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Ahn Portrait of Ellen White Unveiled in Library Ceremony -p.2
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DARREN HESLOP
BALANCING RELIGION & SCIENCE
TAKING AIM
AU AMBASSADORS
“Are we unknowingly pushing peo- “Students attract students.” “My faith has often been too nice- ple to lash out violently at others?” ly sugarcoated, all for the sake of feeling secure with a seemingly perfect religion.” P.3
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FOOT FOR THOUGHT
THE SAND MAN
“To this day, I’m a bit of an obses- “ I just started weeping; I mean, sive toe-wiggler.” the whole thing was just an incredible experience.”
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ADVENTISTS IN POLITICS “As Adventists, we need not refrain from lending our moral perspective to political issues.”
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THE STUDENT MOVEMENT
News
Ellen G. White Portrait Unveiled
Shenika K. McDonald News Editor
PHOTO BY THATO LEHOKO
Danni Francis | A crowd of over 140 eager spectators gathered in the James White Library on the evening of Monday, Oct. 26 to witness the unveiling of the long-anticipated painted portrait of Ellen G. White. Ellen White was a prophetess, preacher, missionary, mother and author of over 100 original and compiled books. She is one of the founding members of the Adventist church. Harry Ahn, the artist, painted Ellen’s husband, James White, a few years ago and expressed his desire and passion to paint Ellen White to accompany the previous piece. Ahn is an internationally recognized art-
ist, winning numerous awards including the Michelangelo Buonarroti 500 Celebration International Award in 2008, the Leonardo da Vinci International Award in 2009, and the Grand Prize in the International Portrait Competition in 2010, just to name a few. For the past 25 years, Ahn has lent his talent to Andrews University as an adjunct professor. The program began with an instrumental prelude of early Adventist hymns, performed by Marianne Kordas, Director of Music Materials Center along with a few students. Following the prelude was a welcome by Larry Onsager, Dean of Libraries.
It was his vision to incorporate works by Ahn into the fabric of the library. “The idea was to get more works by Harry. After the idea about the James White portrait, it was natural to try to get him to do something of Ellen,” Onsager said. “Knowing that he liked the idea of doing her portrait and really wanted to do something of her made it even better. I wanted something of a younger Ellen White and I am very delighted that he did that, and did it exceedingly well.” Jason Shockey, senior management major and Andrews University Student Association president, prayed over the program. Following
the prayer was the song “What Heavenly Music,” sang by Wanda Cantrell, Administrative Assistant. An interview between June Price, Campus Chaplain, and Justin Torossian, seminary student and greatgreat-great-great grandson of Ellen White, produced insight into Ellen White as a person. “It was a pleasure working with Justin, to get some inside, personal information about who Ellen White was. It made me look at her with eyes that I did not have before,” Price said. Of his involvement in the unveiling, Torossian said, “I’m grateful that I’m able to be on campus as a student while the unveiling of this painting is happening. I’m hoping I was able to shed some light on how she was a loving Christian.” As the interview drew to its close, Torrosian said, “Know that you are all spiritual descendants of Ellen White and that is infinitely more important than a biological connection. We are all descendants by faith.” “The university and the library is really privileged to have such an amazing portrait of EGW,” said Andrea Luxton, Andrews University Provost. “The artist has done an amazing job of making her come alive as an individual. By looking at her face you can see her close connection with both God and humanity.” Kathy Demsky, director of the Architecture Resource Center and friend of Ahn, spoke briefly before the unveiling. Demsky said, “God did this. This is a God-driven program that went beyond my imagination.
I had the privilege of going to Harry and inviting him to do this paining.” On behalf of Ahn, who humbly declined to speak, Demsky said, “Harry revealed to me that he has always wanted to paint Ellen White. He has prayed over this portrait more than any other before it. I’m just the painter. I don’t need to talk.” Friends, Demsky and Ahn, removed the veil together, earning a chorus of “oohs” and “ahhs” from the spectators. “The artwork is a serene representation of Ellen White and makes her appear very human and quite relatable,” said junior religion pre-med major Jatniel Rodriguez. “There is no question that when you look at this portrait you see a very real person. She comes alive in front of you and that is the skill that Harry brings to the art,” Luxton said. Following the unveiling, Kordas returned to the stage, leading the audience in singing “Angels Hovering Round,” followed by a closing prayer of dedication by Price. “I praise God that every time I walk into the library I’ll be able to look not only to the left and see James, but to the right and see Ellen as well,” Torossian said. “I pray that we will not only remember the great messages that God has given to his people but by His grace, we would have a clearer picture of the messenger who he used.”
Enactus to Hold “Super Health Fair” Khayla McDonald | Lately, health and wellness has been a big movement in communities, schools and other organizations. People are starting to see the importance of instilling the values of good health at a young age. One of the organizations helping to make a difference is Enactus, an international nonprofit organization that connects students, academic and business leaders to come up with ideas and projects that empower people to make the best of their opportunities and transform it into real sustainable progress for themselves and their communities. And currently, Enactus is carrying out its business model through its on-campus chapter right here in Berrien Springs. Enactus partnered with first grade students at Ruth Murdoch Elementary School last year engaging them in an eight-week program to develop healthy bodies and healthy minds.
Deciding to expand this year, they also moved their efforts to Mars Elementary School. Starting on Oct. 12, Andrews University students visited both elemen-
After the completion of the program, Enactus will host what they call their “Super Health Fair,” which will be themed, “What I Want To Be When I Grow Up”. The health fair
their parents in tow. The Enactus team will fundraise the entire project, and in addition will be funding field trips for the children to go on next semester.
People are starting to see the importance of instilling the values of good health at a young age. tary schools giving lectures to first graders teaching them about the eight principles of wellness, including Choice, Health, Environment, Activity, Trust, Interpersonal Relationship, Outlook and Nutrition. This year, the program time will be cut in half, to four weeks.
will be held on Sunday November 8th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Community Center at Mars Elementary School. The schoolchildren, their families, and members of the community are invited. The children will be dressed as the professionals they want to be when they grow up, with
Last year, the Enactus team was able to raise $2,000 through fundraising for Ruth Murdoch Elementary School to use for field trips. The team is trying to instill a sense of the importance of well-being and nutrition in the minds of young children, and are also working to help the students
at Andrews University adopt a similar mindset, especially with the wellness initiative happening this year. Enactus has successfully garnered professional volunteers to perform hearing tests, blood pressure and oral hygiene screenings, provide healthy diet information, and organized fitness activities for the children and their families. This impactful event will be a great step in promoting the importance of wellness on campus, especially with the Andrews University student body spreading the word and allowing other people to participate in and benefit from the wellness lectures and Super Health Fair.
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News
Future Engineers Drop Eggs for Sixth Annual Contest
PHOTO BY KIANA GURLEY
Regine Senior | On Thursday, Oct. 22, engineering and computer science students gathered in front of the Science Complex to watch the sixth annual Egg Drop Contest. For
the contest, students were called to create a means of transportation that would keep an egg safe when dropped from the balcony of the Science Complex. The student whose de-
sign had the smoothest landing and also kept their egg intact was considered the winner of the contest. Chair of the Department of Engineering and Computer Science, Dr.
Hyun Kwon, commented as to why the egg drop contest was created. “It is a way for students to show their creative designs while applying what they have learned in their classes,” Kwon said. There was a variety of designs that were seen at the contest, including a rocket, an airplane and even a “fire bomb.” Many students expressed their feelings of excitement about the event, and while each item was dropped from the roof, onlookers nervously kept quiet to see which design would survive the fall. Participant and junior chemical engineering major Ester Carrasco said, “It was more fun than I expected it to be. It was very suspenseful, and I found it very interesting to see the different ideas that were created.” In terms of her own design, Carrasco said, “To keep my egg safe, I made sure it was as protected as possible, so I wrapped tape around the entire design, especially in the middle to cushion the egg’s fall.” Another participant, junior engineering major Alicia Dooks, said, “I’m just really happy my egg did not break.” Freshman engineering major Matthew Davis spoke about his thought
process in making his missileshaped design. Davis said, “My design was made to be invincible and as tough as possible.” His design was proven stable as his egg remained intact. Most projects remained intact, though some experienced major egg damage. Many of the participants patiently watched and recorded with their phones, waiting to see who had won the contest. The judges chose three individuals who were each given a certificate and took a picture with a gold trophy filled with eggs. Freshman mechanical engineering major Josh Bailey was the first place winner of the contest. When asked about his ideas in creating his design, Bailey said, “I just did a lot of brainstorming and kept drawing my ideas and began to tape things together. I didn’t test it out before hand, I just went for it.” The second winner, junior aviation and engineering major M’saydez Campbell, said, “I really enjoy learning about planes, so that was my biggest inspiration. I also used aerodynamics when creating this vehicle. Although I did not test it out beforehand, I did a lot of research to make
sure it would work.” Junior engineering major Trinity Geary who was the final winner of the competition said, “I am so happy to see that my idea worked. For my design, I did a lot of research on wings and after looking through various types I was ultimately inspired by DaVinci’s model of helicopter blades.” Many students, including both those whose eggs did and did not break, expressed their appreciation of the opportunity to showcase their creativity the Egg Drop Contest provided, as well as to see all the different models students presented. Both contestants and onlookers also expressed their excitement as to what improvements next year’s Egg Drop Contest will bring.
Andrews Autumn Conference Tackles Religion and Science
PHOTO PROVIDED BY IMC
Alaryss Bosco | On October 2324, the 2015 Andrews Autumn Conference on Religion and Science returned to our campus. The conference is held annually, and this year’s featured keynote speaker was Gregory Boyd, who currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minn. Boyd received his PhD from the
Princeton Theological Seminary and has authored numerous books including Is God to Blame, God at War, and Benefit of the Doubt. Additionally, Boyd is well-known for his views on open theism (an idea about God’s foreknowledge and how that relates to human free will), and his work on the intersection between Christianity and politics. In 2006 The New York
Times featured a front-page article on Boyd’s views on Christian rights. He has made numerous appearances on media outlets, including CNN, the BBC and NPR. The conference officially commenced at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23 in Pioneer Memorial Church, where Dr. Boyd gave a dynamic lecture entitled “The Danger of Certainty-Seeking Faith.” Boyd discussed the pitfalls of attempting to understand faith with absolute certainty and the function of doubt. The meetings reconvened the next morning at 9 a.m. and ran until approximately 5 p.m. in the Biology Amphitheatre. The morning devotion was held by John Peckham who currently serves as Associate Professor of Theology and Christian Philosophy at the Andrews University Theological Seminary. Boyd gave the keynote address at 9:30 p.m., entitled “Honesty: The Foundation of Biblical Faith.” Sophomore biology major Rayford
Alva said, “I appreciated how the speaker Gregory Boyd presented me with an alternative way of viewing my religious beliefs. Boyd suggested developing a hierarchy of beliefs, which allows one to be more flexible with how one understands any belief that isn’t so central to the Christian faith. In this way, should my faith be shaken in an inconsequential belief, I need not panic as if it were the foundation of my faith that was being shaken, but rather realize that not every religious belief carries equal weight.” Around 10:45 a.m., Richard Rice, Professor of Theological Studies at Loma Linda University, spoke on “Trust and Doubt in the Drama of Faith.” Directly following Rice’s lecture, Steve Harnish, Professor of Mathematics at Bluffton University, gave a talk titled “Mathematical truths, doubts and (un) certainties: Dynamics of a creative relationality.” The final talk before lunch was provided by Carl Helrich, Emeritus
Professor of Physics at Goshen College, who gave a lecture entitled “Uncertainty.” Junior biology major Heaven Shin said, “Gregory Boyd’s keynote address truly spoke to me. Often as a Christian I have based my faith not on honesty but more on security. My faith has often been too nicely sugarcoated, all for the sake of feeling secure with a seemingly perfect religion. I refused to ask God difficult questions which I thought might lead to more difficult answers. However, now I realize that this is not true; God wants us to be honest with ourselves and to be honest with Him. This includes asking the deepest questions we have, questioning our blame and crying out the greatest thanks we have.” Upon reflecting over the conference, senior music education major Jonathan Doram said, “Hearing what roles doubt and trust can play in the disciplines of mathematics, physics and theology challenged me to take
a closer look at my own faith and assumptions. I took away from the conference the importance of deepening my level of self-awareness through honest, introspective thought in order to avoid a certainty-seeking and ultimately stagnant and shallow faith. The interdisciplinary and multi-generational audience gave me hope for a more intentional and open-minded church.” At 2 p.m., the afternoon portion of the conference began with a panel discussion, which took questions, a short period of breakout sessions, worship led by Stephen Zork, Associate Professor of Music at Andrews University, and concluding thoughts at 5 p.m.
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THE STUDENT MOVEMENT
Ideas
Gun Control Under Fire Bullet for Bullet? Jaime Vargas | Imagine yourself Daniel J. Fults
Ideas Editor
as a college student in class. Suddenly, you begin to hear shots being fired in the hallway. Soon, the door opens up and in comes an individual carrying an armed weapon. What do you do? What becomes your priority? Do you protect yourself and leave everyone to fend for themselves in whatever way they can? Do you risk your safety for the sake of your classmates and professor by putting yourself inbetween this would-be killer and everyone else? Or, if possible, do you put forward all your effort to end this individual’s life and end the threat of immediate danger? In light of the seemingly increasing number of campus shootings, the decisions considered above are one of the many issues that need to be taken into consideration, and I would argue that said decisions carry much deeper implications for individuals that have surrendered their lives to God. Perhaps for a good number of Americans, the question of
self-defense is dependent mainly on what is legal and what isn’t. In the United States, the general rule is that a person is privileged to use a given amount of force in selfdefense if such force seems reasonably necessary in light of the apparent threat of unlawful and immediate violence from another. As Adventists on the campus of Andrews University (and wherever else we go, for that matter), we are held to a separate and higher principle. Legality of a given action is to be brought under the authority of God’s moral law. The question of defending ourselves against a campus shooter is not merely one with legal implications, but with ethical and moral implications as well. In other words, it’s not enough to ask ourselves what we are able to do, but rather, what should we do. Exodus 20:13 of the English Standard Version of the Bible states the following: “You shall not murder.” Yes, one can argue the kind of killing being described by the He-
brew word in the text. One can also make mention of the very real fact that God commanded Israel to destroy peoples and nations. Yet, taking into account not only the sixth commandment, the understanding that God alone is Author and Giver of life, and the example of Jesus who, being the very express image of God, loves His enemies and submitted Himself to death rather than retaliate with equal or greater force, it would seem to me that I have very little prerogative in being able to take the life of a fellow human being. Yet, it’s not difficult to intuitively perceive that there is something wrong about doing absolutely nothing in the face of evil. Think not only of your classmates, but of your parents, your children, or your best friends. Does it not, at some level, seem wrong to choose to stand idly by and not do anything to stop someone intent on murderously harming a loved one under the premise that God alone is responsible for the safety and
well-being of His children? Such a mindset appears to lean more towards presumption and less towards faith, especially when considered in light of Isaiah 58:6: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” Internally, we recoil with indignation and frustration at the news of muggings, stabbings, shootings and other crimes committed in the presence of individuals that very well could have intervened to help the victim. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s words give voice to our indignation towards these kinds of situations: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” Though God’s word places value on the life of the vilest enemy and calls us to love our adversaries and oppressors, God’s word is also clear about how we are to fight for and uphold the cause of those who are oppressed. As much as
it is a moral imperative to refrain from murdering another, it is just as much a moral imperative to defend people from the effects of evil. Between these two moral imperatives, we are given much freedom to do what we can to defend ourselves and others from a variety of threats. What would this look like in light of a campus shooting or any other crime intended to harm others? It would take the form of physically restraining a criminal, even at the expense of physically harming him, but never to point of causing his or her death. I hope none of us ever find ourselves in the midst of sin-sourced tragedies, campus shootings being one of them, but I do hope that we will have the courage to do all we can to preserve and defend life while loving our enemies in the process.
ply to our schools—putting more guns on campus would be more of a threat to our safety than the threat of an actual school shooting. If we put guns in the hands
ing or attending Andrews University would need a gun in order to keep everyone else in check. This is a drastic example of possessing firearms for self-defense, but it is also the mindset that arming our professors would put us into, that we would have to constantly worry about our personal safety. There are definitely benefits to arming our professors, such as a potential increase in sense of safety as well as being prepared for the worst situation, but the type of culture it would create here at Andrews would not be worth the benefits. Andrews University strives to emphasize a safe, Christ-like campus. This emphasis would be lost if we ever started creating a small army out of our faculty. If ever the question arises as to whether or not our school should bring firearms onto campus, it is important to note whether or not it is actually necessary or just a product of our paranoia.
1.George E. Dix, Gilbert Law Summaries: Criminal Law xxxiii (18th ed. 2010) (original emphasis); see generally David C. Brody & James R. Acker, Criminal Law 130 (2014).
Arming Our Professors Nathan Kim | Gun control has al-
ways been a hotly debated topic in America, and rightfully so. The question of whether it is better to take away guns or have more for self-defense probably will not be solved anytime soon; both sides have pros and cons, and both arguments have evidence to back up their claims. With the increase of school shootings, the question arises as to whether or not our professors and teachers should be armed in case of another school shooting. Considering the tragedy of a mass shooting, this may seem like a good idea. However, what kind of message would this send to our students and how would arming our professors be detrimental to our safety? As a Christian university, we try to emphasize having Christlike behavior and living our lives just as Jesus did. Arming our professors would seem to be a step away from acting like Christ and
more like reacting to what is going on in the world. The paranoia of a school shooting is just paranoia; the number of shootings that have happened should not warrant our
to ease our fears may not be the best decision to make. One of the biggest arguments of supporters of gun control is that more guns equals more violence,
Arming our professors (not that anyone is suggesting we do this) would seem to be a step away from acting like Christ and more like reacting to what is going on in the world. giving in to our fears and reacting by creating a private militia out of our professors. Being prepared for every situation is important, but taking such a drastic step in order
and rightfully so. In other countries where gun control laws are stricter, there is substantially less gun violence. Just as it applies to countries, this would also ap-
of our professors, by the same logic, all of our students would need guns in the event of one of our teachers shooting up the school. In turn, basically every person work-
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homes with single mothers, frequently absent parents or homes with no nearby neighbors might find that they feel safer or more secure knowing they have a gun in
to work at night, and my family at the time was living in a very sparsely-populated area. We did have a security system, but following the discovery that an attempt
and predators comfortable enough to get close to the house, a few pot-shots towards the edge of the woods allowed for more assurance of safety for children in the yard. It may not be practical or wise to allow more freedom of firearms: sale and ownership should be regulated and safety classes required. However, preventing or eradicating individual gun ownership, or limiting it to those who have been in the military, is not only wishful thinking, but renders some circumstances more unsafe than if gun ownership had been allowed.
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Ideas
The Necessity of Guns Emily Cancel | Much of the cur-
rent gun control debate is whether or not individual gun ownership is necessary when the police force and military are so prominent in America, not to mention the ways one may defend oneself (such as pepper spray or Tasers) are becoming more numerous. Gun possession, however, will never be made obsolete, even with such varying techniques. Other methods simply do not substitute for the effectiveness of firearms. Self-defense, while one always hopes it won’t be necessary, cannot be guaranteed unnecessary. Circumstances force people into situations that may not be ideal, either as the assailant or victim. That cannot be prevented in the
immediate future. What can be provided for is an ability to defend one’s person or property if necessary. There is a lot to be said for pepper spray or a Taser as defense mechanisms in the event of an attack. It debilitates an assailant without causing lasting damage. Is it really necessary then to possess a concealed carry permit and carry a small gun for protection? Why maim or kill when you can debilitate long enough to get away? Tasers need to be charged; pepper spray caused severe discomfort, but nothing more. The issue there is that no situation like that is ever ideal. An assailant with a gun can easily shoot while blinded by pepper spray. Their aim will obviously
not be good, but that may be worse than if they were aiming. Though security systems are improving, they remain expensive and fallible, putting them out
Other methods simply do not substitute for the effectiveness of firearms. of the budget or simply not effective enough for many families. In some states, castle doctrines allow for families to defend their home should it be under attack (in this case meaning robbery) by whatever means necessary. Suburban areas with high crime rates,
the house. They may not even have any intention of killing an intruder, but having the gun to use as a threat or to exemplify that they are prepared to deal harshly with an intruder may give them some feeling of security. My own father frequently used
had been made to force the door anyways, my mother’s concerns about keeping guns in the house were silenced. Intruders aside, we lived in a very rural setting, to which coyotes and other predators were not strangers. With several small children in the house
Gun Control and Mass Shootings: What We Do and Don’t Know Erik Vyhmeister | Every time a
mass shooting happens, the ageold debate on gun control resurfaces. On the one hand, some people say that if guns were less widely available, these kinds of things wouldn’t happen. On the other hand, it is argued that if gun control laws were less restrictive, this type of crime would be more easily prevented or stopped. I am going to explore the history of gun ownership in the US and inspect the data to see what can be learned from what we already know. Over the past 50 years, gun ownership has decreased across all demographics, with only 32.4 % of households reporting the presence of a gun in the house. This is down from 45%+ in the 70s, peaking at 53.7% in 1977. Whites are more than twice as likely to own guns as any other racial demographic, and more wealthy people (income >$50, 000 / year) are more than twice as likely to own guns as people who earn less than $25,000 a year. Most guns are owned by people living in rural regions of the US. Interestingly, fatal gun crime has decreased recently, while suicide by firearm has increased. Also, even
though fewer people own guns, those who do own guns have more of them. The number of guns per capita has increased to between 90 and 110 per hundred people over the past 20 years. The United States has more mass shootings than anywhere else in the world. Comparing to other OECD (developed) countries, the US had more “rampage shootings” from 2009-2013 than the next 11 countries combined. However, ranking by deaths per capita places the US at sixth rather than first. Above it are Norway, Finland, Slovakia, Israel, and Switzerland, which have very varied policies on gun control. Interestingly, the US also ranks sixth in the number of incidents per capita. Regardless, the sheer number of these events is staggering and should be cause for concern. What is it about the US that has created this situation? A parallel topic that usually follows gun control is that of mental health, and how we as a society relate to those among us whose mental health is impaired. Between 1982 and 2012, there were 62 mass shootings (4+ victims killed) in the US. More than half (36) of
the shooters killed themselves on the scene or shortly thereafter, and seven committed “suicide by cop.” At least 38 of them were known to have mental health problems before the incident. Dr. Adam Lankford, a professor of criminal justice at the University of Alabama, suggests that due to the societal pressure to succeed, “There may be particularly high levels of strain among those who encounter blocked goals or have negative social interactions.” Are we unknowingly pushing people to lash out violently at others? Dr. Lankford recently presented the results of the first ever quantitative study of all reported mass shootings. His study incorporates data from the last 50 years, from 171 countries. He found that “a nation’s civilian firearm ownership rate is the strongest predictor of its number of public mass shooters.” However, a 2004 research project concluded that, “With the current evidence it is not possible to determine that there is a causal link between the passage of rightto-carry laws and crime rates.” Beyond mass shootings, the US is an outlier in number of gun deaths
per capita, as well as gun homicide per capita. The relationship appears to be linear with number of guns per capita, and in that respect, the US is similar to the rest of the world. When it comes to reducing deaths by gun, there are a few methods that seem to be supported by data: 1. Reduce the number of guns owned by civilians 2. Create better support systems and change attitudes toward people suffering from mental health problems 3. Lower societal pressure on expectations of “success” for every individual The first option is hard to implement, especially due to the Second Amendment. The second possibility is a long process and is a sign of a problem unrelated to mass shootings. The third suggestion is a cultural problem and cannot be changed quickly. Thus, there is no “quick and easy” solution. We have a long way to go, but this problem isn’t one that legislation can fix completely. A societal change is needed—it is much easier to prevent the problem than it is to fix it.
1.http://www.norc.org/PDFs/GSS%20
in-oregon-11-essential-facts-about-guns-
Reports/GSS_Trends%20in%20Gun%20
and-mass-shootings-in-america/
Ownership_US_1972-2014.pdf
13.http://www.washingtonpost.com/
2.http://www.factcheck.org/2012/12/gun-
news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/01/shooting-
rhetoric-vs-gun-facts/
in-oregon-11-essential-facts-about-guns-
3.http://www.norc.org/PDFs/GSS%20
and-mass-shootings-in-america/
Reports/GSS_Trends%20in%20Gun%20
14.http://www.businessinsider.com/
Ownership_US_1972-2014.pdf;
shooting-gun-laws-2012-12
http://
www.factcheck.org/2012/12/gun-rhetoricvs-gun-facts/ 4.vhttp://www.norc.org/PDFs/GSS%20 Reports/GSS_Trends%20in%20Gun%20 Ownership_US_1972-2014.pdf 5.http://www.unodc.org/documents/gsh/ pdfs/2014_GLOBAL_HOMICIDE_BOOK_ web.pdf 6.http://www.ijreview. com/2015/06/348197-obama-saidmass-shootings-dont-happenin-advanced-countries-like-in-us-onechart-proves-him-wrong/ 7.Ibid. 8 .http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/07/mass-shootings-map 9.http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/11/jared-loughner-mass-shootings-mental-illness 10.http://phys.org/news/2015-08-percentworld-population-mass-shooters.html 11. Ibid. 12.http://www.washingtonpost.com/ news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/01/shooting-
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Pulse
Andrews Ambassadors Make First Impressions Count Coming Soon Pulse Editor
Ashley Neu | Every year, thou-
sands of high school seniors flock to different universities looking for the place that will be their home for the next four years. A first impression can mean everything. So what makes a university stand out above the rest? “When I came to visit Andrews, there were two things I was looking at: academics and campus life,” said Jason Shockey, senior Spanish, international business and accounting major, and AUSA President. “The tour I got with my Ambassadors showed me more than I was expecting when I came for my visit. They were a big reason I picked Andrews over any other universities.” The Andrews Ambassadors is a program that started in 2001. It started small, with only ten students being asked to be Ambas-
sadors. Now, fourteen years later, the number of Ambassadors has grown to almost fifty students. Though the numbers have grown, there is one thing that hasn’t changed: the mission. Shelly Erhard, Director of Student Visits, has been in charge of the Ambassadors for the last ten years. During this time, she has seen not only the Ambassador team but also the number of visitors coming for the previews grow in strength and numbers. “It’s exciting to see more and more high school students come and visit Andrews,” she says. “Every year we get more and more students who want to see all that Andrews can offer.” Throughout the academic school year, the Ambassadors help with four main preview events that happen on campus. These preview events allow high school students
from all over the country to come and experience Andrews for a couple days. During this time, the visitors are able to meet with professors, eat in the cafeteria, sit in on college classes, and sleep in the dorm. All this time they are being guided around and encouraged by Andrews Ambassadors. “By the time they leave, we want them to have a full Andrews experience,” says Erhard. So what does it take to become an Ambassador? Each college student interested in being an Ambassador needs to fill out an application and get two recommendations from professors or advisors. Once all the applications have been collected, Erhard and her assistant, Cassie Heslop, file through the applications and pick those who they think would best fit the team. “We’ve never had a
bad application,” says Erhard. “We wish we could have all applicants on the team, but right now our space only allows for fifty.” One of the biggest questions asked is, “Does the Ambassador program help with enrollment at Andrews?” Shelly’s response is simple. “Students attract students. When these high school students come to visit Andrews, they don’t want to hear about my experience. They want to hear from students.” Gabby Ziegler is in her fourth year as an Ambassador. “I have a lot of school pride for Andrews,” Ziegler said. “Being an Ambassador allows me to show that pride to prospective students. Not only is it a great way to show school pride, it’s also a great way to meet new people. I’ve met some of my best friends here in college from being part of the Ambassador team. It’s
a very rewarding experience all around.” As this year’s Ambassador team geared up for their first preview date in October, Ambassadors’ excitement soared. “I’m ready for our first group of visitors to arrive,” Ziegler said. “There’s something about the excitement these high school students bring to our campus when they come to visit. I’m looking forward to seeing what this year will bring.”
I believe in the power of prayer and need very much for others to pray for me. I would appreciate so much words of encouragement, scriptures, thoughts, etc. Ever since I made the decision to accept and follow God’s call in my life, it’s been quite stormy. I know this is good, in one way or another, but some things going on are painful and noticeable. I know God will vindicate once again. In the meantime, I just need your prayers. I’m running on low.
Chem test and bio quiz tomorrow. Pray please!
Lifeline Prayer Requests I could use some prayer for a personal issue I’m dealing with right now. Thank you AU Lifeline. Please pray for my family tonight. My brother’s cousin was shot and killed by a police officer yesterday. Pray for my future. I don’t know what’s going to happen after college and I’m scared. Pray for peace and understanding as I seek the next chapter of my life.
I feel alone and depressed. Pray for peace and comfort for me and all those who feel lonely and worthless.
I’ve been struggling with something for the past couple weeks and could really use some extra prayer for peace.
I’m still not financially cleared. Please pray for me, the struggle is real.
My daughter, four years old, has a hole in her heart. Pray for her please.
I feel like my life doesn’t matter. I feel as if my life has no purpose. I know God has a plan for me but I’m not seeing it right now.
My mom may have cancer. The doctor think they may have found some type of skin cancer. Please pray for my mom. I love her with all my heart.
Editor’s Note: To encourage the formation of a supportive, praying community, the Student Movement will run several prayer requests in each week’s issue. The identities of those who submit prayer requests to AU Lifeline will remain anonymous. If you would like to send in prayer requests, please text(269)-8208336.
GRAPHIC PROVIDED BY JOHN GONZALEZ
Pray that my credit card works. I missed my insurance payment because the transaction was denied. There was no issue found by the bank or the company.
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Pulse
AUSA Hosts Football Game Night Connor Smith | This past Saturday night, Oct. 24, the Andrews University Student Association hosted a football game night at the St. Joe Kicker Sports Club just outside of Berrien Springs. The cold and drizzly weather did not affect the games since Kickers is an indoor sports complex. Attendees enjoyed three exhilarating games of flag football on the indoor turf field. For many of the participants, it was their first time playing on a turf field. Ashley Neu, Social Vice President of Andrews University Student Association, said, “Playing on turf was more of a challenge than I expected; you really had to focus on your footwork and balance.” Some students also experienced playing American style football for the first time, while other more experienced players expertly quarterbacked teams and caught touchdowns. Enthusiasm was high with players putting in a lot of effort and the first game was a rather lopsided victory, but teams evened out over the course of the evening and the final game was very close. Senior aviation major Joseph Hearn said, “It was very fun to see everyone being able to participate and bring their A-game out, and memorable to some extent.” Attendance was lower than ex-
pected due to several other activities on campus; however, enthusiasm was high and those that attended were rewarded with several exciting football games. Students that were not playing enjoyed eating nachos and playing other games on the side, including, soccer and catch with a football and Frisbee. Sophomore theology major Amanda Bange said, “I was impressed by the size of the facility. It was big enough to accommodate the group we had, with a nice area upstairs for spectators such as myself to enjoy simply watching the players. And the nachos were great, too!” . By the end of the evening, players’ sustained only a few bruises, a “jacked up” knee, and lots of sore muscles. Overall, the players and fans said had an enjoyable experience while getting in some exercise and fellowship. “Watching this tournament was incredibly entertaining because the games brought out aspects of some students that I never anticipated—we have some fiercely competitive and gifted athletes,” Emily Carlson, Assistant Director of Students Activities and Involvement, said. “Kickers was a great venue and I definitely want to host other events at their facility.”
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DARREN HESLOP
You are Not Alone: Free Help for Students Across Campus Kiana Gurley | Just before spring break of 2015 a student went missing from campus. For three days, the student was absent from class. Teachers notified Student Life, which began searching immediately for her. Steve Yeagley, the Assistant Vice President for Student Life and Director of CoCurricular Education, was notified and was sent to the student’s home. He found a dark, and vacant-looking home with a car likely belonging to the student in the driveway. Yeagley approached the door of the home. A student appeared in the
doorway. The student explained that she hadn’t been outside the home for three days. When students such as this one begin to fall into depression, distractions, poor time management or even social pressure, they may not know where to turn for help; there are many outlets on campus such as Student life, located in the Campus Center, to help the students. “My team’s job is to find the cracks and seal them,” Dean Yeagley said. “We’re there even when a student is having a hard time getting along with a
roommate. We support students that encounter crisis whether it’s mental, physical or spiritual. Even though we are helping these students outside of the classroom, the help we provide is to help deal with the other contributing factors that surface in the classroom,” Yeagley said. Another place students can turn to is Student Success, located in Netherly Hall. Carletta Witzel, Student Intervention Coordinator, is there to guide and lead those who are struggling to reach their goals scholastically, as well as emotionally. She
understands the common struggles among new and returning students. “A lot of students just aren’t prepared for how much harder the schoolwork in college is and when that happens some will get busy and step up to the plate, but then some will back off like, ‘whoa, I don’t know what to do,’” Witzel said. Witzel also said her office is there to help students who are homesick, which can affect a student’s emotional and academic well-being. They also help with disability accommodations, individual tutoring and un-
dergraduate success advising. Some tools you can receive via email include things like study skills and time management skills, counseling partners and connections to the Writing Center for help with things like grammar which is also located at Nethery Hall Room 134. The Counseling and Testing Center is located in Bell Hall Suite 123, adjacent to the university bookstore, is also available to those who are struggling emotionally to receive short term counseling free of charge. The counseling center is also staffed
by licensed psychologists. Witzel and Yeagley encourage students who need support academically or emotionally to utilize the resources that are available to them on campus. All of these resources are free and available to any students who want to use them; it could prevent an emotional meltdown in the future.
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Jatniel the Linguanaut tant for a physician to not just treat the physical ailments but the spiritual longing that people have. I guess I’m just waiting and training so I can learn how to say the right words at the right time. Due to the secular society we have today I can’t just say “Here’s a religious idea to think about,” but probably just wait for someone to ask me a question on the topic—a word spoken in the right season, you know?
Andrei Wayne K. Defino Humans Editor
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JATNIEL RODRIEGUEZ
Interviewed By: Andrei Wayne K. Defino What are you studying? I’m a junior and I’m studying religion (Pre-med). That’s an interesting combination. Yeah, well, I’ve always been interested in the Bible stories and moral les-
sons and wisdom we can glean from them. I mean, for personal reasons, I wanted to go out and strengthen the reasons for my faith, strengthen what I believe in. I’m aware of the reality that once I step out into the scientific world, I should be sure what I believe in. Plus, I feel like my religion major can help me learn how talk to people and deal with topics that can turn philosophical. I think it’s impor-
Speaking of words in the right season, I hear that you’ve been learning multiple languages in your spare time. Despite how demanding the rigors of Pre-Med, Honors, and Religion courses must be, why are you doing it? The idea first started with just trying to talk to my friends and see what I could pick up from them. It just so happened that some friends became busier than others and I started learning Japanese first. I read somewhere that it was one of the hardest languages to learn; learning it would give me the confidence to tackle the other languages I’m aspiring to master.
How many languages are you learning as of now? Three. I’ve been learning Japanese for about a year now; I meet with a Japanese family I met here at Andrews every Thursday where they teach me their language and I teach them some English. Lately I’ve added Korean and some French on the side. Japanese and Korean are grammatically similar at their core, but they’re just the beginning. My goal is to learn at least ten languages. That sounds pretty ambitious. Any there specific reasons for learning these languages now, and what are your goals with it? It’s pretty ambitious, but it can be done. I mean people have done it before, so why not me? I just want to be able to connect with people and their cultures and understand where they come from better. I find that there is a strong connection that is made when two people share a language and speak to each other – a sense of home or familiarity; it’s something you can see when their faces brighten up when they unexpectedly hear you speak their native tongue and see that you have an interest in their culture. I believe that learning
about other cultures, understanding different languages (how things are described or said) breaks you away from the shell of single-mindedness. It helps you realize that there are different ways of being human and understanding things and that the difference isn’t always wrong. I mean, this is just the beginning for me and I don’t know where I’ll end up, but so far I want to keep going. Do you have any advice for anyone who may want to pick up a new language or struggling with learning a new language? Pick a language you’re interested in and go after it with all you have. Don’t stop. Don’t give up. Find ways to make it fun and interesting—seek out the people who know the language well. One of the better ways to learn a new language is to immerse yourself in the culture as much as you can. We, tend to want to do things on our own, but one thing I’ve learned is that it’s important to not be afraid of being a fool for a second, minute or day when it comes to foreign languages. You may not see the results immediately but with tenacity, but you’ll eventually see some fruits.
Neo Lehoko: Building a Solid Foundation for her Career Chris Wheeler | Neo Lehoko, a
graduate student here at Andrews, is in her fifth year of studying architecture and the first year of her Master’s program. The path that led Lehoko to Andrews was a long one. “I was living in South Africa, but my family was about to move to Jakarta in Indonesia,” Lehoko explained, “so I was at the point of, essentially, having to plan the next five years of my life, and since I was in my senior year of high school, college was the next obvious step.” Lehoko waited two more years to decide where she would go for university, and during that time attended the General Conference in St. Louis, Mo., where she saw kiosks from Adventist universities,
including Southern Adventist University and Walla Walla University. She began to investigate her options, and Andrews was the only Adventist university that offered architecture, so she applied there. “I haven’t looked back since,” Lehoko said. Lehoko believes that Andrews has been a good fit for her so far, and she appreciates the warmth of American schools She also enjoys the faith-based experience that Andrews provides, saying how good it is “to be in a place where your faith practice is basically built into the infrastructure.” The only qualms she might have are minor ones. “People love to complain—including me. I try not to, though.” Lehoko’s love of architecture
goes back to when she was a child in Prague, in the Czech Republic, where she once went to a church potluck at a church member’s home. “His house was something out of a fantasy movie,” Lehoko said, “with an indoor pool, a large pond, high open spaces, whitewashed everything and cool furniture.” When she discovered from her father that the house’s owner had designed the house himself, Lehoko was astounded. “From then, on my career was more or less decided,” Lehoko said. When asked what she admired about architecture, Lehoko explained, “I like the artistic and creative side of it, but I equally treasure the discipline and being able to apply the math (and) phys-
ics we’ve been learning all this time.” Lehoko also expounded on the role architects play in their communities, providing structurallysound buildings and “fulfilling the dreams of their clients.” According to Lehoko, an architect is like a “Jack of all trades”; he or she knows a little bit about everything, and continues to learn throughout his or her career. “Very few architects really retire,” Lehoko said, “It just becomes a part of how they live.” Although Lehoko acknowledges that she admires many types of architecture, she has been researching Scandinavian architects ever since she took a six-week study tour in Sweden. “It’s all very Tolkienesque,” Le-
hoko claimed. Looking forward, Lehoko is planning on finding a place for herself at a good architectural firm after her graduation this spring. Lehoko says would enjoy being able to work in Europe and Asia before finally moving back to South Africa, where she misses her friends and her extended family. “And the food,” Lehoko added. Lehoko attributes her progress to Andrews University. “I don’t think I could have gotten as great an architectural education anywhere else,” Lehoko said. “I’ve grown as a whole person, and I’ve watched my classmates do the same.”
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So they took me back to the hotel room, and I was sitting in the room, still wiggling my toes. To this day, I’m a bit of an obsessive toe-wiggler. As I tell this story my toes are fully wiggling. So my toes are wiggling and I’m thinking, “I wonder if anything else is working? I might as well give it a shot.” So I pulled off the leg braces, stepped away from my bed, to where I couldn’t grab ahold of anything, and the next thing I’m walking, just like I did before this illness: without thinking, without effort—as if I had never stopped walking, as if this period of debility had never happened.
not my story, it’s God’s story! You can share it with whomever you want.”
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A Walking Miracle: Part II at peace with this. You’ve led me by your grace to come to a point to say ‘I’m happy to be God’s wounded warrior,’ and if you can use me in that way for the rest of my life I’m all good with it. I’m not expecting a healing, but Lord, if all of these pastors that are gathered around me, are expecting me to get up out of this chair and walk when they’re finished here, Lord, please help their faith, don’t let this be destructive to their faith when I’m left still here in this chair.”
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SCOTT MONCRIEFF
Kenley Hall In part I (Oct. 21 issue), Kenley Hall talked about the nerve condition in his lower limbs which led to his being in a wheelchair, with extremely limited lower body function. We pick up the story as students in Maryland gather around him to pray for Hall, after he taught them for an intensive week.
. . . And so they gathered around me, they laid their hands on me. I only found out later that the woman lay pastor who led the prayer—she also works as a nurse—when she saw me, for the first time on Sunday night, she said, “God, I know what you want me to do.” She felt led to fast from that Sunday night until Thursday evening, which she knew was going to culminate in her having prayer for me. Just fasting and praying for me
all week long; none of us in the class would have ever guessed this. She was still her usual cheerful self, with a smile on her face. This just mystifies me. I’ve certainly never fasted for four days, three days, two days. I think I’ve made it through two meals before I had to eat. But to fast for four and a half days, basically, for someone that you’ve never met, you don’t know—I’m amazed by that. My own spiritual journey, my faith, is challenged by this woman’s commitment. And so she began to pray for me. The other students were praying in their minds, hands laid on me, and as they’re praying I’m silently praying too. But my prayer is completely different. She’s praying, “God, we’re calling down your healing power, we want to see Professor Hall get up out of this wheelchair and walk.” And I was praying, “God, you know I’m
Did they know the story of why you were in the wheelchair? Yes. I had told the group the backstory. So they’re just praying and believing and asking for my complete physical restoration. “God, we believe you’re still a healing God.” I wish I could tell you everything she said. And so they finished praying, and at the moment they finished praying I’m still in the wheelchair. I’m not feeling anything different. And I’m still thinking, “God, please don’t let this be destructive to their faith.” And shortly after that moment, I begin to feel this strange sensation in my toes. Even though I accepted where I was at, there’s still always hope, of course, and so every night when I’d lay in bed I’d look down at my feet, I’d look down at my toes and I’d just try to will them to move. Nothing. It’s strangely odd seeing a part of your body that you have no control over and you cannot move in any way. So I began to feel this strange sensation in my toes and the next thing you know I’m starting to wiggle my toes. And so the pastors are all beginning to pack up and disperse, and they say, “Before we leave we’d like to wheel you out there; we’d like to take a picture of all of us.” And I’m beginning to wiggle my toes in my shoes which is just incredible. How long had it been since you’d been able to do that? The end of November, 2013. A year and a half? Yes. So I’m wiggling my toes, and they brought me out to take the picture, and I told Lisa Green, the woman who had led the prayer, “This may sound a little odd, but grab ahold of the end of my shoes and tell me what you feel.” She did, and she said, “I feel your toes moving up and down.” And I said, “This may not be significant to anyone else, but this is great to me.” As I remember it, we prayed a thank you to God for the miracle of the wiggling toes. And that was it— for that moment.
Was the hair on the back of your neck standing up? Absolutely. Even as I’m recounting it to you I have a chill running up and down my spine. So then I’m thinking, “I could call Roshelle and Josh (Hall’s wife and son) and tell them what happened, but what’s the fun in telling when you can show?” So I traveled back, and I had to bring all the equipment back with me. I came out of the airport still in my wheelchair. Roshelle had got to go right back to work. So Josh took me home, pushed me into the house in my wheelchair. How did you keep your composure? It was tough. And Roshelle ended up working late that night. Finally she got back home, and I asked Josh to come into the room. And I said, “You know, I haven’t had a chance yet to tell you something that happened while I was in Maryland. In fact, it’s better to show you than just tell you.” And so I got up and started to walk. And for just one second Roshelle was thinking, “I’ve seen him take a step or two with those braces, so what’s the big deal?” Then she looked over and saw the shoes with the braces sitting beside my chair. And Josh saw that my toes were wiggling. And then, I mean, the tears of joy, the smiles, the laughter, the praise to God. It was only after that—because I wanted my family to be the first to know—after we had rejoiced and hugged and cried and shared in celebration, that I got online and sent out an email notice to all my Maryland students, and I said, “It’s not just the wiggling toes. Let me tell you what happened.” And quickly the replies came back: “Oh professor, O praise God. God is still in the miracle business.” And then that dear sister, Lisa Green, she wrote back praising God, she said, “I’m preaching tomorrow, can I have permission to share your story?” And I’m like, “Lisa, this is
And then (physical therapist) Greg Almeter measured you again? Yes. I came in on Monday. Greg knew something had happened, because on Sabbath he saw me at One Place, but he didn’t have a chance to catch me. I went into his office on Monday, and he said, “Kenley, I’ve got to measure you again.” And he reiterated that “three” on the upper legs was generous, and it was “one” below the knee. So he took full remeasurements, and from my hips down to my knee it was a “five,” complete function, and from below my knee to my feet, it was up to a “four.” Greg was smiling from ear to ear, just rejoicing. My wife had come with me, and we said to Greg, “What do we do now?” “Should I take it easy? Work my way back into a regular routine?” And Greg said, “In eighteen years I’ve never seen anything like this. I guess you can do whatever you want to do, because I don’t know what to tell you.” I had the privilege of Greg inviting me over to do worship for one of his PT classes of 40 students. They had seen me over there in the hallways, doing therapy; some of them had helped me. So we did a joint worship where Greg shared from his perspective, medically, and I shared from mine. When Greg got to the end of our worship, tears just begin to well up in his eyes, and he said, “I want you to know that in eighteen years of doing physical therapy I’ve never experienced anything like this.” He said, “Students, I just want you to know that the skills, the things we’re learning are great. They do help people. But it’s not just what we do. There is a God that exists and works in this way too. I’ve never seen anything like this, and this has been so transformative in my faith.” So now you can walk, hike, do whatever you want to do? Yes. There is some residual pain from the damage that was done to the nerves. I’m also not getting any younger so that probably doesn’t help. But I can walk. I can hike if I want to. There’s no limitations to what I can do physically. I probably just need to do a little more of it, because I’m still trying to get off what I call my “wheelchair weight.”
by Scott Moncrieff Faculty Advisor
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Arts & Entertainment
Joe Castillo Comes to the Howard
Shanelle E. Kim Arts & Entertainment Editor
Fonda Mwangi | On Thursday, Oct. 22, sand artist Joe Castillo performed at the Howard Performing Arts Center. Joe Castillo is a well-accomplished artist, a finalist on season seven of the television show America’s Got Talent and ended in fifth place. Castillo uses his art not only for competition but also for ministry, telling stories in sand. Castillo has performed for international dignitaries, companies, kings and presidents. For example, Castillo presented in front of Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta for Kenya’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2013. Castillo’s invitation came soon after atrocity of the Westgate Mall
shooting in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, in which at least 67 shoppers were killed and more than double were wounded. In his art, Castillo was requested to illustrate the development of Kenya as nation, but also include the story of the Westgate mall. “When I started performing, the lights went down and music (started playing),” Castillo recalls, “Then I get to the Westgate mall and the place was just silent...then I just started hearing people weeping.” Castillo reveals that in that moment he realized that there were people in the audience who had lost loved ones in the attack. “I just started weeping; I mean,
the whole thing was just an incredible experience,” Castillo said. As to how he began using sand as the medium for his stories, Castillo said, “I dabbled in all different kinds of media and I started using sand because it was a new media and I wanted to explore…and it just turned out to work well.” In creating his art, Castillo begins by listening to a lot of music, then starts to brainstorm what story he wants to tell. Next, he starts sketching out images that blend one into the next. He gains inspiration from books he has read, things he has seen, and different contacts he has had with people. He expressed some
of the hardships of being in his position. “Artists have a tendency to have a blue side and sometimes you get a little tired. And (with) experiences like this, people don’t realize (it), but you have to be “on” to greet people, shake hands and sign autographs,” Castillo said. Castillo added that he gets a lot his support and encouragement from his wife Cindy during those difficult times. Having spent a little time on a college campus, Castillo had some advice to give students. “Embrace the challenge when things get difficult. That’s when you
need to open your eyes and ears and learn from the experience because nothing happens by accident…God uses these experiences to help perfect us,” Castillo said. Castillo also shared some specific advice for his fellow aspiring artists: “Learn how to make tents; find something you can do that you enjoy that can pay the bills but don’t ever give up on your art.” Those interested in learning more about Joe Castillo can find him on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Pentatonix’s First Foray into Original Music Demetri Kirchberg | The five piece group Pentatonix (PTX) first broke onto the music scene via the singing competition show, “The Sing Off,” in 2011, and since then, has reshaped how the world views a capella music. With a YouTube channel boasting over a billion views, the band has built its fame upon covering popular songs by artists including Daft Punk, Lorde and Beyonce with arrangements using only the human voice. This pattern of viral covers has been broken by their new release, a selftitled album of original music. This effort is a highly polished, confused assemblage of influences not commonly paired together. The oddity that first separated PTX from other pop acts was their a cappella style. Perhaps the greatest triumph of this album is its transcendence of that category. Listening to some of the best songs, the fact that there are no tradition instruments is actually forgotten, and instead of listening to a cool a cappella track,
you can simply hear a smooth catchy track. Lead single off of Pentatonix, “Can’t Sleep Love” is one of these tracks. Starting with a parody of kitschy barbershop musical tropes, the song quickly evolves to show off the ability of the band’s rhythm sec-
do not feature baritone Scott Hoying on lead. His style can be characterised by a heaping serving of artificial roughness, and more riffs than Aguilera. Seriously, there are so many runs and riffs that what starts off as impressive very quickly be-
nix with high energy and jovial harmonies, but little to no substance, a theme that sadly seems to be threaded through the whole work. Grassi’s high range is one of the most impressive items in PTX’s arsenal and something that fans have been ac-
Clearly PTX is still trying to define their own collective voice... tion, with basso profundo Avi Kaplan and beatboxer Kevin “K.O.” Olusola. Other tracks such as “Light in the Hallway” contrast this, sounding more like a well-rehearsed high school show choir than a hit-making band. As a group containing three members with lead-appropriate vocals, there is a huge imbalance in Pentatonix. Of the 13 tracks on the standard version of the album, only three
comes overly indulgent. A refreshing change is “Water” with Kristen Maldonado on lead. Written by Olusola and the underutilized Maldonado, the track is equal parts Imogen Heap and Shakira, and its simplicity is refreshing after the attitude laden “Cracked.” Another non-Hoying lead song is the opener “Na Na Na” featuring fan favorite Mitch Grassi taking the center mic. This song serves the purpose of kicking off Pentato-
customed to hearing in skyscraping melodies, but just like Maldonado, is greatly lacking in Pentatonix. Usually when an artist or band sets out to create an album, even if not a concept album, there is some cohesive vision present for what they want this project to be. This type of vision clearly was not held by PTX when making this record. The collection of 13 songs holds nearly that same number of different styles and
PHOTO BY PUBLIC DOMAIN
genres. Ranging from the Imagine Dragons-like pop-rock of “Sing” and “Cracked” to the 90s R&B reminiscent “First Things First” and “If I Ever Fall in Love” (which is actually the only cover on the album) the influence of various artists is rampant throughout the effort, with everything from gospel to show tunes and doo wop to dubstep. Clearly PTX is still trying to define their own collective voice, as Pentatonix is so vastly non-cohesive that fans must be followers of way more than one genre to appreciate all of its content. One thing that is inarguable, though, is the group’s talent. This is a collection of five young and skilled vocalists who have come together and made an eclectic piece of art. All things considered, I would give this record three out of five stars, a solid starting place for the group’s long career to come.
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effect was beautiful. I enjoyed the familiarity of the piece; it added to the experience of community, because the whole audience was enjoying it together as an old favorite. Leaving the concert, I heard everyone humming strains of the last symphony and imitating playing the cymbals or the horn. The orchestra performed so well that they had everyone feeling like they could do a performance of their own on each piece afterwards. And, of course, ev-
eryone intermingled with the orchestra members afterward, discussing the concert and difficult moments with friends barely recognizable in their fancy, professional attire. Overall, the concert made a good impression on all those who attended with its familiar and well-performed pieces, leaving its audience looking forward to the next Symphony Orchestra concert to come.
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Arts & Entertainment
Fall Symphony Orchestra Concert Maria Wixwat | Our orchestra concerts are always very exciting for me. Many individuals and groups perform at the Howard Performing Arts Center and it is always a treat to hear them, but hearing the Andrews University Symphony Orchestra is always very special. When they perform we get to hear the talent of our friends and classmates. At this last performance on DATE HERE, the songs performed were of excep-
tional quality, holding the audience entranced, especially when the soloist, Carla Trynchuk, joined in on her violin. Carla Trynchuk played with the orchestra for Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major. Her performance was simply beautiful, and the orchestra playing made the perfect combination of intense yet delicate music. Her technique was very good as well, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats in awe of the
wonderful sounds coming from the stage and from her violin. The concerto started calmly and melodically before getting faster and a bit more intense. I had a difficult time actively focusing and trying to remember my impressions during this part, because I was so tempted to simply float in the music and soak in the beauty of the harmonies. The orchestra also played part of Antonín Dvořák’s “From The New World,” which is one of the most pop-
ular and well-known symphonies in concert repertoire, and Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite. The Romeo and Juliet Suite, especially the fourth movement, was very captivating. “From The New World” was definitely my favorite, though. It was very fun to listen to and had the attention of the whole audience only a couple of seconds into it. The horns add the dramatic feel to the impressive theme and later the flute and clarinets repeat the theme gently. The overall
Whisk Review: Fire & Ice Pizzeria and Creamery Fire & Ice Pizzeria and Creamery 3848 Niles Rd. St. Joseph, MI 49085 269-408-0775 Written By: Carlyle Tagalog Vibe: Fire & Ice is a fairly new ice cream and pizzeria located in St. Joseph, Michigan. The casual environment creates a space for chilling with a few friends. Although seemingly more family-oriented and kid-friendly, Fire & Ice can be a place for those of any age to go and hang out. Student Friendly: Fire & Ice is decently student-friendly. The restaurant offers free Wi-Fi and a comfortable seating area. It has both wide interior spaces and a separate room for bigger parties. Because of the playful and casual interior design of Fire & Ice, it is not ideal for meetings or study groups. However, with its light menu and game room, Fire & Ice definitely offers a casual hangout getaway for college students. Originality: Fire & Ice is undoubtedly unlike any other nearby pizza or ice cream place in St. Joseph, perhaps even in Southwest Michigan. Because it seems to cater to a more family-friendly environment, many of the design elements are rustic and cozy. Furthermore, the interior design and furniture give an open and spacious feel to the environment. There’s a playhouse, an arts & crafts section, a television and couch area, coloring pages, chalkboards, play doh and much more. For the college student, of course, these features are not of much interest; however, Fire & Ice also has a mini soccer court, foosball, shuffleboard, bubble hockey and more in a separate room all for the enjoyment of the customer. As for food, the ice cream is flash frozen using nitrogen right before your eyes, and options for ice cream combinations are endless.
Menu: Fire & Ice offers hot food options, such as pizza and pasta, as well as cold options such as ice cream and milkshakes. There are four signature pizzas, as well as an option for customers to create their own pizza, with three toppings with a charge of 85 cents per each additional topping. Unfortunately, because this is a pizza and ice cream eatery, there are few options for vegans. Price: The average cost for the pizza is $8. Ice cream costs $4 for a regular serving, $5.50 for medium, and $6 for large. For the price paid, one will get a decent amount of food; portions allotted for ice cream are larger than those for the personal pizzas. Service: The service is good. Payment and tip is taken upon arrival at the cashier; however, your order is delivered to your table. Napkins and plastic cutlery are provided by the cashier as well. There was moderate wait for food and ice cream, and customers are invited to linger and enjoy their meals. Atmosphere: Fire & Ice provides a chill, friendly, and unique atmosphere for its customers. The game room and the light meals of pizza and ice cream create a light-hearted environment for anybody’s enjoyment. Because they only have been open since June of this year, many improvements, features and surprises are sure to come. Fire & Ice is definitely the newest nearby eatery to check out! Score: 4 of 5 Whisks
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SAMUEL J. FRY
THE STUDENT MOVEMENT
The Last Word THE STUDENT MOVEMENT STAFF
Pastor, Teacher, Doctor, Nurse, Politician?
Samuel James Fry Editor-in-Chief
Ever since Dr. Benjamin Carson stole the show at the 61st Annual National Prayer Breakfast in 2013, the gentlemannered and humble retired neurosurgeon has been making waves in Washington. The most recent CBS News/New York Times Poll shows that Carson has surpassed the former Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in the race for the party’s nomination. Carson’s political success and possible nomination has generated a lot of buzz in the Adventist community—likely because this is the first time an Adventist has entered into a presidential campaign. Adventist participation in government (while not usually a topic of Sabbath potlucks) is not unfounded. Currently, two Adventists sit in the United States House of Representatives—Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Raul Ruiz (D-California). Many more Adventists serve in local or state functions. However, the legacy of Adventists in politics has historically been one
of political neutrality. It is largely the result of Adventists’ unique prophetic interpretation that has played a crucial role in dissuading many Adventists from the ballot-box during election season. As Roswell F. Cottrell, an Adventist minister in western New York, enunciated in the Review and Herald in 1856, “If I cast my vote at all, it will tell for, or against the making of the image. If I vote in favor of the formation of the image, I shall aid in creating an abomination of which will persecute the saints of God…On the other hand, if I vote against this work, I shall vote against the fulfillment of the prophecy….Therefore, I cannot vote at all.” Cottrell, referencing the “formation of the image” prophesied in Revelation 13:11, summarizes a stillprevalent belief that some Adventists maintain—that the perceived low state of current political affairs makes it impossible for an Adventist to serve in politics without corrupting their faith or character. Often, the concern of mixing poli-
tics and religion is cited as a reason for Adventists to avoid becoming mixed up in political questions. While adopting a cautious attitude toward political questions is undoubtedly sound advice, completely ruling out the possibility of Adventists witnessing through their influence and leadership in politics is a tragic misattribution of Ellen White’s counsel. Ellen G. White clearly presents that act of voting as an important civic responsibility—and one that must be exercised judicially, accompanied by much prayer. She exhorts Christians to avoid the strife that accompanies partisan politics, and carefully weigh the character of the candidate, rather than holding fast to party lines. When important national issues, such as abolition, were at stake, Adventists led from the forefront—leveraging their political influence to help elect Abraham Lincoln. Similarly, today we face numerous looming national crises.
Religious liberty and freedom of conscience, often taken for granted, are fast becoming an area of renewed national interest, and are facing existential threats from vigorous legal challenges. The security and prosperity of future generations is being eroded by a national debt that is at the highest level it has been in American history. In Fundamentals of Christian Education, White wrote, “Have you thoughts that you dare not express, that you may one day…sit in deliberative and legislative councils, and help to enact laws for the nation? There is nothing wrong in these aspirations.” Thus, as Adventists, we need not refrain from lending our moral perspective to political issues. We are called to be a voice for liberty of conscience to our nation and the world. In our era, that voice is desperately needed.
Jason Miller Finds Niche in Washington D.C. Alumni Spotlight
Konner Dent | It’s hard to find many Seventh-day Adventists making their careers in D.C. politics, with the exception of the occasional neurosurgeon. It’s also hard to find them working as ground security for a papal parade. “That was one of the most insane experience of my life. All of a sudden, the crowd starts cheering, and from around the corner comes the popemobile. My mouth was just agape.” As an Andrews alumnus, Jason Miller is has gone where no Fountianview-graduating, conservativearticle writing, vegetarian has gone before, and in the wake of the recent papal visitation, offers an interesting perspective on what it’s like going from a conservative boarding school in Canada, to the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, establishing an identity at a school where Adventism is unknown, and how Adventism and politics can successfully intersect. During the early Bush era when political interests were becoming more approved by Christian audi-
ences, Miller enrolled at Fountainview Academy in British Columbia. Though it sparked disputes with fellow students, his passion in political and legal matters resulted in a charge from his Bible professor Olaf Klauson, who encouraged Miller to follow his governmental interests. “I know that you have this passion for politics and religious freedom and religious liberty,” Miller recalled his teacher saying. “We’re getting to the last days and we really need good people who understand these issues and care about these things to go into government, politics and law.” Graduation landed Miller at Andrews University as a political science major, where he began interviewing senators and working as a research assistant for an international law course. After providing the weekly conservative opinion column in the Student Movement, running for class office, and a year-long mission trip in Honduras, he graduated from Andrews and heeded an acceptance letter to the Columbus School of Law in Washington D.C. “It made
sense, because my profile is perfect for them” recalls Miller on the reasons behind his acceptance. “ I’m a Seventh-day Adventist, I’m a conservative, [and] my law-school personal statement was all about…coming from a society and religion where politics and law are…questioned.” “I’ve been using my story to prove that idea wrong.” At Columbus, says Miller, “Most people don’t know anything about Seventh-day Adventism. What they know about [Adventism], they know from me.” Because of this type of influence, standards have to be held tightly. “Most people know I don’t eat meat, and they definitely know I don’t drink,” states miller. “There is a bifurcation between my social life which is Adventist, and my academic work life which is non-Adventist. I put boundaries down pretty quickly on what I believed and what I was going to compromise on and what I wasn’t going to, and so I took a pretty firm stand on alcohol.” “With only a few exceptions, I would stay away from hanging out in a bar.”
“In the world, not of the world” has been a good description of Miller’s experience in Washington. Since leaving Canada, Miller has acted as staff for a 30,000 attendee mass and the aforementioned papal parade, interviewed senators and congressmen, and (in an unrelated incident) was “accidentally” interviewed as a protester at a repeal rally for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell with Kathy Griffin. Through these events, the experienced alumnus has cultivated a very pragmatic view of Adventism and politics. “I don’t encourage any Adventist to jump into the political world,” Miller concludes. “If we did get more involved, the level of tension in churches would increase tremendously, and you would have some literal splits in divisions.” “But there are certain people I have seen [who] God is guiding, who have talents, skills, and understand what they believe, and to those people, I say go for it. [If] God is opening doors and has put you in a good position, take full advantage of it.”
Samuel James Fry Editor-in-Chief Paris D. Rollins Assistant Editor Shenika K. McDonald News Editor Daniel J. Fults Ideas Editor Coming soon Pulse Editor Andrei Wayne K. Defino Humans Editor Shanelle E. Kim Arts & Entertainment Editor Thato M. Lehoko Photo Editor David A. Forner Copy Editor Nichole A. Reid Layout Editor L.J. Robinson Multimedia Manager Scott E. Moncrieff Faculty Advisor
Letters to the editor can be submitted to smeditor@andrews.edu All letters subject to publication. The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventhday Adventist church.
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