through the things we don’t really like about ourselves, “Celeste” is already my favorite game of 2018 and is an absolute must-play.

“Lonesome Dreams” and “Strange Trails” Before I start, I want to ask for forgiveness in advance for what is sure to be the most bizarre music rant I’ve ever written. 4 These two albums from Lord Huron form the bulk of my winter running playlist. 5 They’re melodic and melancholy, a set of character-driven

songs about folks wandering at night through those picturesque deserts that you see in old Roadrunner cartoons or on National Parks Service postcards. I’ve tried to come up with a coherent story to fit these songs—once I even tried to map them out to see if I could make sense of the recurring motifs and themes—but that’s not really how these songs work. They’re not really for thinking about, but for listening to, especially on cold, clear nights. They echo and yawn, and they sound the way that Strange Trails. (ITUNES) looking at a full moon feels. If you don’t believe me, just close your “The Leftovers” eyes and listen. These songs are, What a show. This one had been admittedly, kind of sad, but I think on my list for a while, but I finally sad music can be good to take in and decided to dive into it after Kirk reflect on every once in a while. Taking Hamilton and Jason Schreier gave it a second to step back in any situation a shout-out on their podcast, “Kotaku to think about the things that are scary Splitscreen.” 7 “The Leftovers” is a or stressful or sad is a sort of bad-good three-season HBO show from Damon thing. I think these songs are great for Lindelof, who you might recognize as using as a backdrop for this kind of one of the guys behind “Lost.” “The reflection, and on top of that, they’re Leftovers” takes place three years after just fun to listen to. Rumor is there’s 2 percent of the world’s population a third album coming out soon, 6 so has suddenly and inexplicably disapthere’s no better time than now to peared. Families have been split apart, jump on the bandwagon. Yee-haw! belief systems have been affirmed or shattered and plenty of people have just gone crazy. The show follows Mapleton Police Chief Kevin Garvey’s ongoing battle with the trauma that this mass departure has caused, all while trying to keep a handle on the town’s growing tensions between the police force and a silent, white-clad chain-smoking cult known as the Guilty Remnant. As if this alone wasn’t enough to convince you to watch, “The Leftovers” uses its sensational premise to deal with the everyday issues of grief, belief and pain that we accumulate over the course of a lifetime. There are plenty of issues raised, dozens of questions asked and just the right amount of mysteries left unexplained.

Well, not really “unexplained,” more along the lines of “left up to personal interpretation.” 8 I love this show, and when I finish it, I’m going to write a full series review. Prepare yourselves.

Well, this seems like as good a place as any to wrap up for the week.

As always, thanks for reading, and if you have any comments, questions or concerns, shoot me an email at matthew.fennell@wallawalla.edu. Next week, we talk ancient holy poems and tulips. Spring is almost here!

[1] You’ll need a controller; this game is a nightmare with keyboard controls.

[2] “Celeste” is just about the same difficulty level as “Donkey Kong Country 2,” my third-favorite video game of all time: punishing, but doable and fair.

[3] There are dozens of difficulty settings and assist options to make the game enjoyable for people of all skill levels. Don’t let a lack of video game experience deter you from experiencing this amazing game.

[4] At least until I finally finish that “The Suburbs” thesis. Expect that in May. [5] Yes, I have different playlists for running in different seasons. There’s lots of 80’s music in the spring one and lots of fast drums and loud greasy guitars in the summer playlist. Fall is podcasts mostly.

[6] I called a 1-877 number that flashed up in one of their music videos and got a voice clip backed by what sounded like a new single that said all current representatives were busy and that my wait time was four aeons, so who really knows, I guess.

[7] This is definitely one of my favorite podcasts; it’s got all sorts of good video game discussion, banter about football/roombas/the weather and a super jazzy theme song. Give it a listen!

[8] Personal interpretation seems to be one of the major draws of this show. There’s a whole ton of it going on. Reading episode recaps online reminds me of an old joke wherein I’ve got four articles with five different and conflicting interpretations (ba-dum-tish).

Matt Fennell is a computer engineering major.

Celeste. (ITUNES)

SCIENCE GENETICS

Genes: Our Destiny?

By Forrest Sheperd One concept we learn about early in school is DNA. It’s what makes you, you. Sequences of different molecules in a long double helix make up the blueprint of what makes you human and determines your unique characteristics. Something we don’t often hear about, though, is that the nucleotide sequences that make up your genes aren’t the only thing that determines the way you are. This concept is at the heart of a rapidly-developing field of research called epigenetics. The field opens up new grounds for understanding how disease is passed down through generations and, perhaps most importantly, how we can stop it.

How is it that our genes aren’t the only determining factor of our characteristics? We have to first understand that DNA binds with a collection of enzymes that transcribe it into RNA, which carries this “recipe” away to be made into proteins, that will enact the function of the gene. The key here is that enzymes have to bind to the gene in the first place in order for it to be expressed. If this binding doesn’t happen, the gene will remain “silent.”

Every one of your cells has all of your DNA, yet which genes are expressed determines the type of cell it will be and what it does.

Your characteristics are a result of the genes in your body that are expressed in various cells. Even if you have a gene for something bad, it won’t necessarily affect you unless it is expressed. Whether or not genes are expressed is determined by many factors, including the way these sequences are packaged in the cell and whether certain molecules are attached to them. 1 Even though each cell’s DNA could stretch out over six feet end-to-end, it is very tightly folded

into structures inside of the nucleus of the cell, which is only about six microns in diameter. 2 The various ways the DNA is packaged in the cell are controlled by what proteins are attached to the DNA and, therefore, how the DNA folds. This has a major impact on which parts of the DNA, or genes, are expressed or kept silent. 3 The two other major factors affecting gene expression include the presence of molecules called methyl groups added to a cytosine base and certain RNA molecules not involved in coding for proteins, both of which may increase or decrease expression. 4 Decades of epidemiological, clinical and animal studies demonstrate the extensive effect the parental lifestyle, especially the maternal lifestyle during pregnancy, has on the long-term health of the offspring. 5 This effect is most likely due to epigenetic markers changed in response to the environment to which the developing fetus is exposed. 6 The choices your mother made during pregnancy and your choices early on in life are likely the most influential factors for creating epigenetic markers; however, epigenetic markers continue to be changed throughout adulthood, often in response to our environment. 7 This is one of the most exciting aspects of epigenetics, as changing our environment may give us the opportunity to change our gene expression.

What aspects of our environment can influence epigenetic markers? Everything from stress levels to environmental pollutants, and even seasonal changes. 8 However, one of the most influential environmental factors which we have complete control over is 1 what we eat. 9 One study conducted by research-

DNA makes up the genes that make every aspect of you, but what has the last say on which of these genes are actually read? (PUBLIC DOMAIN PICTURES) ers at the University of California in San Francisco had 31 participants with low-grade prostate cancer adopt a diet 3 strictly emphasising whole plant-based foods and other healthy lifestyle behaviors. After three months following the protocol, significant alterations had occurred in gene expression. Specifically, 458 cancer-related tumor growth genes 2 were downregulated, resulting in some prostate tumor regression. 10 This same group was found to have significantly 3 more expression of telomerase-producing genes as well as longer telomeres when compared to a control group after a 5-year follow up with those who 4 maintained the protocol. 11

cy and that our children are raised in an environment where healthy choices are the default. However, if you were not raised this way, or if you have a genetic predisposition to disease, developing a healthy lifestyle, including eating more whole plant foods, may help to silence these genes and alter epigenetic markers in your favor.

Yes, you are stuck with your genes.5 However, the way that these genes are expressed is controlled by epigenetic markers, which are dynamic and influenced by the choices you make6day-to-day. For future generations, it is vital that our mothers maintain a healthy lifestyle during pregnan-

[3] Mazzio, Elizabeth A., and Karam F.a. Soliman.

“Basic Concepts of Epigenetics.” Epigenetics, vol.

7, no. 2, Feb. 2012, pp. 119–130. PMC, doi:10.4161/ epi.7.2.18764.

[1] Mazzio, Elizabeth A., and Karam F.a. Soliman.

“Basic Concepts of Epigenetics.” Epigenetics, vol.

7, no. 2, Feb. 2012, pp. 119–130. PMC, doi:10.4161/ epi.7.2.18764.

[2] “Chromosomal DNA and Its Packaging in the Chromatin Fiber.” Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th Edition: a Problems Approach, by John H. Wilson and Tim Hunt, Garland Science, 2002.

[6] ibid.

[7] Barua, Subit, and Mohammed A Junaid.

“Lifestyle, Pregnancy and Epigenetic Effects.”

Epigenomics, vol. 7, no. 1, 2015, pp. 85–102. PMC, doi:10.2217/epi.14.71.

[8] Kanherkar, Riya R. et al. “Epigenetics across the Human Lifespan.” Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, vol. 2, 2014. PMC, doi:10.3389/ fcell.2014.00049.

[9] ibid.

[10] Ornish, Dean et al. “Changes in Prostate Gene Expression in Men Undergoing an Intensive Nutrition and Lifestyle Intervention.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 105, no. 24, 2008, pp. 8369–8374. PMC, doi:10.1073/ pnas.0803080105.

[11] Ornish, Dean et al. “Effect of Comprehensive Lifestyle Changes on Telomerase Activity and Telomere Length in Men with Biopsy-Proven Low-Risk Prostate Cancer: 5-Year Follow-up of a Descriptive Pilot Study.” The Lancet Oncology, vol. 14, no. 11, Sept. 2013, pp. 1112–1120. PMC, doi:10.1016/s14702045(13)70366-8.

[4] ibid.

[5] Rando, Oliver J., and Rebecca A. Simmons. “I’m Eating for Two: Parental Dietary Effects on Offspring Metabolism.” Cell, vol. 161, no. 1, 26 Mar. 2015, pp.

93–105. Elsevier, doi:10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.021.

Forrest Sheperd is a biology major.

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Feature college place, wa | walla walla university

| February 2018 Issue 14

The Pressure is Real: Finding “The One” at an Adventist University

By Michael Jensen and Cynthia Ochoa It is now less than a week before Valentine’s Day. Some Walla Walla University students are planning romantic gestures for their special someone while others are gearing up to face “Singles’ Awareness Day” and all of the relationship-focused pressure that comes with it. For better or worse, Adventist colleges have traditionally been known as a place where Adventist young people go to find life partners, leading to only-half-joking nicknames such as “Western Wedding University.”

However, some students do not enter college seeking a romantic relationship, choosing instead to focus on academics, career aspirations or personal development. Others come with a more ambivalent approach, willing to date around but not dying to get married.

Still others come hoping to be engaged by the time they leave. While schools like Walla Walla University have something to offer each of these students, social pressures and cultural attitudes often ignore the diversity of approaches with which people enter college life.

This week’s poll found that 81 percent of respondents (most of whom were students) feel that students should not be encouraged to marry shortly after graduation. And yet we live on a campus where many people do feel pressured to get into a romantic relationship, as you’ll learn in the sections below. From these interviews, you’ll get a glimpse into the lives and experiences of people at different points in their journeys, and perhaps gain insight into the powerful effects of social and cultural pressure in the realm of relationships at Walla Walla University.

Note that these transcripts have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Recently Engaged Couple: Emily Robertson and LJ Manning Cynthia Ochoa: Tell me about the history of your relationship. How and where did you meet? How long have you been together?

Emily Robertson: We were officially together a year ago yesterday, so we have known each other a year and a month. We took some time as friends getting to know each other and hanging out in group settings… he was more sure about me than I was of him ... simply [because] I didn’t know him. He seemed too quiet to me.

CO: And where did you guys meet?

ER: It was at Sweet Basil. I was at lunch with a friend, and he was at lunch with a mutual friend, and then our friend Sean came over to say hi to me.

CO: How did attending Walla Walla University affect your relationship?

ER: Attending Walla Walla University, I wouldn’t say there was any direct influence over it. The only thing was that it kept bringing me back to Walla Walla; if I wasn’t in school I wouldn’t come back here and I wouldn’t have met LJ. ... Before I moved back, I seriously thought I was going to go somewhere else, ‘cause I was kind of needing a fresh start, but I feel like for some reason ... God brought me back here.

ER: (Addressing relationship pressure at WWU) Yes, ... like way too much pressure. I understand where they are coming from traditionally; however, I think the church has lacked the ability and the knowledge to really support being single and support finding who you are.

LJ Manning: Not just support, but teach how to be single.

CO: Do you think that there is any pressure in WWU to find a significant other in your time as a student here? Why? ER: And provide the opportunities to grow as a single person. ... There is even that whole mindset of “guys only go after freshman girls,” because junior and senior girls, there is something wrong with them because they are not taken. Like that’s literally some [people’s] mindset. And I was like, “Oh my gosh, something is wrong with me!” I think it [the pressure] started out as tradition ... stemming all the way from Bible times, you got to get married! That was just, especially for women, to find somebody to support them. And even though we have moved way past that, I think we still have that mindset of the “American Dream” and that means you go to school, you get an education, you get a boyfriend, you get married, you have kids. That’s the life you strive for ... If you say you don’t want kids, you are weird, especially as a woman. If you are past 22 and you are not dating, you are weird.

LM: Well, I’ve found that most Adventist parents don’t understand the concept of casual dating, they put so much pressure on “you date to find a

spouse” and every person you come in contact with it’s like, “is this a potential marriage partner?” … but if that’s all they are teaching as you’re growing, then they are not teaching personal development at all; they’re not teaching developing friendships and bonds and fellowships and building a proper foundation.

CO: When you entered college (with or without a significant other), did you envision or expect a future in which you would find “the one” and get married shortly after graduation?

ER: When I was a freshman? I did… partly because … I had this kind of belief that part of the reason I am spending all this money for Christian education is to find a Christian man ‘cause once you get out into the world, it’s that much harder. I think it almost scared me to think, “Okay, well if I Emily Robertson and LJ Manning don’t find someone while I am at school…” [so] I had Couple Married before College: the mindset of, “alright, I got a new David and Heidi Lindstrom pond, and I am going fishing.”

I only met with David.

LM: It’s something, I guess, you Michael Jensen: Tell me a little hope for, but I don’t think it’s something bit of the story of your relationship I necessarily, intentionally sought out. with your wife. How and where did I never believed in the concept of “the you meet? How long have you been one,” I think it’s a Hollywood fantasy… together?

Personally, when I was 18 and I came out here, I had much more in my own life and with my family that I was processing and struggling with. As far as women came, it was almost like their attention was a momentary relief for me. It wasn’t like I was necessarily interested in them to date and to marry them.

CO: How easy/hard do you think it would have been to find someone else after graduating college?

ER: I do think it’s more difficult. I think you have to be more intentional and put yourself in a community where you can be meeting [the kind of person] you are looking for … If finding a Christian man or woman is important to you.

But I also think LJ and I are a testament of truly giving our lives to God and being ready for when He is ready, and I think God can work at any point if you give make Him first and foremost.

CO: Do you think the inherent pressure to find someone before the search gets more difficult is a harmful or beneficial force?

ER: I think it’s a detriment, and that just goes back to the fact that we are not encouraged enough to be single and discover who we are as a single person rather than seeking our identity in others.

LM: Correct. The best advice ever given to me as a single bachelor was: “don’t worry so much about who you’ll end up [with], but worry about who you are becoming. Because who you are becoming now is the spouse you will be in the future.” I think that is the emphasis that should be put more at the University: character development [and] personal development. Understand who you are and what you love, what you are passionate about, where you want to go in life and, as you are traveling, God will bring someone to you.

CO: Do you think getting engaged while in school and getting married right after graduation is an ideal situation for most people, or is it just something that happened to work for you?

ER: If LJ and I had met when I still had at least two years left, I don’t think we would have waited until graduation.

I think we still would have gotten married in between.

LM: I think it is the timing of the relationship. I don’t think relationships should go for super long because it just allows for more time for temptations in the relationship, which will create more and more problems for a future marriage. I also don’t agree with long engagements. I feel like once you get engaged, it’s for the purpose of planning and executing your wedding.

David Lindstrom: We met when I was 17, and she was 20. I was on a family vacation at the beach, and she was working there. We dated for 2 years, we were engaged for 1 year, and when we got married I was still 19, almost 20, and she was 23. I had barely made it out of high school, literally and figuratively, and it was the year after that that we got married. I did not come to college right away … she got done with a technical degree when I was still in community college at Mt. Hood, and we decided to move out here [Walla Walla] so I could go [to school] full-time.

She happened to get a job out here as soon as we made the decision to come.

So many things just fell into place.

MJ: [As a married student] What kind of things do you miss out on?

DL: You miss out on all the drama of dating, and there’s none of that peer pressure. I didn’t even really realize it, until, as an adult, I started hearing stories about what students go through and the pressure they feel to get together with somebody or who they’re going to marry. We got looked at as a little bit of an anomaly but [were] fairly accepted.

We were traditional—based on our family traditions and values—but not traditional college students because of the timing of how we did things … You’re not really invited to all of the things that other students are, necessarily .... but there are plenty of other couples on campus that you get to know. And you might get to know staff that you wouldn’t get to know as a single student.

I kind of liked it because there wasn’t any of that heavy emotional pressure.

MJ: From an academic perspective, I would guess that as a married student, you probably have less time to focus on studies because of other chores and such, but you also have less emotional drama and more support.

How did that pan out?

DL: I think it just balances out; I think you’re right. We started having kids our second year in school, so there was plenty to do. I worked a few hours a week during school; then I started taking care of our son—I was the primary caregiver … I was a better student. I think I had more at stake honestly—a little more focused on getting it done and getting it done right!

MJ: So if you had been single going into college, do you think you would have been a little less focused?

DL: If my past was any indication, then absolutely. I was on track to not graduate from high school before I met Heidi … I met Heidi, and she became the next best reason for me to improve

myself and finish school … I’m not even sure I would have made it to college without being married first, to be honest with you.

MJ: Based on your observation of campus life, do you think that the expectations for romantic relationships have changed for the average student since you were a student here?

DL: I think it’s probably, in my perspective, lightened up from what it used to be. Especially the pressure on young women. … Basically, you were expected to go to school to find a husband. If you got toward the end of your junior year or you [were] in your senior year, and you weren’t connected yet, people started asking. I still see that happening on campus. … but I think it’s actually lightened up. Should people stop saying that stuff? I don’t know. I think that we’re all adults. I mean, a 19, 20, 21-year old should know enough about themselves at that point I think to say that, “you know, I’m just dating right now, I’m trying to figure it out” or “I’m not thinking about that right now” or “yes, I’m ready to commit.” I think that instead of having all these false expectations, we should actually teach people how to make good decisions for themselves.

MJ: I guess you never know when you’re going to find “the person” or “the one,” if there is such a thing. But if that wasn’t a factor, do you see certain benefits that would be associated with waiting until after starting a career or making it through grad school before getting married?

DL: I think that I can answer that on two fronts. One is just your age and maturity when you get married. The other one is economics and how things have changed. I think that there’s a lot more expectation for men and women to start their career and dedicate their life to establishing themselves professionally than there ever has been … It’s not really the expectation anymore that the wife stays home and takes care of the house and the kids. So why wouldn’t you wait longer to kind of establish your career and make sure you’re getting with someone that supports your motivations and your goals? … The other thing is age. The younger you are when you get married, I think, the harder it is, depending on family support and whatnot. Just because we change so much through our early 20s.

Our whole identity is still forming. If you find somebody really young, you’re either going to grow together or grow apart. I think that that’s kind of the catastrophe of some young relationships: they jump in for whatever reason, maybe the social pressure, maybe just hormones. They make some lifelong decisions before they even know themselves very well … I just think that maturity and age have a lot to do with identity, and if you don’t know who you are and what you want out of life, it’s hard to be able to pick a mate.

MJ: How do you think the respective families of the man and woman

and the cultures in which they were brought up affect how they choose to go about dating and marriage? In your case, was there any expectation that you would get married when you did?

How does that play out?

DL: I came from an Adventist Christian family. Heidi came from a non-denominational Christian family.

Both of our families were still intact, and I think there was a subtle, unspoken expectation that if you found somebody who you wanted to … live with and play house with, that you’d get married. I definitely felt like that with Heidi. As far as the age thing, I don’t feel like I had any pressure. But no one said “uh, you’re a little young!

What are you doing?” I mean, I don’t know if I would have listened or not.

But, our families were supportive. I think family culture is probably the deciding factor on this stuff in most cases. You come to marriage with so many expectations, and those come from family culture about when and how to get married, how traditional to raise your family, premarital sex or waiting until after you’re married, [and] when to have kids.

“Marriages are important. I really think that relationships are important for our overall development. But I don’t think cultural or religious norms should pressure people into making commitments before they are ready. I think that that’s the risk that we take with the kind of cultural expectations that some students experience.”

National Statistics: Adult marriage rates are the lowest on record: “Half of Americans ages 18 and over were married in 2015, compared with 72% in 1960.”

People are getting married later than ever: “By 2016, the median age at first marriage had reached its highest point on record: 29.5 years for men and 27.4 years for women.”

Financial insecurity is keeping some young people from getting married: “34% of never-married people ages 25 to 34 say [not feeling financially prepared for the commitment] is the primary reason they are not yet married.” 1 1 All taken from the Pew Research Center http:// www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/13/5-factsabout-love-and-marriage/

Michael Jensen is a mechanical engineering major.

Cynthia Ochoa is a health science major.

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February 2018 Issue 14 | walla walla university | college place, wa

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WEEK IN FORECAST

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Thursday

Friday

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“Creating Kin(d)” @ Reid Campus Center, 4 p.m.

Music Department Vespers @ University Church, 8 p.m.

Choir and Orchestra Festival Concert @ University Church, 4 p.m.

National Kite Flying Day

National No One Eats Alone Day

Choir and Orchestra Festival

National Pizza Day

Valentines Mixer @ Havstad Alumni Center, 7:30 p.m.

Choir and Orchestra Festival

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Saturday

National Cream Cheese Brownie Day Choir and Orchestra Festival

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FOOD BEANS, BEANS, BEANS

No More Canned Beans

By Daphne Novak This year, I started buying dried beans instead of pre-cooked canned beans. I did this initially because I wanted to reduce my waste (as always).

I was excited to try making beans from scratch. I had never done it before, so I decided to start with black beans since those are my favorite. I have made dried beans probably five times now, and they have all turned out successfully. I don’t really have a recipe this week because you don’t necessarily need one. Personally, I know what I want in my beans and just put in however much I want from there. While I will put measurements in this recipe, please note that, in the end, the amount of seasoning you want in your beans is up to you.

I have also started doing the same with chickpeas. I use them all the time to make aquafaba, an ingredient in hummus. Aquafaba (chickpea bean juice) made from scratch has less sodium than canned chickpea aquafaba.

This adventure was also successful, and now I regularly cook fresh chickpeas.

Below are two guidelines for cooking dried beans.

1 These olives do not taste like cocktail green olives.

They taste similar to but better than black olives.

If you can’t find Lindsay’s green olives, just use the brine from a can of black olives. Also, I have never seen someone use olive brine in beans, but it works well in my opinion!

2 The times that I listed vary. You really just want to monitor how cooked the beans are. I don’t really keep track of the time, but I know it takes me roughly an hour to cook the beans.

BOWL OF MIXED BEANS (MILADA VIGEROVA)

Pinto or Black Beans

Daphne Novak is a psychology major.

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

• (These are basically ranchero beans without the bacon) • 1 cup dried pinto or black beans • 2 tomatoes (diced) • Half an onion cut into thin slices • 5 cloves of garlic (whole or sliced) • Half a bunch of cilantro roughly chopped (use the stems too) • However much cumin, black pepper and cayenne pepper you want

CHICKPEAS (FARMING AHEAD)

How to Cook Chickpeas 1. Soak 1 cup of dried chickpeas in water for at least 12 hours.

2. Dump chickpeas and soaking water plus more water in a pot and boil for 10 minutes.

3. After boiling, let simmer for at least 40 minutes.

Salt the chickpeas if you want. I don’t.

4. Taste test the chickpeas to check if done.

• Brine from a can of (preferably) Lindsay’s green olives 1 • If not using brine, salt your beans to your liking. I recommend not using salt if you use the brine.

1. Soak beans in water for at least six hours.

2. After soaking, put the beans, the water they were soaking in and some more water in a pot and let it boil. Make sure the beans are always covered with water.

3. While the beans are coming to a boil, prepare tomatoes, onions, cilantro and garlic.

4. Once the water is boiling, let it continue boiling for a few minutes; then lower the temperature so that the beans are simmering. Add the garlic, tomatoes, onions and cilantro. Let this simmer for maybe 20 minutes.

5. Next, add the spices and let that simmer for an additional 20 minutes.

6. Finally, add the olive juice—and maybe even a few olives if you want—and let that simmer for 25 minutes.

7. Sure, these beans don’t look much different from the canned ones, but they taste way better!

LIFESTYLE MELLOW MONDAYS

How to Improve Your Mondays

By Angelica Chan Mondays have a bad reputation. It’s probably because they signal the end of the weekend and the unwelcome wakeup call that it’s back to business as usual.

When the weekend feels too short and the weekdays drag on, Monday is the ill omen that no one wants.

Sure, Mondays can be a drag, but they don’t have to be. I’ve taken to thinking of Mondays as the older, more mature sister of Sundays. Sundays are the days when I do all the stuff I procrastinated on, then on Mondays I still have to do homework, but I also have adult commitments like classes, work and labs to do. To combat a case of the Mondays, I

usually plan the day out like it’s a busier Sunday so that I don’t stress as much!

Here are some ways to make getting through your Monday easier: Get Up Earlier Yes, I know that sounds counterproductive, especially if you spend most of your morning dueling with your snooze button. However, consider this: by getting up, be it an hour or just thirty minutes earlier, you have more time to yourself.

Use the extra time to make yourself breakfast, go to the cafeteria (because, let’s admit it, most of us skip breakfast pretty consistently) or go through your planner and plan out your schedule.

Don’t Stress about Your Outfit While Mondays are all about putting your best foot forward, you shouldn’t waste precious time agonizing over your closet. Monday mornings are made for the Rule of Threes: make an outfit with three go-to classic pieces (not counting shoes) to keep everything polished but simple. Think ripped jeans, a graphic tee and a faux leather jacket. Done!

Keeping Your Productivity Limited to Specific Times If you can, keep your Monday workday short. Do whatever you need to do to keep from feeling overwhelmed—it’s always nice to get ahead on Monday so you don’t have to stress as much during

the week—but staying up late or pushing yourself to get as much done as possible isn’t the best way to start out the week. I think that feeling overwhelmed is part of the reason everyone hates Mondays.

Check In with Friends True, it’s rare to have social plans on a Monday night, but that doesn’t mean that the day should be entirely focused on the never-ending checklist of what you need to do. Check in with your friends or family! While I prefer grabbing coffee with my friends between events on our busy days, FaceTiming or calling is good too. Just a bit of social interaction and positivity can make the day so much better.

Take an Intentional Moment for Yourself After a busy day, it’s important to take a second (or 10) to sit back and relax.

However, before you reach for Netflix, try something a little more intentional.

Is there a book you’ve been wanting to read? A DIY project you’ve been dying to finish? Take a moment and find something that will make this moment more meaningful and relaxing. Think of it as a no-stress way to treat yourself.

No matter how you take on this next Monday, I hope it’s a happy one!

Angelica Chan is a history major, pre-med.

college place, wa, walla walla university

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Sunday

Monday

Valentine’s Day Childcare @ WEC 142, 4-7 p.m.*

LSAT test @ WWU Counseling and Testing Center, all day

Women’s Basketball vs. Northwest University @ WEC, 2 p.m.

TwwuNES @ SAC, 7-9 p.m.

Men’s Basketball vs. Northwest University @ WEC, 4 p.m.

National Plum Pudding Day

National Make a Friend Day

Tuesday

*Event is open to WWU employees through the FitThumb site.

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Wednesday

CommUnity: Senior Recognition @ University Church, 11 p.m.

Go take your significant other out to eat.

Or yourself. You’re significant.

Community Music Lessons Recital @ FAC, 7-8 p.m.

National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day

Little Valentine’s Night @ Milton-Freewater Public Library, 6 p.m.

National Clean Out Your Computer Day

National Inventors’ Day

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| February 2018 Issue 14

Valentine’s Day

National Tortellini Day

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CULTURE READER’S HAVEN

AAUW Book Sale

By Hannah Thiel From Feb. 16 to Feb. 18, one of my favorite annual Walla Walla events is taking place: the AAUW Book Sale! AAUW, the American Association of University Women, hosts this event every year as a fundraiser. The money they raise goes towards scholarships for local women who are returning to higher education, as well as towards funding for other local education projects and programs.

People all over the valley donate books throughout the year. The event happens in a ballroom on the ground floor of the

Marcus Whitman Hotel in downtown Walla Walla, so, as you can imagine, there are a whole lot of books. I love this event because of the books, of course, but also because it shows the strength of the local community and that the valley prioritizes literacy and education. You should definitely check the book sale out, even if for just a few minutes! The prices are low, and you might even be able to find a book you need for a class.

Let’s get into the details! The book sale’s hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 9 a.m. to

4 p.m. on Sunday. There are 40 different categories of books, so you should be able to find whatever books you want, no matter how niche. To get a good idea of what they offer, check out the Walla Walla AAUW Book Sale on Facebook.

Over the past few weeks, they have been posting some sneak peaks of a selection of the books that they will be selling.

Have fun at the book sale, but also buy responsibly! Last time I went, I bought a whole bunch of books and still haven’t actually read most of them, sadly.

It can get especially overwhelming if you

then have to somehow lug all the books back to wherever you live after the school year ends. I wish I had some tips on how to have self control when it comes to buying books, but unfortunately that’s still something I’m trying to learn. The books are priced so reasonably that they’re hard to resist! If you have any tips, let me know! If you decide to go all in on buying books, though, the book sale staff have you covered; they have a book corral section where you can leave your bags of books while you go get more.

Prices Children’s Books: $0.50 Paperbacks: $2.50 Hardbacks: $4.00 Audiobooks: $4.00 DVDs and CDs: $1.00 AAUW accepts debit, credit, cash and checks. Their website is wallawalla-wa.aauw.net if you want to learn more.

Hannah Thiel is an art major.

OUTDOORS RUUD REMARKS

Mind Games

By Niqolas Ruud “I don’t remember crying.”

Josephine Stubbs, looking for her first ever alpine adventure, borrowed a helmet, harness, rope and other necessary equipment to climb a perfectly pointy peak in the Willamette National Forest of Central Oregon.

Sitting in Central Oregon’s high desert is a relatively small shield volcano, Mount Washington. The peak, standing at 7,794 feet, is dwarfed by its 10,000+ foot neighbors: the triplet sister volcanoes to the south and Mount Jefferson to the north. This was to be Stubbs’ alpine skills testing ground.

What were once fleeting thoughts of return were now serious propositions.

Stubbs stopped.

Tilting her head to look up and down the side of the peak, she saw no end, no summit, in sight—everything was masked by the towering pines—but a voice in her head began reminding her, “just one foot in front of the other, just one foot in front of the other.”

low. Rocks, fragile yet sharp, painted in colors from tail-light-red to headlight-white lay scattered across the arched ridgeline. Finally, just above the treeline, the towering summit’s spines and ridges were in full view.

Hope was alive.

Climbing the brittle summit block, Stubbs broke off large portions of the stone as she tried to claw her way up

Fear was alive.

As the sun dipped ever closer to the horizon, Stubbs’ snow-white climbing helmet stood out more and more against the shadowy rock. Her many freckles seemed to cast shadows of their own to match her dark fleece jacket. Darkness was approaching.

Night would soon be there.

Just as deep purples, flamingo

Joy was alive.

The descent took much less time; her pain and fear were all but dissipated, while a deep satisfaction lingered. She felt exhausted, yet energized; crestfallen, yet cheerful; still, yet stirred.

As she weaved in and out of the trees, the moonlight bounced playfully on and off of her face. Stubbs stopped walking and looked back

The eager 21-year-old quickly ate her noontime salad along with a thin slice of ruby-red watermelon, and then said goodbye to her disconsolate campers. Stubbs, working her first summer at a youth camp, was sad to leave her eight lively girls for the day and looked longingly back over her shoulder at them as she departed.

She didn’t think of them for long, however, as the discomfort of the endeavor quickly began to take its toll on her body’s physical performance, causing, almost like clockwork, an uncertainty in her own ability to take over her mind. “If I had only run more,” she thought, “then I would be ready.”

Fear of the unknown is the worst kind.

Beads of sweat ran down her sun-freckled face as the great ball of fire worked its summer magic on the forested landscape. Her blurred vision, along with a shortness of breath, only dampened her spirits.

By two o’clock in the afternoon, she was walking in the middle of a vibrant evergreen forest with trees towering 60, 70, 80 feet above her as she continued towards a goal she could not yet fathom completing.

“Actually, I think I did cry. I didn’t think I could make it,” she would later tell me.

Four miles in now, Stubbs was participating in an uphill battle both in body and spirit. It seemed as though she was only half-heartedly invested in the endeavor. What were once mere discomforts were now true pains.

MT WASHINGTON OREGON CASCADES,” ACRYLIC LANDSCAPE PAINTING. (GIL DELLINGER) When Stubbs had first fancied the idea of climbing a mountain, she had never envisioned anything more than what a color photo might display: beautiful sweeping scenery and sunkissed smiling faces. This horror was far different.

Hours had passed since she had left; her spirits and energies were

the most direct route. The stones fell into a sharp gully, 40 feet wide, and began to roll, more and more rapidly, down the bare western slope of the mountain. A descending party of two who were about a quarter-mile away—a middle-aged father and his teen son, also climbing his first mountain—narrowly dodged the avalanche of debris.

pinks and brilliant oranges combined to form the Western Lights, you know, the “sunset,” Stubbs finally set foot on the mountain’s plateau summit—eyebrows twitching and breathing heavily but smiling just as in the photographs. “All I wanted to do was soak in the view. All my feelings of fear changed to happiness.”

somehow-longingly at the mountaintop now far behind her.

And then she cried.

Niqolas Ruud is a religious studies major.

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February 2017 Issue 14 | walla walla university | college place, wa

OPINION LIMINAL SPACES

Altered Reality

By Savanna Pardo

and the feelings that come to you as you read:

Have you ever been somewhere, and for no reason you get a weird anxious feeling? Like you’re waiting for something to happen, but you’re confused because you’re not sure what you’re waiting for? Typically in these moments, you feel anxious and uncomfortable even though you may be completely alone.

Outside in the winter, early in the morning, when the snow is still untouched Your friend’s house when you’re the only one awake Museums when you’re the only one there Empty warehouses and park-

This concept is known as “liminal spaces.” The word “liminal” means “relating to a transitional stage” or “occupying a position at both sides of the boundary.” In these spaces, your reality feels altered—like you have just taken a step back and can finally see.

ing lots Abandoned stores Stairwells and waiting rooms School buildings during the summer

To give you a better idea of what I’m talking about, I will list some places where you may experience these anxious feelings. Think about each place

Rest stops on the highway Somewhere deep in the mountains or a forest

Anywhere at night, but especially airports, laundromats, hospitals and playgrounds Rooftops at dusk The places listed above may make you feel weird if you spend too much time in them because you are not accustomed to dwelling in these areas.

It’s not about the places themselves but about their existence in time. They are in transition states; it seems, perhaps, they are not meant to be their own entity. The reason why you feel weird if you spend too much time in these places might be because then you think too much about them. Your brain sends you signals telling you that something is off because you are supposed to continue moving on with your life, but you’re not; instead, you are dwelling in these places, and your reality feels as if

it has been altered.

Liminal spaces are not the only places in which our brains get confused. Our brains rely on context to understand the world around us; when we are somewhere out of context, our reality feels off. This is another reason why we feel a sense of discomfort in these places.

Imagine wandering through somewhere like the empty school hallways or the abandoned stores mentioned above. Your brain associates these places with characteristics like being crowded and noisy, so when they are anything else, your brain gets confused. In this situation, we tell ourselves that we need to leave because it is unusual for us to be there. Humans like familiarity, so when we are in a place where our brains feel out of con-

text, we get this feeling of anxiety as if the situation we are in could potentially be dangerous. However, the logical part of our brain tells us to relax because we understand that it’s just an empty parking lot or an abandoned building.

The brain attempts to balance out to prevent us from going into a fight-orflight response, which leaves us feeling a bit uneasy and anxious.

Fortunately, I feel like these liminal spaces can actually boost creativity. So next time you are in this situation, don’t be afraid to stick around, even after you get that weird and anxious feeling.

Savanna Pardo is an English major.

SENATE

ASWWU Elections Candidates Jonathan Fitch

Lindsey Haffner

Mechanical Engineering major

English, French, Religion majors

ASWWU—like Walla Walla itself—has seasons. We have seasons of stability, where progress slows but departments are refined. These periods allow us to focus on the smaller aspects of improving ASWWU; we become comfortable in this place. Every so often, however, a period of innovation is sparked, resulting in the explosive development and advancement of ASWWU and its capabilities. This growth is exciting. It provides opportunities for students of all disciplines to come together and create, and these creations stand as monuments to what makes ASWWU great.

While exciting, growth is hard. It requires momentum, organizational management and leadership to direct ASWWU’s energy from refinement to expansion. I am running for ASWWU President because I believe that the time for growth is now. WWU dreams like no other group of students I have ever seen and I want to put those dreams to work. Serving within ASWWU for the past three years has given me a glimpse of the incredible power that lies behind our student body, and I intend to harness that power to usher in a new period of innovation and expansion on this campus. Walla Walla University, Start Dreaming.

Hello, readers of The Collegian! Let me tell you what my campaign slogan, “Personable. Productive. Passionate.” means to me. Firstly, it means that I am interested in providing personable, one-on-one interaction with the students of WWU. I consider this job to be equally ministerial as it is administrative. In other words, ASWWU Spiritual will be an encouraging source of support for the student body. Secondly, if I am elected, you can expect consistent productivity.

I have extensive experience in religious programming through my two years as Vespers Coordinator and three years as Programming Director at summer camp, which I intend to use in preparing events like Week of Worship. If elected, I will produce an organized vision for the 2018-2019 school year that consists of enjoyable events and meaningful programming. Lastly, while I am a hard worker by nature, it is easy to dedicate time to something that you are passionate about. My commitment to ASWWU Spiritual is rooted in a passion for people and ministry. Passion inspires excellence, and I am devoted to making your 2018-2019 school year excellent.

Evelyn Ouro-Rodrigues Bioengineering and French majors

Katie Folkenberg Social Work major, Religion minor Social events, spiritual leadership, department heads and fellowship—these are a few of the words that are commonly connected with ASWWU. Though these are important components of ASWWU, I believe there is one that should shine brighter than the rest: student involvement.

As a candidate for ASWWU President, I think it’s important for you, as the associated students, to know exactly what my overarching goal is. I want your involvement to be a top priority for those serving in ASWWU positions. As I mentioned earlier, ASWWU should represent student involvement. This does not always mean leading out in vespers or being a club president. To me, involvement simply means being a crucial part of a whole. I want to include both the extrovert and the introvert. With ASWWU being geared to serve the student body, steps will be taken to hear your voices. Approachability, integration and community are the words I want to be connected with ASWWU.

From an honest show of hands, how many times have you actually read your weekly Senate email? I would venture to say quite of few of you have found it easy to scroll past your Senator’s update, brushing it aside as more inbox clutter. Now, if you identify with this, you’re exactly the person I want to reach out to. ASWWU is all of us collectively, but as with any large group of people, the process of governing is streamlined through elected representatives. The purpose of Senate is to use these representatives to make changes that you, our constituents, find important. ASWWU sets aside a yearly campus improvement budget so that Senate can hear all of your voices and benefit our community as a whole. Over the past two years as a Senator, I’ve gained the necessary experience to implement those changes, but we cannot be effective without your voice. As president of ASWWU Senate, I would center our focus on what the campus really needs or wants, so that you’ll be excited to open your Senate update.

Madilyn Malott

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me anytime, anywhere!

Forensic Psychology and Business majors

With your help, ASWWU will Pursue Progress and Inspire Involvement in the 2018-2019 school year.

Vote for Katie Folkenberg!

Carla Blum-Johnston Theology major, Pre-med I smile every time I walk down College Ave and see the banners expressing our university’s four aims: Excellence in Thought, Beauty in Expression, Generosity in Service and Faith in God. However, rather than viewing these aims individually, I prefer to see Faith in God as the animating force behind the other three. Working as the music chaplain for two years has taught me a lot about leading teams and planning services, but one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that worship should not be limited to the sanctuary. So, while I deeply appreciate and would continue to plan large-scale events like the Spring Concert and Weeks and Weekends of Worship, I would like to lead ASWWU Spiritual in providing venues for more engaged and spiritual living. What if we encouraged Excellence in Thought by having an ASWWU Spiritual podcast or hosting discussion panels with our professors and peers? What if we facilitated Beauty in Expression by sponsoring a worship album with student-made cover art? What if we strove for Generosity in Service by opening our Longest Table to the hungry in our midst? ASWWU, let’s dream, let’s move and let’s surrender to The One, going forward in excellence, beauty and generosity.

Katie Wagner Theology major ASWWU is student-funded and student-run. This gives you more opportunities to customize your options on campus, including spiritual life. As you know, this year, ASWWU Spiritual has already turned your ideas and suggestions into meaningful, well-planned programming.

As ASWWU Spiritual Vice President, I will continue to serve you and implement relevant ideas. The Spiritual team will facilitate an authentic and welcoming atmosphere where we grow closer together as a campus community and ultimately closer to God. I’ve been part of the ASWWU Spiritual team for nearly two years now. We’ve planned Weeks of Worship, church programs, concerts and helped with other ASWWU events. I’m an experienced planner and communicator, but I know how to get things done. Relying on this experience, I will build a diverse, inclusive team that is approachable, creative and reliable.

As Spiritual Vice President, I will be an intentional and inclusive leader. ASWWU Spiritual events and activities can build lifelong relationships with each other and with Christ. That is the focus, and I know we can serve you well. For now, let’s talk—let me know how ASWWU Spiritual might serve you best next year—and then, please vote. Thank you!

Hello readers! I’m super excited to be running for Social VP, and I’m even more excited at the prospect of planning campus-wide events for you next school year. As some of you may know, I am the president of the Business Club this year. It has been extremely fun getting to know so many of you through this great opportunity. I love serving my campus community and helping to draw students together. I especially love the part that the Social VP plays in fostering friendships and encouraging involvement on campus—that’s what drew me to this position.

Something I have learned by leading the Business Club is that each type of event draws a different group of attendees. Because our campus is so diverse, one type of event will not please every individual. For instance, those who are more extroverted may prefer games and activities; those who are creative and musical may prefer events such as The Voice of Walla Walla; and those who are introverted may just prefer an event where they can duck in, grab a cup of coffee and a donut and sneak away. This is why I am so excited about planning campus-wide events. I get to design and promote a myriad of events that fit many diverse preferences. I look forward to implementing variety because you all deserve to have events that you want to attend!

Tyler Humphries Mechanical Engineering major, Pre-Med Have you ever missed not having more picnic tables on campus? What about juicers in the dorm? Is there something in ASWWU which you would like to see happen? I believe Senate is the platform in which these goals can be accomplished. Senate is the department of ASWWU in which the voices of students can make an impact on how our campus is run. As Executive Vice President, I would like to make a better relationship between you as the constituent and the Senate. This would enable you to bring to life your ideas and goals for Walla Walla University. I would like to set up workshops in which you can come and collaborate with your senator to brainstorm ideas of how to make our campus better and then act on those thoughts by writing the legislation to do so. My experience in ASWWU includes being the Sittner third and fourth floors district senator over the past year along with working for ASWWU Outdoors for the past two years. EVP would allow me to build upon this experience to improve ASWWU. I look forward to the possibility to make next year one of ASWWU Senate’s best.

Confab 1 | Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m., Village Hall ASWWU Primary Elections | Feb. 20, 11 a.m., University Church Confab 2 | Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m., FAC Auditorium ASWWU General Elections | Feb. 27, 11 a.m., WEC

SURVEY

Additional questions from last week’s poll:

“In general, should university students be encouraged to get married soon after graduation?”

People should be encouraged to get married when they’re ready, when it’s right for them and their relationship, whether that’s right after graduation or decades down the road.

19% said yes

81% said no

105 total participants

Honestly, this question isn’t about marriage, it’s about sex. In our Christian/ Adventist world, marriage means sex more than it should because of the pressure we place on abstinence. Encouraging marriage after graduation is encouraging abstinence until graduation, and then saying, “Hurry up and have sex now!” ...

Next week’s question

Going to a Christian school provides you with a place where there is a high percentage of people with similar views to you. I know so many people who have had difficulties finding anyone they are similar to once they’re in the workplace.

I am married and love it. It is wonderful to face the world and problems with your best friend at your side.

“Why do people become homeless? Does Walla Walla have a homeless “problem?” Let us know what you think in our next poll! https://goo.gl/2zVDAG

I think getting married immediately after university is:

44% 31% 25% Not ideal

Ideal and likely for me

Ideal but not likely for me

Why might people choose to not get married immediately after university?

71% 49% Not in a serious relationship

Other

Do you have any fears about not finding “the one” later?

50% 44% 7% No

Yes

I don’t plan on getting married