Issue 19 by The Collegian

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 19

Part 4 pg. 7

“As we speak! It’s working. In my mind.” - Omar Alfaro, ASWWU Executive VP

March 15, 2018

Last Things First college place, wa | walla walla university

| March 2018 Issue 19

Sleepless in College Place By Meghann Heinrich Hello friends, so kind of you to come. Quick question: do you all remember the heartwarming 1993 film, “Sleepless in Seattle”? If you don’t, that’s okay; I’m only a little disappointed in you. Here is a quick recap: Tom Hanks lives in Seattle, and Meg Ryan falls in love with him after she hears him on the radio. They meet at the top of the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day. It’s pretty neat, although I think we can all agree that the “Toy Story” movies are Hanks’ crowning achievement, and all of his other films pale in comparison. Well, sir, I am in a pickle. It’s dead week, and I have committed to an infinitely less-wonderful version of “Sleepless in Seattle.” It’s a little project I am calling “Sleepless in College Place.” Here’s the skinny: for one of my journalism classes I’ve resolved to pull my first-ever all-nighter. The purpose

Hey Thanks! “Hey thanks daily announcements for reminding me that there so many fun and creative ways to not study for finals.” “Hey thanks Jumping Einstein being the high stakes version of Where’s Waldo for WWU students.” “Hey thanks Girl Scouts for giving us a reason to come back after Spring Break. Bring on the Thin Mints.”

of this self-imposed sleep deprivation exercise is to journal my reactions and inevitable cognitive decline as the night progresses. It’s sort of a participation-observation situation, if you will. I’ll then take the data I gather and use it in my final project—a story on the effects of sleep deprivation on college students. Apparently there is substantial evidence that lack of sleep is tied to lower GPAs and, in the spirit of journalism, I intend to put that theory to the test. I’m just now realizing that doing this experiment during dead week is going to be what you might call “a bad idea.” But I have always said that “one man’s bad idea is another man’s revelation.” Case in point: the invention of the scooter/baby stroller hybrid.1 Well, a faint heart never won a fair grade. Best case scenario: I end up at the top of the Empire State Building and find true love. More likely scenario: around 2:00 a.m., I get really cranky

and start breaking stuff. I operate almost exclusively in extremes, so the other option is: I will get inexplicably happy and throw myself wholeheartedly into spreading good tidings of great joy. It could honestly go either way; we’ll just have to wait and see. If history serves as any indication, a few fun things happen when I’m very tired, including: trying to shower using stick deodorant for soap and (almost) kissing my cousin. I’ll explain. At my home we always have a little family time before bed. This has been the case since the dawn of time; it’s become a natural routine we follow almost unconsciously to this day. On that fateful evening, my long-suffering older cousin Michael was visiting us. I was exhausted, and Michael just happened to be sitting in the chair my mother usually sits in. It was an honest mistake. As I got up to go to bed, I did my routine round of goodnights and

Verbatim

gave my father the customary hug and goodnight peck on the cheek. Without skipping a beat I turned to where poor, unsuspecting Michael was sitting. At that point I’m not sure what exactly happened. I know that as I started to lean toward him with the intention of giving my mother a peck on the cheek, a voice in the back of my mind whispered, “Don’t do it, that’s not your mother.” In classic me fashion, I ignored that little voice and charged ahead. I remember seeing his eyes widen in horror and I stopped inches away from his face, suddenly conscious that I was about to do something very wrong. I tried to play it off with a slow motion about-face and army crawl out of the living room. No luck. He called me on it, and I am now known as the kissing menace of our family. Grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and cousins all steer clear. “Careful, she’s coming in hot!” they warn each other,

never knowing what I might do next. Honestly, I can’t blame them. Even I don’t know what I’m going to do next. So yes, it is very likely this self-imposed sleep deprivation exercise will be a recipe for disaster. Actually, by the time you read this I will have already completed it. So watch out, the residual effects of exhaustion might still be clouding my judgment even as we speak. If you see a dazed young lady wandering campus who looks like she might’ve just showered with a stick of deodorant (believe me, it will show) and/or making passes at strangers just call campus security. But I’ll warn you, I’m going to put up a fight. I’m scrappier than a hillbilly with a hatchet when I’m tired. 1 Check out the scooter/baby stroller hybrid and other ingenious inventions: https://www.boredpanda. com/useful-creative-inventions/

Dead Week Five minutes later

“My pastor said ‘don’t be caught sleeping with the foolish virgins.’ What, do you want us to sleep with, the wise ones?” - Professor Tim Tiffin, talking about versions but accidentally saying virgins “I just hit 10,000 steps, yay! I’m really fit as a fiddle!” - Professor Brandon Beck “I haven’t started writing your final exam yet because...life.”

Oh.

Ice Cream

What’s wrong?

- Professor Kyle Craig “Plants don’t run away. They just sit there asking you to pick them and harass them and mangle them.” - Professor Kirt Onthank

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

I ate it all...

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March 2018 Issue 19 | walla walla university | college place, wa

Editor-in-Chief Daniella Silva

Twitter

Assistant Editor Kate Beckner

@aswwucollegian

Instagram @aswwucollegian Facebook

@aswwucollegian

Creative Director Kyra GreyEyes Life Editor Angelica Chan

Backpage Editor Meghann Heinrich Head Copy Editor Brielle Tym Cover | Sophie Bailey

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

Writers Feature Michael Jensen Jake Sloop Cynthia Ochoa Opinion Parker Bailey 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.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Daniella Silva Dear Reader, While I know you have a million things on your mind right now with dead week wrapping up way faster than you thought possible and final exams right around the corner, I want to invite you to take a moment to think about a much larger, controversial topic on our campus: the LGBTQ+ community. Last year’s Collegian writers Mason Neil and Micah Hall wrote a couple of articles about WWU’s official policies and the experience of LGBTQ+ students on campus. This year, we have tried to go one step further by including more student voices to accompany the feature. In order to promote a more honest discussion of these issues, all student submissions were collected anonymously. Additionally, as a refresher from last year’s article, we have included an info box outlining WWU’s official policies on the LGBTQ+ community and an official statement of the university’s values as they relate to

this issue. You can read the full feature on page 5. Our poll question for this week was: “Should WWU positively acknowledge the LGBTQ+ community on campus?” As I was sorting through these responses, I was personally discouraged by the amount of hateful rhetoric directed toward the community. Even though the Adventist Church, and by extension WWU, do not officially condone homosexuality, their position has long been one of love and respect toward all people. The Collegian will not publish hate speech directed toward any person or group regardless of whether or not it represents the views of some of our readers. On a personal note, all I can do is encourage you, the reader, to read the responses we have published from both sides with as much empathy and understanding as you can. There is no easy “solution” to this debate; it questions the foundation

of our Adventist training and education. However, I believe it is worse to stay silent. You can read the poll results and responses on page 8. Because of extra submissions in the feature this week, we have postponed our Collegian report on the 2018 Midwinter National Collegiate Journalism Convention. Another important event that happened on campus this week was the walkout to protest gun violence in the U.S. At 10:00 a.m. on March 14, students left their classes to assemble in front of Kretschmar Hall for 17 minutes. Each minute represented one of the 17 students who tragically lost their lives in the Parkland high school shooting on Valentine’s Day earlier this year. At the event, social work major Kelsey Duran clarified that the event was not “anti-gun” but “anti-gun violence” and pro-sane gun legislation. The event organizers also provided stations for

voter registration. Above all, it was a time of solidarity with those who have lost friends and family as a result of school shootings in the U.S. I hope you were able to participate in this event. As usual, if you have any questions, comments or article submissions, you can send them to me at aswwu.collegian@wallawalla.edu. Good luck on all your projects and exams! The Collegian will return after spring break with some exciting new issues, so stay tuned and stay snazzy!

Engineers Without Borders Thursday, March 15, there will be Engineers Without Borders coffee cupping event from 5-7 p.m. Come support EWB by enjoying different kinds of coffee and an art auction at the Alumni Center!

Daniella Silva

SENATE PASSED BILLS PL28 — AIA Attendees GL11 — Modification to Large Project Fund Requirement FL13 — Health Week Funds

Battle of the Comedians Battle of the Comedians will be a first-time event for ASWWU. It will be on April 28th at 8:30 PM in the Blackbox, and we would love to have people audition. Applications and information are on ASWWU.com/ BOTC. Application packets should be brought to auditions in the FAC on April 3 & 4 at 7:30-9 p.m.

FL13 encourages health promotion, including FREE smoothies from Harvest Smoothie Co.

F w u u l p m b d o C i t d s

Be on the lookout for an email from your local senator containing more information. The minutes from this session will be made available next week. h

h t

COLLEGIAN WISDOM Ford recalls 1.4 million cars because steering wheel can come off Now Jesus can literally take the wheel.

Study finds pizza can increase work productivity Honestly, any food is a good motivator.

McDonald’s workers quitting in droves over ‘complicated’ technology, new menu items Turns out you might need a degree to flip burgers.

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

ASWWU JOBS MARKETING

Voodoo dolls of bosses improve staff morale, study finds

Graphic Designer

Our editor-in-chief won’t try it.

Media Distributor

Woman tries to trick authorities with prescription for ‘medical meth’ “Yes officer, it’s for treating my drug addiction.”

GLOBAL SERVICE Marketing Officer

college place, wa, walla walla university

| March 2018 Issue 19

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REFLECTIONS LGBTQ+ EXPERIENCE

Queer Reflections on “Western Wedding University” By Zachary White I am a member of Walla Walla University’s LGBTQ+ community. For those who may not know, this lovely acronym stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer and is an umbrella term for all those who do not fall under the categories of “straight” or cisgender. It may seem like quite the laundry list of identities, but I can confirm that I know of people at Walla Walla University who fall under one or another of each of these letters! What does it mean to be LGBTQ+ at this university? For those of you who

double major. I plan to go to graduate school when I finish my degree here, likely pursuing a masters and Ph.D. in history. This is the usual path that is taken in order to teach history as a professor at the university level. I am not certain where I will want to teach. I can imagine myself feeling at home in a variety of places around the world, even possibly finding my way back to my hometown, Portland, Oregon. One thing, however, does seem clear. Joining my beloved professors in the history department at WWU will likely not be an option, as this university

Walla University to teach here. I smiled when she told me this, touched by her loyalty to our school. My smile turned bittersweet when I remembered that the path she was pursuing would not be available to me, even if I wanted it. My plans for where I want to teach are not as set-in-stone as that alumna I spoke to, but the university’s policy of LGBTQ+ discrimination in hiring definitely sends a message to me and other queer students who wish to be open about their identities in the workplace. The university’s policies on LGBTQ+ acceptance also affect my life

bill’s other authors and I were invited to a meeting with an administrator, during which we were asked to discontinue our efforts to push this bill forward. The administrator cited the bill’s mention of LGBTQ+ inclusion as the primary reason for their apprehension in allowing the bill’s passage forward. All these policy issues, which on the surface may seem only passively discriminatory, create an aura of uncertainty for LGBTQ+ students at Walla Walla University. Are we allowed to start a gay-straight alliance or other LGBTQ+ group on campus? Who

has a policy of not hiring faculty who are LGBTQ+, as confirmed by The Collegian’s investigation last year. This policy is obviously influenced by the official stance of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on the issue of LGBTQ+ acceptance, but its impact on queer academics-in-training who study at this university is stark. I recently spoke to a WWU alumna currently in graduate school at an Ivy League college. She told me her plan upon getting her Ph.D. is to head straight back to Walla

as a student and student leader. Last year, while serving on the ASWWU senate, two senators and I wrote a bill, backed by the ASWWU Inclusivity Committee, calling for an ASWWU statement of inclusivity. This statement declared that ASWWU stood for the inclusion and acceptance of all its students, regardless of gender, race, immigration status, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity. While I believe that the senate at the time was likely to affirm such a bill, the

knows? The history of such groups being suppressed on this campus is clear. Are ASWWU Valentine’s Day events going to be LGBTQ+ inclusive? Attempts at making ASWWU explicitly non-discriminatory towards queer people have been shot down. Are religion and theology classes that we are required to take at the university going to be safe spaces or triggering spaces where our identities are questioned and debated? Who knows? Other LGBTQ+ people and I have a wide range of experiences

a bit.) The early Adventists had their standards for a reason: they wanted to be set apart from society. Society’s standards at this time2 were mainly decided by the wealthier classes, and those who weren’t wealthy at least wanted to be seen as middle-class people. This was a bandwagon that many Adventists wanted to jump on and was exactly the kind of thing that White would speak up against. Gerald Wheeler, in his article“The Historical Basis of Adventist Standards,” gives further insight by saying: “Nineteenth-century American Adventists were tempted to adopt every new fad and do anything they could to identify themselves as middle class. Where Green and Perry discuss specific topics that Ellen White wrote about, it seems significant that Mrs. White usually sided with either the lower- or upper-class position or attitude and

almost always took a stand against the middle-class attitude. Why? Perhaps because she feared that Adventists, by enthusiastically climbing aboard the middle-class bandwagon, would lose their special identity and effectiveness.”3 This is sort of the idea that White had when she spoke out against the purchase of bicycles. She was calling Adventists to a different standard. It was a vanity issue, not an I’m-being-environmentally-conscious issue. It seems that throughout time, people seeking God also seek everything the world has. For instance, the Old Testament Israelites wanted a king or a golden calf like everyone else. The question in my mind is: does all of that really matter today? I see so many people in our school with such a variety of possessions that it is hard to see some kind of unified Adventist standard in terms of what

(CHANGE.ORG) don’t know, two articles, an investigation by Micah Hall and a testimoney by Mason Neil were published in The Collegian last year detailing the University’s policies toward LGBTQ+ people. These pieces are worth the read, so I will provide a link to them below. If you were to ask me what it means to be queer at Walla Walla University, one of the first things that I would mention is the issue of faculty hiring. As readers of my column might know, I am a history and sociology

in this regard. Are student worship spaces such as Circle Church going to be somewhere we can feel safe, or will they be spaces that bash “political correctness” and say that homosexuality is a sin? Who knows? I’ve heard rumors of either being true. I do not write this article with a spirit of anger or of “wanting to make trouble.” I simply want to make students at this university aware of the challenges that queer people face while trying to live freely and without shame in heteronormative spaces. While many people may attempt to downplay the importance of going to a school where you can feel safe and accepted, I often think of the LGBTQ+ students of WWU who do not feel safe going home to their families either. When people up front at CommUnity and Vespers repeatedly make the same ridiculous joke about “Western Wedding University,” I think about the LGBTQ+ students at this university whose future marriages would not be recognized by WWU’s Housing department, and the toxic effect that the “get-married-quick” culture has, not only on queer people but also on straight people. Walla Walla University’s official philosophy statement declares that we believe that “every person is created in the image of God as a being of inestimable value and worth, imbued with powers of intelligence, stewardship and creativity akin to those of the Creator.” I love this school, and I love the queer students who attend this school. It is my hope that one day their dignity will be recognized by WWU.

Zachary White is a history major.

RELIGION A HIGHER CALLING

Adventist Standards By Peter Flores Standards: we all have them. From taste in music to life partners, we all have standards that we strive to uphold. Now, that isn’t to say if one of us likes the band Vulfpeck and another likes Tiny Tim that any of us are superior to one another.1 Our standards may have to do with the anatomical build of our ears, our mental state that day or an essentially unlimited number of things. One of the early Adventist Church’s many concerns was to set itself apart from worldly standards. Is the standard we are called to just to be different? Or are we called to a higher standard of character? If you’re an Adventist and have heard of Ellen G. White, then you have probably heard something like the following: “Hey, did you know that Ellen G. White told people not to buy bicycles

back in the day?” I have heard something like this at just about every Adventist location I’ve been to, and, while I’ve grown tired of hearing about it, it is interesting to see how my response to that very question has changed. For example, I used to think that the whole bicycle issue was honestly the quest of Ellen G. White to make life a little more boring—I’m not kidding. I wasn’t surprised to hear that back in the day bicycles weren’t allowed because this was during the point in my life when my family switched to soy milk, took away my Game Boy and placed the super tiny-print maroon-covered “Desire of Ages” on my lap. It was an invasion of my life, and these new standards that my parents were placing upon me were unbearable. (I don’t really drink soy milk anymore; I’m an almond or rice milk guy now. My ideals have changed

people buy nowadays. Think about it: is someone wearing dirty-looking shoes because they are poor, or are they wearing Sanuks?4 Is Niq Ruud just a dirty climber boy or is he multi-thousand dollar investor in climbing and alpine equipment? You never know. So what is it in our standards that is supposed to set us apart? Is it the way we act, our character or the way that our church is carrying out ministry? I don’t have the exact answer, but what I can tell you is that people should be able to tell us apart. We are supposed to be at the frontlines of most social issues today. Jesus was. He challenged an empire with his standards. He treated people with love and, although he dressed like them, ate like them and looked like them, he never faltered. I know, I know; He was perfect, and we can’t be. All I am saying is that it doesn’t take that much to acknowledge someone who you know is lonely or to be kind to people. That’s what can set us apart. Set a standard of kindness; it’s a good place to start and is much different than what the world is trying out right now. Blessings on your journey. 1 Vulfpeck is a cool band you should listen to. Tiny Tim is an interesting musician. 2 If you want some more detailed information look this article up: “The Historical Basis for Adventist Standards.” Ministry Magazine, October 1989 3 Ibid 4 Sanuks are a type of shoe that sometimes looks really cheap, but are actually pretty expensive. Go figure.

Early Adventists. (ADVENTIST REVIEW)

Peter Flores is a theology major.

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March 2018 Issue 19 | walla walla university | college place, wa

MEDIA/TECH TV, MOVIE, GAMES, PODCASTS

Streaming Garbage: Finding Something to Watch in an Infinite Universe of Trash By Matt Fennell We live in a frustrating time. Streaming services were supposed to lead to the end of the dozens of high-priced cable packages that really only carried one or two decent shows along with hundreds of things that no one would even accidentally watch. Unfortunately, those packages weren’t killed off but have instead morphed and multiplied into hundreds of discrete internet-content-streaming services, and what used to be a vast ocean of garbage has exploded into an infinite universe of trash. As the quarter draws to a close and spring break looms on the horizon, we’ll soon be faced with plenty of time to binge-watch, hate-watch and inevitably waste hours scrolling aimlessly, looking for something to watch while we wait for the third season of “Stranger Things.” This week, I’ve decided to run through some of the streaming content that I’ve loved, liked, tolerated or remember enjoying from when it came out years ago. Disclaimer: these reviews are all going to be quick and super informal. On that note, let’s go! Fundamentals of Caring (Netflix) A mostly light, fairly generic coming-of-age comedy with a few laugh-outloud scenes. “Fundamentals of Caring” stars Paul Rudd as a quiet, sarcastic sad-eyed guy (basically just Paul Rudd) who, after some undisclosed life-changing circumstance, decides that he’s going to seek work as a certified medical caretaker. He’s charged with caring for a bitter, equally-sarcastic teenager who is wheelchair-bound with a form of muscular dystrophy and spends his time playing mean-spirited pranks on his various caretakers.

ultimately come to terms with the big sad things that are keeping them down. This movie was mostly forgettable, but it made me laugh, and it’s got a seriously positive outlook, which I always really appreciate in a movie. “Fundamentals of Caring” gets a 7/10. The Discovery (Netflix) “The Discovery” is a weird one. It’s a soft-science-fiction film that looks and feels almost like an episode of “Black Mirror” but with less of the heavy-handed technoparanoia. Set in a world where the existence of an afterlife has been definitively proven, “The Discovery” follows two strangers played by Jason Segel and Rooney Mara as they check into an almost cult-like recovery center for folks who attempted suicide after the discovery was made public. This film is full of good performances, has a great creepy vibe and is paced super well, with a solid mystery at the core. Unfortunately, I can’t give this movie a full-on, two-thumbs-up recommendation because it completely beefs the ending.1 “The Discovery” is a neat idea that’s a good way to blow an hour or two, and it gets a 5/10. Bright (Netflix) When “Bright” dropped back in December with abysmal reviews, two of my best friends2 and I decided to meet up, get some smoothies and tear it apart. Instead, we had an entirely enjoyable afternoon watching Will Smith and his orc-cop partner Jakoby fight their way through a night in a fantasy version of inner-city LA, running from human gangs, ninja elves and angry fairies, all while protecting a young elfgirl and the Weapon of Mass Destruction ancient wand she carries. “Bright”

11.22.63 (Hulu) A miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s phonebook-sized novel, “11.22.63” is the story of a present-day high school English teacher played by James Franco who finds a tunnel that takes him back in time to 1960. Once there, he decides that he’s going to fix some smaller, more personal historic tragedies before attempting to foil the Kennedy assassination. “11.22.63” is exciting and terrifying but is mostly just a good slice-of-life period piece. “11.22.63” gets a totally respectable 6/10.

Sneaky Pete Poster. (AMAZON) Eventually, Rudd and the kid decide to go on a road trip across the country, stopping at all sorts of cheap, corny roadside attractions on the way to the symbolically-important “World’s Largest Pit.” Along the way, they pick up a hitchhiker played by Selena Gomez and

Death Note (Netflix) I’m going to start by making it clear that I don’t particularly enjoy anime, I very rarely watch anime, and I’ll probably never watch the “Death Note” anime.4 I only mention these things because I think they really contributed to my enjoyment of Netflix’s live-action adaptation of “Death Note,” which released back in August and was immediately met with waves of hate from anime fans on the internet. I tried to watch the movie back then, but my dog started peeing on the carpet three minutes into the film, and I had to stop everything to get her outside. “Death Note” eventually fell deep into the bowels of my Netflix queue and stayed there until last week, when I couldn’t fall asleep, started scrolling back through that queue and decided to give it a watch. “Death Note” is the story of a mega-angsty high schooler named Light Turner, who happens upon a notebook that will kill anyone whose name is written in it. This book and its terrible power immediately lead to all sorts of horrible, morally-repugnant things for Light and his girlfriend Mia, but this all makes for a solid, modern horror B-movie in the tradition of the “Final Destination” series. Just like those movies, “Death Note” deals with the same sort of supernatural rules and consequences, outlandish death sequences, and thrilling finales, all while adding some truly beautiful imagery, a super groovy synth soundtrack that slaps and the terror that is Willem Dafoe, who provides the voice of Ryuk, the demon that is so thoughtfully included with the Death Note. Again, this is by no means a great movie, but I unironically love it and give it a very sincere 8/10. Fight me. Alright, I got a little carried away talking about Netflix stuff, so let’s go real quick through the winners from other streaming services. Sneaky Pete (Amazon) “Sneaky Pete” is a fun, light crime drama about Marius, a Danny Oceanstyle New York City con man on the run from the mob. After committing a minor crime and spending some time in jail to throw the mob boss and his cronies off the trail, Marius assumes the identity of his former cellmate Pete and spends some time hiding out on Pete’s family’s farm with the estranged grandparents and cousins that Pete ran away from years earlier. Marius quickly finds himself involved in the bond business of his new “family” and, before too long is wrapped up in a whole new mess of trouble. The first season of “Sneaky Pete” was absolutely phenomenal, and the second season just dropped on March 9. Give it a watch! I’d give it another 8/10.

definitely isn’t a great movie3—it’s full of bad dialogue and spots where the plot makes absolutely no sense—but it’s also got some really cool, unique moments. If you’re looking for a different take on cop movies, “Bright” is a solid choice. I give it a 6/10.

My Brother, My Brother and Me Show (VRV) The “My Brother, My Brother and Me” TV show originally streamed on SeeSo, NBC’s dirt-cheap comedy streaming service, but that went de-

The Discovery Poster. (NETFLIX) funct. Now the show is hosted on VRV, which I think is some sort of streaming super-conglomerate. I’m almost positive that the MBMBAM show is available to stream with a free account, which everyone should take advantage of. Based on the comedy podcast of the same name, “My Brother, My Brother and Me” follows the McElroy brothers in their real-life hometown of Huntington, West Virginia, as they take audience questions (such as “How do I get rid of the supposedly-haunted artifacts that my roommate is keeping in our dorm?” or ”How can I get teens to respect me?”) and use them as jumping-off points for things like tarantula parades, high-tech resumes of the future and frequent encounters with the actual mayor of Huntington, who seems constantly exasperated with their exploits. The MBMBAM show has a very specific sense of humor, which might not click with you, but the majority of the show is weird and wonderful to watch. I give it a super solid 7/10 and hope that you’ll give it a shot. I think that’s more than enough for this week, so I’m going to call it a wrap on this column and on this quarter. Thanks for reading along with me and for struggling through some of the weaker articles of the winter.5 I’m excited for the things I’ve got planned for spring quarter and cannot wait for

the life-shaping multimedia event that “Infinity War” is sure to be. As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, drop me a line at matthew. fennell@wallawalla.edu. Good luck on finals, and have a great spring break! 1 Spoiler Alert: stop watching right when Jason Segel hooks himself up to the machine. I guarantee that the ending you’ll imagine is better than what actually happens. 2 What up, Jarrod and Greg! 3 In fact, you’d be completely justified in saying that “Bright” is definitely a bad movie. 4 Don’t @ me. 5 I’d like to personally apologize to both readers and editors for the poetry analysis I did a month ago. I couldn’t quite stick the landing and wasn’t able to make it as great as I’d hoped. My bad.

Matt Fennell is a computer engineering major.

SCIENCE HUMAN BIOLOGY

Is Gender Variation Possible? By Forrest Sheperd Questions surrounding the LGBTQ+ community and their continued acceptance into society has been a hot topic. Never having been particularly impacted by this topic—despite having grown up in an area of California which has an open discussion about the issue—I hadn’t given it much thought. I didn’t have any negative feelings towards the LGBTQ+ community; I just didn’t understand them. I had always assumed that there was no logical explanation for those who struggled with gender identity other than mental illness. It wasn’t until my college science courses that I began to understand the complexities of what determines gender expression and how wrong I had been. I quickly learned that the process which determines the sex of an organism is a vastly complex system that we still do not fully understand. When any part of this complex system is altered, it can potentially result in what are called “disorders of sexual development.” This term is controversial

and has since shifted towards a more moderate phrase: variations of sexual development. Could these variations have an impact on a person’s perception of their gender? To help us understand this concept, let’s introduce ourselves to some basics of how sex is determined. In humans, the biological default is female. It’s only if the sperm fuses its Y chromosome with the egg’s X chromosome that the organism will develop into a male. The sex-determining region of the Y chromosome (SRY) will suppress the development of female reproductive organs, while promoting the production of male reproductive organs.1 However, if a mutation occurs in this region of the Y chromosome, the organism may develop as a female despite having the male genotype (set of genes).2 Even if the Y chromosome is normal, other conditions such as androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)—a condition in which varying levels of a person’s cells do not respond to androgenic hormones such as testosterone—can result in a range of

anything from an undermasculinized male to a phenotypic (regarding observable traits resulting from genes) female individual with a male genotype.3 AIS is an example of a condition caused by variations in the developmental process which may result in a range of sexual expression, including ambiguous genitalia. The state of being anything other than fully male or female is referred to as intersex. Other conditions exist which may result in both male and female cells in the same body. This condition, called chimerism, is caused by more than one fertilized egg merging into the same embryo during development.4 Genetically-distinct cells which would normally develop into fraternal twins will begin to develop into the same body. Although variations in sexual development are rare in humans (up to 1.7 percent of live births),5 it is important to remember that thousands of people live with these conditions which have a major impact on their lives and sense of identity. Being intersex can contribute to the occurrence of a dis-

crepancy between the gender assigned at birth and the gender someone identifies with, a state known as gender dysphoria.6 Additionally, many people with intersex conditions have to deal with infertility.7 The realization that the more we learn about the world around us the less we really know certainly applies to human biology. As we learn more about how sex is developed, we continue to discover the complexities of this process and the potential alterations which may lead to a variation in the expression of sex as a person develops. I have covered only a few of the many conditions which may result in a variation of sexual development; however, dozens more exist. Although no one can say that variation in sexual development is the exclusive cause of gender dysphoria, it is believed to be a contributing cause. 1 Schafer, Alan J et al. “Sex Determination in Humans.” BioEssays, vol. 18, no. 12, Dec. 1996, pp. 955–963. Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1002/ bies.950181205.

2 Ibid. C 3 “Gender and Genetics.” WHO, World Health Organization, www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/ index1.html. 4 Norton, Aaron T. “Which Half Is Mommy?: Tetragametic Chimerism and Trans-Subjectivity.” WSQ: Women’s Studies Quarterly, vol. 36, no. 3-4, 2008, pp. 106–125., doi:10.1353/wsq.0.0115. 5 Blackless, Melanie et al. “How Sexually B Dimorphic Are We? Review and Synthesis.” American Journal of Human Biology, vol. 12, no. 2, Mar. 2000, pp. 151–166. PMC, doi:10.1002/ a (sici)1520-6300(200003/04)12:23.3.co;2-6. T 6 Klink, Daniel et al. “Genetic Aspects of Gender b Identity Development and Gender Dysphoria.” Gender Dysphoria and Disorders of Sex Development e Focus on Sexuality Research, 21 May 2013, pp. w 25–51. Springer, doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-7441-8_2. 7 Batavia, J.P. Van et al. “Fertility in Disorders of Sex d Development: A Review.” Journal of Pediatric Urol- n ogy, vol. 12, no. 6, Dec. 2016, pp. 418–425. Elsevier, m doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2016.09.015.

m l l h c a n r t

Forrest Sheperd is a biology major.

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Feature college place, wa | walla walla university

| March 2018 Issue 19

LGBTQ+ and Adventism By Jake Sloop This past January, The Collegian featured stories of discrimination and resilience that WWU students of racial minorities have faced on our campus. This week we are featuring stories of our LGBTQ+ community and their fight for dignity. To better understand their stories, we have presented a number of short essays, and, in this feature, we will look deeper into the culture that creates these narratives. First, in order to comprehend the struggles that LGBTQ+ people face on our campus, we must address the reality of the community’s minuscule size. It is estimated that there are between 10 to 30 LGBTQ+ individuals on campus, representing roughly 1 percent of our community—approximately one quarter the national rate of about 4 percent. Readers may question the relevance of devoting an entire issue of The Collegian to covering such a small community; however, its relevance isn’t about catering to this small minority but rather about evaluating our morals within our Christian framework of ethics. SDA theological understanding does not endorse the LGBTQ+ community, primarily due to several verses throughout the Bible that are interpreted to be condemnatory. That said, the traditional evangelical interpretation has many detractors who explain these verses through a variety of lenses. For example, one crowd favorite is 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Do you not know that the unrigh-

teous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals [that is, catamites], nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 This instance of the word “homosexuals” comes from a hotly-disputed Greek word that has been translated as homosexuals since the 1950s. Alternatively, some understandings of this verse could be derived from the etymology of “homosexual,” a term that was often used to designate maleon-male pedophiles in the 1950s. This translation is reflected in the footnote included in the New King James Version denoting that the word homosexual refers to a catamite. Now, don’t worry, I didn’t know what a catamite was either, but here’s the definition: Catamite: a boy kept by a pederast Pederast: a man who desires or engages in sexual activity with a boy2 That’s pretty horrifying and obviously worthy of Paul’s condemnation. Conversely, it should go without saying that the term “homosexual” has since evolved in its meaning to refer to non-pedophilic same-sex relationships. Consequently, some argue that these verses do not hold condemnation for the LGBTQ+ community. Regardless of alternative interpretations, the Adventist church recognizes these verses as condemning homosexuality in any form. Therefore,

we as a church choose not to officially accept practicing homosexuals into our church. Despite this, gay members exist within our academic and faith communities. By virtue of this fact, we must address how to understand this minority—Regardless of the original meaning of this Greek word, they exist and, just as Jesus did, we are called to love all people. With this imperative in mind, I set out to see how our WWU community treats its LGBTQ+ members. From the outset, I found both some heartwarming stories and some equally horrific tales of hate, which I found genuinely shocking for a Christian campus. For example, one student received death threats from their peers in regard to their sexuality. I was more than a little saddened by this news—especially because our community should be a Christian fellowship seeking to build up our peers, regardless of differences, perceived sinfulness or any other reason. We all stand as sinners before God no matter who or how we love, and as such we should stand to judge only ourselves. Therefore, such hate should never exist in a Christian, a student of WWU or any member of our community. In this way, we have failed; our goal to create a welcoming environment based on the tenets of our love-based religion has not caught everyone. We need to do better to educate our community and to practice our duty to love one another. Only then can we guarantee the change in heart across

our student body to make our campus a safe place for all people. Fixing the areas where we have failed begins with each of us. When we hear homophobic slurs, distasteful jokes about minorities or otherwise hateful comments, we need to stand up for these groups. Our role as Christians is to be a light of love, which means recognizing that these minorities exist within our communities, including, perhaps, even among our own friends. Stand up, speak up and say something; it will do more than you could ever imagine. Conversely, as an educational institution, our leadership could be called upon to provide better support networks for our LGBTQ+ community. As previously mentioned, the Adventist Church does not recognize queer people as eligible for membership due to the Church’s understanding of seven different Bible verses. Consequently, official university recognition is a complicated issue fraught with barriers that remain uncrossed. Regardless, recognizing our LGBTQ+ community would hardly be a first for an Adventist institution. Andrews University and Loma Linda University each have recognized their first LGBTQ+ groups.3, 4, 5 Both exist as support groups, but that role hardly stands as their most profound function. Rather, the official recognition of these groups sends a message of non-discrimination to the student body. While this message sounds simple in theory, its impact is paradigm-shifting. Professors will

know that the school will support them for stopping homophobia in the classroom, students will know that they can speak up to stop homophobia and, most importantly, LGBTQ+ students will know that they’re safe on a campus of caring students and administrators who stand up for them. As we look to the future, we will be forced to tackle a multitude of complex issues. Nonetheless, we have a duty to protect and support our community, including our minorities. So while we may never possess the wisdom to know the best course of action, Christ left us an example of love and acceptance; we can only pray to live up to His example. 1 NKJV, Biblegateway.com “That is, catamites” originally appears in the text as a footnote. 2 Merriam-Webster Dictionary 3 https://spectrummagazine.org/article/2017/11/09/ andrews-university-approves-creation-official-lgbit-student-support-group 4 http://www.fulcrum7.com/news/2017/11/9/ andrews-university-will-create-an-official-lgbit-support-group 5 https://conversation.spectrummagazine.org/t/ loma-linda-university-starts-lgbitq-support-group-education-news-shorts/13927 For further reading: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/eliel-cruz/christian-campuses-on-the_b_4038306.html

Jake Sloop is a biochemistry major.

LGBTQ+ POLICY AT WWU All the following information is freely accessible through the WWU website.

Student Handbook Code of Conduct1 By choosing to attend WWU you are expected to, among other things, “Maintain a lifestyle in accordance with Seventh-day Adventist Christian principles.” • “Examples of unacceptable behavior include [among other things]: engaging in sexual activity that violates biblical principles as understood and appreciated by the Seventh-day Adventist church.” Sexual Identity Statement • Appreciation for the value of every person. We believe that every person is created in the image of God as a being of inestimable value and worth, imbued with the powers of intelligence, stewardship, and creativity akin to those of the Creator. • Affirmation of Seventh-day Adventist teachings. We are founded on Christian teachings and values as understood and appreciated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which teaches that sexual relationships are to be protected and celebrated in the context of a committed marriage between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:23-25). Walla Walla University supports this conviction through its policies and requires faculty, staff and students to reflect this conviction in their behavior. • Commitment to respect and civility. All human beings must be treated with respect, with compassion and with dignity, and we teach that the requirement of love is paramount (Matt. 22:34- 40; John 13:34-35). As a community of higher education devoted to both faith and discovery, we expect from Walla Walla University faculty, staff and students a full commitment to this “greatest commandment” in our words and deeds, especially in our treatment of those we disagree with (Matt. 5:43-48). Sexual Standards Policy • Only couples united in a legal marriage between a man and a woman will be acknowledged as married in the policies of the university. Students will be subject to disciplinary action if, among other things, they engage in: • Intentional discrimination against a person or group of people on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation except where such distinction is allowed by law.

WWU’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy2 Discrimination: “Disparate and unfair treatment of any individual because of his/her race, color, sex, national origin, age or disability as defined by federal, state, or local laws is prohibited.” (The term “sexual orientation” is not mentioned in the policy.) Harassment: “Inappropriate conduct directed toward an individual or group because of his/her race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or other protected group status as defined by federal, state or local laws is prohibited. Conduct that is significant enough to alter an individual’s employment conditions, educational environment, living environment or participation in a university activity, and that creates an intimidating, offensive or hostile environment for employment, education, or participation in a university activity, is illegal and prohibited.”

WWU’s Staff Hiring Guidelines3 Suggests interviewers should avoid asking questions about gender and sexual preference when interviewing a candidate for a university position.

Micah’s Article Last Year4 There is no official policy regarding housing for transgender students. The university will work with transgender students on a case-by-case basis and, as of last year’s Feb. 23 article on this topic, Kristen Taylor, Director of Residential Life and Housing, said campus housing was in the process of developing more clear policies regarding transgender students.

1 https://www.wallawalla.edu/campus-life/student-life/assistant-vpdean-of-students/student-handbookand-code-of-conduct/ 2 https://www.wallawalla.edu/resources/human-resources-payroll/employee-resources/handbook-policies/ discrimination-and-harassment/ 3 https://www.wallawalla.edu/resources/human-resources-payroll/supervisor-resources/hiring-tools/ 4 The Collegian, v. 101, issue 17

SUBMISSIONS COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY

LGBTQ+ Submissions

By anonymous I’m not sure when it happened, but at some point I began wearing a mask. The change must have been subtle because nobody seemed to notice—not even my family. I covered my sadness with joy, my insecurity with confidence, my fear of being different with normality. People liked the imitation more than the real me, so I kept the mask on. Who am I really? Would you love me if you knew? How could you love me if I can’t even love myself—and how can I love who I am in a world that continually reminds me how disgusting and loathsome I am to God? Oh, but it’s not the sinner, it’s the sin—and for that reason I am forced to continually wear this mask.

By anonymous I came out to my family when I was 14. In my freshman year, I wouldn’t go out of my way to tell people I was gay, but if it slipped out, it was fine. Friends told friends, and most people were very nice. Every once in a while I would have to endure some forceful Bible-quoting Christians... They couldn’t seem to comprehend that I could love God and also be gay. For me, the message of Jesus is clear: how we treat God and others are the salvation issues. The Bible is full of rules, but they seem to come down to our love for God and others. So as long as my being gay isn’t oppressing the poor, widowed or orphans (pro tip: it’s not), then it really only comes down to God and myself. And we are tight.

(MOZIRU.COM)

By anonymous Most days are a struggle. My friends are all dating, and when they ask why I am still single I have to dodge their questions. Rather than ask me if I am happy, my parents ask me if I have found “the one.” Religion teachers affirm that I am loved, but it feels more like God loves the romanticized idea of who I could be rather than actually loving the broken mess of a person I am. I didn’t ask for this burden, and if it were a choice, then why would I willfully choose to be ostracized? Who do I talk to about this? A psychologist at Campus Health because I am mental? A pastor who has the best of intentions but simply wants to pray the gay away? It feels like nobody at WWU knows what I am going through, and there are no resources specifically for LGBTQ+ students.

By anonymous I really wish the issue of sexual orientation wasn’t an ignored topic. If the school truly cared about all the students, not just the straight ones, then there would be some bridge-building events, community discussions, and openness on campus regarding sexuality. If the mentality is that I am embracing sin by identifying with the undeniable genetic disposition of same-sex attraction, then remind me to embrace the reality that I am a child of God and loved beyond measure. Look at page 8 for the final submission and for poll results!

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March 2018 Issue 19 | walla walla university | college place, wa

WEEK IN FORECAST

March 15-21 15

Thursday

Friday

Faculty Recital: Albert R. Diaz and guest, Michael Kudirka, guitar duo @ FAC, 7-8:30 p.m.

“The Phat Pack” - Featuring Broadway Stars @ Gesa Power House Theatre, 7-8:30 p.m.

Andrew Rivers Headlines Wine Valley Comedy @ The Courtyard Marriot, 7-8:30 p.m.

Dazzling, Delightful, and Dandy! The Spring Variety Show @ The Liberty Theater, 7-9 p.m.

Saturday

Symphony Orchestra Concert @ U-Church, 4-5:15 p.m. Bed races @ The Jesus Sculpture, 7:30 p.m. St. Patrick’s Day

National Everything You Think is Wrong Day

National Everything You Do is Right Day

National Shoe the World Day

National Panda Day

National Freedom of Information Day

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FOOD SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BREAKFAST AND LUNCH

Collegian Brunch By Hannah Thiel

Hannah Thiel is an art major.

CULTURE DINE DARINGLY DAILY

Portland Dining Month By Daphne Novak For the entire month of March, Travel Portland is hosting Portland Dining Month. Restaurants across the city are offering a special: three-course meals for $33. Now, I know that is a little pricey, but these meals are on the fancier side, so it’s a good deal. This year, around 130 restaurants are taking part in Portland Dining Month. In typical Portland fashion, the menus vary from French to Cajun to Korean to Middle Eastern, etc. You can also filter the restaurants on their website to just feature vegetarian or even vegan meals. Also, if you book your reservation ahead through OpenTable, a portion of the cost of your meal will go to the Oregon Food Bank. The links to the OpenTable booking page are found to the right of the restaurant names on the Portland Dining Month website (link below). Here are a couple tips on how to get the most bang for your buck because not all deals are created equal. Compare the menu of the restaurant to the dining month menu. Many restaurants feature items that are typically on their menu, so take advantage of this opportunity to

National Corn Dog Day

get these fan-faves at a discount. Beware of the dishes ending in “-o.” This means taquitos and antipasto—along with bruschetta and tartine, which I learned the hard way was just a $3 crostini-sized piece of toast with some mildly fancy toppings (yes, I’m still bitter about this incident). Choose restaurants that have a large Dining Month menu. While you may only get three courses, that doesn’t mean that the restaurant only offers one option for each course. The more courses the better for going in a group. Try something new. Portland Dining Month gives you the option to try a new cuisine at a nicer restaurant without hurting your budget too much. If you are a little tight on money and feel a little iffy about the cuisine, you can always split one meal between two people. Link to Portland Dining Month’s homepage: https://www.travelportland. com/dining-month/

Daphne Novak is a psychology major.

(TRAVEL PORTLAND)

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college place, wa, walla walla university

Sunday

Monday

Together Equal Tour - Walla Walla @ Gesa Power House Theatre, 1:30-3 p.m.

It’s exam time; you don’t have time to go to events! No fun for you!

All-Character Meet & Greet @ Jumpin’ Jellybeanz, 2-5 p.m.

Tuesday

| March 2018 Issue 19

Wednesday

It’s exam time; you don’t have time to go to events! No fun for you!

Little Bunnies Night @ MiltonFreewater Public Library

National Certified Nurses Day

National Proposal Day

Exams are over. Be free my little bunnies!

National Chocolate Caramel Day

National Ravioli Day Spring Begins

National Awkward Moments Day

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WWU Rental Textbooks Due National French Bread Day

National Supreme Sacrifice Day

National Kick Butts Day

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OUTDOORS RUUD REMARKS

The Bugaboo Bug, part 4 By Niqolas Ruud Parts one, two and three of this story can be found in the Feb. 22, March 1 and March 8 issues of The Collegian, respectively. To continue where I left off... Once my prussiking skills had been sufficiently tested, Al and I simulclimbed to the south summit then began to rappel down the Kain Route. During our car ride in, I had read on Mountain Project somewhere that descending the Kain Route in the dark after not having climbed it before could lead to an unexpected night under the stars—or two, in the experience of the author—due to the route’s confusing nature. While it was indeed confusing on occasion (thankfully not so much so that we needed to bivy unexpectedly), Al and I were mostly just frustrated with the number of times our rope got caught when we pulled it after a rappel. One time it was so bad that Al had to climb up a good 10 meters to retrieve the stupid thing (the marathoner’s first trad lead). We eventually made it down to the top of Bugaboo-Snowpatch Col and rapped a few more times to get ourselves down onto the snowfield. By this time it was around 1 or 2 a.m. As we began to saunter back to camp, through the boulder fields and up the short section of trail to the top of Applebee Dome, it started to snow, then rain, then rain-snow pretty hard. Needless to say, we were all pretty thankful to have gotten back to the tents (even if it was 3 a.m.) and off of the peak before that storm rolled in.

The author and Al stand together whilst Chad and Tyler put as much distance between themselves as possible. (NIQOLAS RUDD) We could have had ourselves a 5.7 epic. As we were unpacking and getting ourselves settled for the night—or what

The author resting on rest day. (NIQOLAS RUDD)

some might call morning—we noticed a few other climbers all packed and ready for their alpine start, gulping

down coffee and munching on oatmeal. We were proud of them—what great courage it takes to wake up so early. We all awoke at different times: I woke up to spend a moment with my favorite Gatorade bottle. Chad woke up to yawn once or twice and then rolled over again. Al woke up at 4:30 to go run a marathon or something, and Tyler just stayed in bed until noon (actually, it was Chad who stayed in bed until noon; in fact, he stayed there until 6 a.m. the next day when we packed up to leave—not a joke). Today was obviously going to be a rest day. We ate a whole lot. I asked the other guys (who had hauled obnoxious amounts of food up there) if they had anything extra, and somehow I haggled myself a free box of rice. Everyone but Chad (who yawned the day away) ran up nearby Eastpost Spire at one point or another. I tried to free solo some crack but got scared at the crux and spent 20 minutes downclimbing (Tyler and Al later set up a top-rope on the crack and had a good time with it, too). We just sat around and watched. It was fabulous. It was fabulous until I realized that this was to be my last day in the Bugaboos; we needed to leave the next morning to get back for some other engagements we had in the “real world.” I was pretty bummed; we’d only finished one climb plus a ton of hiking. I suppose that that one climb was pretty great, though. The next morning we woke up around 5 or 6 a.m. and headed back down into the valley. As we were

walking through Applebee one last time, we asked this tiny little human who must have been carried up all that way in a backpack (as her legs were far too small to actually make it up to the campground) to snap a quick photo of the group. In the photo you will notice that Al and I are standing next to one another as any good partners would, while Chad and Tyler have opted to get as far from one another as possible— very sad indeed. The Bugaboos continue to call my name; in fact, on the ride home, as Tyler drove us through customs back into the U.S. (all 12 hours once again), the border guard said he had never heard of “the Bugaboos,” and, since he seemed like a very mean man, I am happy that he will not be camping up at Applebee Dome anytime soon. Nevertheless, I do hope that this collection of words inspires you to never want to visit such a beautiful place so that I can start my next Bugaboo climb at 3 a.m. with no one there to rival my spot on the wall. The Bugaboos were a beautiful place, something really special. I know I will be back to climb some more “ultra-classic ultra-classics” and bicker about the time zone with my partners. The Bugaboo bug has bitten me, and I sure hope it passes you right on by.

Niqolas Rudd is a religious studies major.

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March 2018 Issue 19 | walla walla university | college place, wa

OPINION PHONES

The iFriend By Parker Bailey Many of us communicate with our friends solely through those shiny rectangles we keep in our pockets. In casual practice, this method isn’t a problem. Our phones make communication, a very key element in relationships, convenient and reliable. Without our phones, it would be impossible to instantly bridge the distance often spanned between two friends. I hate to break it to you, but teleportation is not yet possible. Thus, our phones are indispensable. However, they lack some important qualities: physical presence, a solid basis, and genuine, complete emotion. Presence is Important Why is physical presence so important? Tacit communication can change actions and reactions in conversation. For example, sarcasm is more easily detected in person than in text. If you asked me, “What do you think of bagels?” and I reply with, “Oh I just love bagels!” You may or may not know if I like bagels— you just can’t tell. Now if I added some inflection to it, you might be able to tell, but inflection is nearly impossible in a standard text message.

You Need a Basis A relationship cannot survive entirely based in virtual space. This isn’t to say that you can’t make real friends over the phone—you certainly can—but the relationship will be noticeably lacking. A relationship needs to have some basis in personal interaction, or it will feel somewhat empty. Emotion is Dulled Over the phone, emotions can be portrayed decently with the correct wording or choice of emoticons/emojis (if your phone allows them), but they have nowhere near the actual effect of true emotions. Furthermore, emotion over text can be easily faked. True emotion in person is nearly impossible to hide no matter how good of an actor you may be. Without conveyance of real emotions, relationships can become shallow and empty because nobody really feels anymore. I’m as guilty of all of this as the next guy. I’ve had friendships rise and fall at the hand of my phone, and I only have myself to blame. Phones are valuable for bridging distance and communicating instantly, but be sure that they only are used to communicate and

Smartphones and increasingly convenient apps have made it very easy to connect with family and friends. (DUBEAT.COM) not to replace relationships. Try to make time to meet your important people in person—to really get to know people. For us introverts, it may be more work, but it’s worth it. I know it’s dead week,

but without any human interaction, you’re asking for trouble. Make time for someone—no matter how inconvenient—and you will not regret it. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharp-

SUBMISSION

Parker Bailey is an engineering major.

University Statement

COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY

LGBTQ+ Submissions By anonymous Being part of the LGBTQ+ community at Walla Walla University is… complicated. It’s listening to a random person make an offhanded gay joke in the Atlas. It’s trying not to react when an acquaintance who doesn’t know better jokingly says that I do something because I’m a lesbian. It’s seeing the comments from my peers who talk about how they wish gay people could just “keep it in the bedroom” after posters popped up on campus about LGBTQ+ rights. I feel guilty not telling some of my friends. Every time we’re alone together, I feel this urge to somehow make it relevant to the conversation—to blurt out, “I’m bi,” just to get it out there. I wish I didn’t have to choose my words carefully or hide part of myself from people around me. So, why don’t I just tell people? Being raised in an Adventist system that forbids the employment of openly LGBTQ+ people—in a community largely made up of religiously conservative individuals and families—has given me ample experience with which to predict how most of the people I know will react. I’ll be left with the feeling that they’re judging me behind my back because they’re too polite to say anything to my face. I also know that if my secret gets out, it will not only impact me, but my family as well. Word travels fast in the Adventist system, and church people can be unkind, to say the least. I can put up with people judging me, but I won’t willingly disclose something that would cause other people to shun my family in communities that matter to them. For me, being bi here isn’t painfully difficult during my day-to-day life most of the time because I keep it a secret. I don’t know how it feels to be stigmatized as some of my “out” peers may; only a couple of my friends know, and everyone else just assumes I’m heterosexual because I occasionally express interest in someone of the

ens iron, so one person sharpens another”—let’s sharpen more with iron and less with aluminum, plastic and glass.

Hilary Catlett

Walla Walla University is founded on Christian teachings as understood by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Our teachings hold central the inestimable value and of every person, as beings created in the image of God, imbued with powers of intelligence, stewardship, and creativity akin to those of the Creator. We also believe all people share a common human experience, one which involves a struggle to be understood and heard as we grapple with what it means to be fallen humanity. We seek to build a campus community around the values and ethics of the Bible. As a religious institution, our desire to build this community around our beliefs is protected as we develop policies and practices that support these beliefs. We acknowledge people have different interpretations of Scripture, and that there may be tension and disagreement with how we approach issues. Regardless of one’s perspective or tradition, we ask all of our members of our community to engage this topic with civility and respect. We are committed to providing a safe learning environment for all students, and develop policies and practices around this commitment—such as our Title IX policy regarding harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct. We condemn violence or hate directed toward others, regardless of their perspectives, traditions or identities. Some members of our university community have indicated frustrations with their experience at WWU related to LGBTQ issues. We take this feedback

Part of a collection of illustrations made every day during Pride Month 2017. (CARRA SYKES) opposite sex. I hate that people might think I “picked” a side of my sexuality when I’m in a relationship with a man or a woman, as if my sexual identity is determined by the person I’m dating. Being bi doesn’t mean I’m half straight

and half gay, like some weird light switch where I flip back and forth depending on who I’m attracted to. It’s difficult for me to sum up my experience in a way that others can understand, but I’m going to try anyway:

seriously, and insist on Christian care and

it’s holding back a part of myself from people I love because it’s marginally easier for me to not tell them than for me to see the disapproval on their faces when I tell them, “I’m bi.”

compassion in this ongoing dialogue. As an institution of higher education, and as an institution of faith, we are not alone in our quest to balance our values with the development of policies and practices intended to protect all members of our campus community. We value your involvement in this process.

SURVEY

“Should WWU positively acknowledge the LGBTQ+ community?” The people in the LGBTQIA+ community Are made in the image of God. Can we admit that we are trying to sort out exactly what exactly our support looks like as a church while still affirming their existence and value? Yes. The LGBTQIA+ community has higher rates of violence against them as well as suicide rates than any other group. They need support, and they need a church and school who is willing to boldly affirm their personhood and value in a time when Christians do not always do so.

44.7% said no

Being gay, bi, or trans is not a choice. God would never expect people to hide their true selves.

53.5% said yes

188 total responses

The lack of acknowledgement only furthers the fear culture already in place. The uncertainty that you will remain safe if outed at the school. By ignoring a population, it allows hate to go unchecked, creates the illusion that members of a community are alone if they are not lucky enough to find like minded individuals. While the school has protection for the queer community in its policy, the lack of acknowledgement nullifies this. They allow individuals to attend, but seem to push them aside and ignore potential concerns, and no information on support is offered, allowing some to fall through the cracks. As Christians, we should respect every individual because we are all children of God. Yet, it is important that we recognize and support LGBTQ+ people while making it clear that we don’t necessarily affirm their lifestyle. It’s a fine line to walk but I believe that we should make strides towards positively recognizing the LGBTQ+ community in order to allow them to experience Christian love and support. Who cares where consenting adults get their socks off. We’re all just people.

I feel that they should be positive towards them and love them as anyone else, but I don’t think it’s necessary to draw attention to them and discuss that at school. It isn’t needed. Same with at church. Definitely love them, but I don’t agree that is a correct lifestyle and that it’s our business to draw attention to it and discuss our opinions on the matter. We aren’t supposed to judge, we are only called to love. I don’t believe any group should be recognized to stand out from the other for reasons of race, creed, sexual orientation. I feel humans should be looked as one group. If WWU positively acknowledges the LGBTQ+ community it will bring down a blanket of shame from the Adventist community and could make our donors stop donating. Having campus clubs is perfectly fine, but do not have the administration itself acknowledging it. As a church we do not endorse the homosexual lifestyle, so it would be inconsistent with our beliefs to sponsor a club or anything of the like. They don’t need to positively acknowledge it, they just need to... let it be. Let them be heard. Let them have a presence and a voice. Let them make clubs and hang posters and have events. No need to make any official statement of support, just stop censoring them.