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Cardinals Victorious Basketball Games Highlight Alumni Weekend -p.6
IMAGE COURTESY OF SAMUEL FRY
PHOTO BY THATO LEHOKO
NETWORKING LUNCHEON
POLITICALLY INCORRECT?
“The room buzzed with conversa- “It is embarrassing how sensitive tion as students seized the oppor- this country has become.” tunity to inquire after the alums’ career paths and university experience…” P.3 P. 5
UNDERCLASSMEN: NOT SO UNDERRATED
FITNESS OF OUR FAITH
ALUMNI GALA
“We can build relationships and so- “The Gala Concert provided a place “The team has a great group of cial circles that are a mile wide but of warmth for those alumni who freshmen this year with a phenom- an inch deep…” have shared their talents with any enal amount of potential and with of the featured ensembles” a solid work ethic.” P. 7
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BOEHNER, THE POPE, AND THE SUPERMOON “What does worrying about Sunday laws do to help the millions of people who still need to hear the good news of Christ’s imminent second coming?” P. 12
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THE STUDENT MOVEMENT
News
First Annual Car Show
Shenika K. McDonald News Editor
PHOTO BY: DANIELLE SAMUEL
Lydia Levy | In light of the Andrews University Alumni Homecoming Weekend, the Andrews University Bookstore hosted its first annual classic car show. On Friday, Sept. 25, starting at 1 p.m. and lasting until 4 p.m., current Andrews University students, as well as alumni, got the opportunity to view vintage and modern automobiles of all types, including a Tesla, Corvettes, an original squad car, the department of architecture’s little house on wheels, electric cars and a Pontiac, just to name a few.
In light of the Andrews University Alumni Homecoming Weekend, the Andrews University Bookstore hosted its first annual classic car show. On Friday, Sept. 25, starting at 1 p.m. and lasting until 4 p.m., current Andrews University students, as well as alumni, got the opportunity to view vintage and modern automobiles of all types, including a Tesla, Corvettes, an original squad car, the department of architecture’s little house on wheels, electric cars and a Pontiac, just to name a few. Not only were students and alum-
ni given a feast for their eyes, but they were also provided a variety of snacks at a concession stand. According to those who attended, the best part was that everything at the concession stand was only a dollar. For many students, including freshman biology major Lisa Hayden, the car show was an unexpected treat. Hayden, a car enthusiast, said, “It actually took me by surprise. I was heading back to my room from the Science Complex and happened upon some very beautiful cars. My
favorite was probably the antique squad car; it felt like I was back in another era when I looked at it. The whole thing was a cool blast from the past. And they had food? This must happen again.” Of all the student reviews for this event, the only criticism was in the lack of student attendance. Senior English major Gabrielle Ziegler said, “I was very impressed by the amount of cars at the show; there was a wide variety, and the fact that we were able to look inside was quite entertaining. I just wish that more students were aware of this event.” With such great reviews, one can assume that more students will be aware of next year’s car show and should come out in greater numbers. “I know of a lot of people that would have enjoyed looking at the cars that were just not aware. When I posted pictures on my Snapchat, many people asked me, ‘There’s a car show going on?’ I wish it was all better advertised but because it’s only the first one, I’m sure it will pick up momentum in the future,” Ziegler said. Another student, senior architecture major Danielle Samuel, shared a similar view on the event. “I really liked the car show. There were so many unique cars to look at, all different colors from several different eras. I got to take some nice pictures with cars that you don’t necessarily see on a regular basis. I know if more people knew about this event they would have found their way over here. How often does
a car show come to your school? Even though I’m graduating, I’m interested in seeing how this event will grow in the future,” Samuel said. To add to the overall positive feedback for this event, there were many that felt that an auto show was exactly the type of event that the University needed. Junior nursing major Camille Depluzer said, “Since I was a freshman, Andrews has had basically the same events every school year, Almost Anything Goes, the AUSA Banquet, etc. When I heard there was going to be a car show my reaction was ‘Oh, that’s new.’ It was very bold and creative of the bookstore to host something like that, something that had not been done before. I got the chance to walk through and look at the many cars. I was very happy with what I saw, there were so many to look at. It just shows me a small taste of what Andrews is actually capable.” Based upon overall positive feedback from Andrews students and community members, those who organized the auto show can know it was a success. Both students and alumni can look forward to the way this event will evolve in the many years to come.
BSCF Alumni Get Connected Regine Senior | This past week-
end the Black Student Christian Forum (BSCF) celebrated its annual Alumni Weekend. Several programs were held throughout the weekend to connect both old and new members of BSCF. Administration graduate student Je Ann Semeleer, BSCF alumni co-chair, commented about the weekend’s chosen theme, “Connected.” “When we got together as a committee we analyzed our organization and realized that people really didn’t know about us. This theme just highlights the fact that we want to get rid of the missing connection between both past and current students,” Semeleer said.
The first program to kick off Alumni Weekend occurred on Friday night during Impact. This program featured signing choir Silent Praise and new Deliverance Mass Choir (DMC) Director Anthony Bolden was the speaker for the night. During the Alumni Welcome, Wanda Cantrell who attended Andrews University in 1972, BSCF’s inaugural year, spoke about the origins of BSCF and its formation. “The group was originally formed because black students needed a place in which they could discuss the racial issues on campus and understand the challenges that they faced in terms of institutionalized racism. There was a $1 club fee and it was open to all,” Cantrell
said. Cantrell said, “I am glad that BSCF is still going strong because it was something that was very important to black students back in my day.” The second BSCF Alumni Weekend program took place on Sabbath morning and it was the most highly attended event of the weekend. “I felt a lot of pressure when planning this program but I was truly blessed with an amazing committee that helped me to plan the service,” Semeleer said. The program opened with DMC, where Semeleer spoke about why DMC was a very important aspect to the services. “Many people have been excited about DMC being active
again; it also reminded past students how much of a blessing the ministry is,” Semeleer said. Chaplain Michael Polite was the speaker for the program, which was also of key importance to the BSCF Alumni Committee. “We wanted the alumni to be introduced to the new chaplain in a personal way, that is why we had the video of current students speaking about who Chaplain Polite is,” Semeleer said. The last program of the weekend occurred on Saturday night and was a concert that honored alumna Dr. Eurydice Osterman. This program included musical performance from Dr. Osterman herself,
along with other alumni, as well as Silent Praise and DMC. “I will say that God blessed, and that people were blessed,” Semeleer said. BSCF President Jannel Monroe said, “There was a great sense of connection between former and current BSCF members. It definitely was a weekend to remember.” “In regards to next year’s BSCF Alumni Weekend,” Semeleer said, “I hope it will be better and more uplifting with a greater attendance. I would just say to stay tuned.”
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contingent on a proximal relationship with Christ, so there we get Proximity.” Another notable club is the new Andrews University United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) chapter. UNICEF is an organization within the United Nations that provides humanitarian aid and development programs to children and mothers around the world. Junior English and music major Alejandra Castillo said, “Andrews UNICEF club’s purpose is first fundraising and second awareness; there are two big fundraising projects happening each semester, both designed by UNICEF. Next spring is a tap water project…separately, we as a club intend to join in
the activities of other bigger clubs on campus for fundraising: at the moment we are working out details with club leaders. Our intention is to get the campus involved in something bigger than ourselves and raise money to send to UNICEF, which it allocates directly to their current projects worldwide.” Other club officers include President and junior sociology major Anna Kim, Finances officer and freshman public relations major Ellen Yoon, sophomore sociology major Kayla Casey along with Event Coordinator and junior French studies major Noelle Harris. Freshman history major Ingrid Radulescu said, “When I ap-
proached the ice cream social, I was overwhelmed at the variety of clubs you could be involved in—I felt like a kid in a candy store. I wanted to join them all, but I limited myself to two: I joined the Pre-Law Club for my major and the Ukrainian Club for the fun of it.” As a testament to the event’s success, students and club leaders lingered past the scheduled ending time of 7 p.m., enjoying the remaining ice cream toppings and strategizing for the year’s upcoming events.
Ruth Murdoch Elementary School’s group came by, carrying a banner that read “Let the Children Come,” as they sang “Dare To Be a Daniel.” Then they recited Mark 1:35. The children were trailed by a host of groups. The Department of Music was followed by the class of 1995, who stylishly pulled up in a tank. The Department of Social Work, the United Way of Southwest Michigan, and the Department of Agriculture, which gave out corn and flowers, came next. They were followed by the Department of Engineering & Computer Science, which featured students on unicycles, and the Apple Valley Market group, who gave out apples. Next came the Department of Nursing,
which gave out generous amounts of hand sanitizer, students from the Department of Architecture who sported their renowned “Tiny Home,” and the Peruvian Club. Finally, the Andrews University Student Association proudly sported their Disney-themed costumes, continuing to showcase their Almouse Anything Goes theme. The last vehicle in the processional was a fire truck from the Eau Claire Fire Department. Alumnus Russ Weisemann, 1956 graduate and former professor of religion for 50 years, stated, “I was very glad to attend this event, and I had a great time.”
sity ’76 & ’83 alumnus who studied history and served as a United States Ambassador to Suriname, said, “I enjoyed interacting with the students. I love teaching and was an adjunct professor in the Department of History and Political Science. Helping students get a good experience is important to doing well in the future.” Many students who attended the luncheon gained valuable information and a positive experience of professional socialization. Several students even exchanged business cards with alumni in hopes of securing a connection
that would continue beyond the luncheon. Junior Merlique Blackwood, a biology major, remarked, “My experience at the Tambunan Leadership Luncheon was incredible, because it was wonderful to see alumni of Andrews University who not only successfully matriculated through the university, but also were intentional, steadfast and determined in their various careers and aspirations to ultimately achieve their dreams, as well as to give back to those who would follow.”
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News
Get the Scoop Alaryss Bosco | On Wednesday,
Sept. 23, the annual Ice Cream Club Fair was held on the lawn in front of the Campus Center. Fiftyeight clubs were represented, with six new clubs making an appearance this year. The clubs and organizations vary in scope, from pre-professional groups, which concentrate on hosting events aimed at preparing students for their respective professions, to cultural clubs, which are more social in nature. Additionally, the Pre-Veterinary Club featured a kitten, Medical Laboratory Sciences students used syringes to inject raspberry sauce into students’ ice cream, and Nursing Club students sported stetho-
scopes. Bible study groups such as Light Bearers, which is co-sponsored as a PMC Grow Group and aims to promote student spiritual growth, also had booths at the club fair. Junior architecture major and Light Bearers leader Rafael Gonzalez said, “Our intention as a club is to provide a comfortable and enjoyable weekly Bible study that is appealing to students and, at the same time, refreshing and motivating. This semester, our main focus is discipleship: we will talk every week about different topics that will help us understand what it truly means to be a disciple, not only here at Andrews, but everywhere we go. The difference of this
Bible study to the rest is that it is a discussion between attendees rather than a monologue.” The new Campus Ministries Bible study, Proximity, also made its debut appearance at this year’s Ice Cream Club Fair. Senior biochemistry major Adrianne Magsipoc said, “The idea for Proximity is based on the way people in the Bible have encountered and related with Jesus: Get Close. Get Clear. Get Clean. If you take the example of one of the ten lepers who came back to thank Jesus— He first came close to Jesus, once he got close he became clear about his uncleanliness and Christ’s saving power, and once he got clear he got clean. This whole process is
28th Annual Homecoming Parade Khayla McDonald | Andrews Uni-
versity was jolted this weekend by the sound of sirens, announcing the arrival of the 28th Annual Homecoming Parade. The parade, which began around 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25, started off in the Andrews Academy parking lot and ended at Pioneer Memorial Church’s parking lot. Seating and concessions were available at the Howard Performing Arts Center. Some people brought their own chairs to sit in the shade while others stood, perhaps to avoid an obstructed view. There were many exuberant children present.. Leading the parade was the Berrien Springs Fire Department, followed by two current students
carrying the parade banner: sophomore elementary education major Anecia Ascalon and sophomore biology major Linnea Burke. “Being in the parade was really cool, because it’s a fun way to unite alumni and current students and to celebrate Andrews,” Ascalon said. “It is a little nervewracking to have everyone stare at you but it’s a unique experience to have.” Shortly after the banner passed, multiple people marched with flags representing their countries of origin, including representatives from Israel, Kenya, Guam, Italy, South Korea, Great Britain, Brazil, the Ivory Coast, Finland, Grenada, Trinidad, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Ireland and Scotland.
Then came the Andrews University President and First Lady. President and Mrs. Andreasen rode in a 1968 Pontiac Firebird. Following them in a 1988 Oldsmobile Delta was Andrews’ Provost, Andrea Luxton. Soon after, the crowd was greeted by the honored alumni, who drove by in a 1951 Ford. Other cars continued the procession, including a 1946 Plymouth Special Deluxe coupe, a 1950 DeSoto and a 1931 Pontiac Model A. Some of the cars carried specific groups of alumni, with their class years displayed on the vehicle. After the unofficial car show, the walking groups of the parade began their march. As they proceeded, the announcer for the
event informed the crowd of a people’s choice award, allowing the spectators to vote for their favorite groups in the parade. The very first group that proceeded was the Adventurers’ Club from Pioneer Memorial Church. “It was so good this year,” Dean of Lamson Hall and Director of Residence Life Jennifer Burrill said. “A lot of groups participated, and the kids were my favorite.” Following the Adventurers’ Club was the Village Seventhday Adventist Elementary School. Following the children were some scholastic and major-based groups, such as the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, followed by the Department of Physics.
Tambunan Leadership Luncheon Jessica Yoong | Last Friday,
Sept. 25, several students attended classes all over campus in unusually formal attire. A number of these students may have hustled to the Badger Room in the Campus Center after their morning classes to ensure that they would arrive at the Tambunan Leadership Luncheon in a timely fashion. The annual Tambunan luncheon was hosted by the Leadership Department and Alumni Services with the intent of facilitating connections between student leaders and accomplished Andrews alumni. The professional atmosphere was
accented by the numerous neck ties and high heels that were prevalent among both the students and alumni throughout the room. Students were encouraged to practice their networking skills and were provided with a purposeful opportunity to do so during time allotted for mingling with the alumni before the meal was served. The alumni were eager to impart advice and graciously shared the stories of their paths to success with students who expressed interest. The company of invited alumni included Byron Lynn Blagburn (BS ’75, MA ’78),
Garren Dent (AS ’85, BBA ’90), and Eurydice Valenis Osterman (BMus ’72, MMus ’75), all of whom went on to become leaders in their professions in later years after graduating from Andrews University. The event was emceed by David Ferguson, Director of Undergraduate Leadership Development, who asserted that “sooner or later the transition into the working world will come upon students, and in order to have the human interactive skills necessary to survive, they need practice. This is exactly what (the leadership luncheon) provides. In professional settings,
there is often a gap in power, and we try to mirror these situations to better prepare students.” The facilitated mingling period was followed by a catered meal, during which the students were divided into small groups and seated at specific tables with an alum. The room buzzed with conversation as students seized the opportunity to inquire after the alums’ career paths and university experience. Topics of general interest were also discussed, and the luncheon was of mutual pleasure for most. John Nay, an Andrews Univer-
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THE STUDENT MOVEMENT
Ideas
Are We Too Politically Correct? Daniel J. Fults
Ideas Editor
Love Beyond Political Correctness Jaime Vargas | “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Perhaps you have experienced firsthand the notion of un-truth in that expression. You have realized that words do, in fact, have the ability to hurt and to cut deep, sometimes in ways that are much more lasting than physical wounds. It is in light of this truth that I believe we should give thought and consideration to what we say and how we say it. This mindset, sometimes defined as “political correctness,” should be a safeguard against speaking words that may cause someone to revisit the fear, frustration or depression that was put in them by years of verbal, emotional and mental abuse at the hands of oppressors. Our choice of words and the way in which we use them should be others-centered: chosen and spoken for the holistic benefit of those listening to us. Yet I wonder how many people
who adhere to political correctness are even motivated by the desire to protect and build up their audiences. It seems to me that, rather than being used to protect—and thereby love—
one’s own reputation. What’s worse is that we have taken this self-preservation and disguised it by calling it tolerance and respect for others. Political correct-
a love that is opposed to our modern notion of tolerance in his book The Problem of Pain. “Love, in its own nature, demands the perfecting of the beloved... Love
It’s not the self-worth and self-esteem of others that political correctness seeks to defend; it is one’s own reputation. others, political correctness is now used to protect the one speaking. It is self-preservation motivated by fear, the fear that you may say words that bring unwanted criticism and hostility upon yourself. It’s not the worth and self-esteem of others that political correctness seeks to defend; it is
ness has become the language of tolerance, and, in a sense, tolerance is considered today’s language of love. Yet it is a love that is cheap and fearful, a love that desires the complacent comfort of its object rather than see it give up that which is self-destructive. C. S. Lewis sheds light on
may forgive all infirmities and love still in spite of them: but Love cannot cease to will their removal. Love is more sensitive than hatred itself to every blemish in the beloved… Of all powers (Love) forgives most, but he condones least: he is pleased with little, but demands all.”
I believe it is a good and noble desire to seek to avoid language that tears down and demeans, but in our caution we have become scared of speaking truth that has the ability to expose the wrong found in the character and in the community of our listeners. The beautiful thing about true love is that not only is it a safeguard against speech that is hateful and oppressive, but it is also a safeguard against keeping silent when our words, backed up by God’s Word, can be used to correct and to guide. I believe that such a love would rid us of this self-preservation disguised as tolerance and political correctness, giving us more freedom to build others up with a love that places a bigger value on what we need to hear rather than what we want to hear.
Political Correctness: Restricting Free Speech? Emily Cancel | Though part of the United States Constitution promises the right to free speech, it is becoming more and more apparent to me that this is no longer the case. It would be foolish to continue to use that phrase in its truest sense, because one can no longer even speak one’s mind without being censured or publicly shamed for our choice in words. The legal right to free speech remains, but the public privilege is no longer freely ours. Political correctness is limiting the freedom to speak one’s mind without the inevitable repercussion of sometimesforceful backlash because someone was included in a statement they didn’t like, or excluded from one that they did. It has become a hobby to be offended by something. Some even seem to make it their purpose to be
offended by everything but believe they are doing something grand in making people recognize that they will not be socially misused. Unfor-
get in the media and on social media is sometimes the only thing making them as big of a deal as they are. There is no good way to address
It has become a hobby to be offended by something. tunately, the effect they are having is quite the opposite from the intended. It is becoming harder and harder to respect sensitive issues because all the issues are becoming sensitive. Many issues deserve attention to be given to them, but not the extent that it is currently given to them. The amount of attention these issues
someone’s race or gender without offending someone anymore. It shouldn’t be so easy to make an adult pout and write nasty notes on other people’s Facebook walls. Usually one presumes that kind of behavior leaves a person after a certain age or level of maturity, but it is becoming clear that that is no longer the case.
Good conversation is dying in the United States, because an increasing number of the populace will get too fired up about the logical presentation of personal beliefs or opinions that are contrary to others’ beliefs. The whole idea of political correctness encourages this hypersensitivity, since it caters to the people who make the most noise about their specific issue. Quite frankly, it is embarrassing how sensitive this country has become. It is juvenile and makes a laughing stock of everyone. Every time I have left the country, someone I meet along the way finds out I am American. Immediately, his or her attitude towards me changes. It becomes more guarded, and the conversation becomes loses its openness. It is presumed that because I am American, I am sensitive and yet
culturally insensitive. Had I a different passport, I would use it when traveling internationally to prevent such judgments at my expense. Some terms are certainly derogatory and are inappropriate for conversation, but this American trend toward omitting any and all terms that could offend someone is simply ridiculous. One cannot please everyone. There will always be someone who is unhappy, but it is not necessary to cater to political correctness to that to the extent that we do. This country has become a place where the Miranda rights should be read to everyone every morning, because in the course of the day, anything you say can and will be held against you.
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mom, should be the one who understands the most the value of having a dream and having the opportunity to accomplish it. His life is the definition of the American dream: rising above the disadvantages he was given at a young age and going to Yale, becoming a world renowned neurosurgeon, and potentially becoming President of the United States. So, it seems unfair that Dr. Carson would attack those who are on welfare and those living in poverty just for the sake of not adhering to political correctness. When a public figure rallies their followers and makes it more difficult for those who are disadvantaged just because they want to speak what’s on their minds, maybe it’s necessary to be more politically correct. Being politically correct has become synonymous with being voiceless and being a mindless sheep just following the herd, though it has nothing to do with that. Political correctness is being considerate to those around you, those who may not have had the same opportunities that you have had. Yes, it is important to be able to speak your mind, and yes, if we are being censored by our govern-
ment, there should be a change, but there is a difference between having the ability to say or do something and actually carrying it out. We live in America, where any child—whatever race, religion, or creed—should be able to dream about becoming the president, and this is what makes America great. Political correctness is not being voiceless—it’s using your voice to make sure that all individuals feel equal.
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Ideas
The American-ness of Political Correctness Nathan Kim | In light of Presiden-
tial Candidate Ben Carson’s recent comments about his view on having a Muslim president, the topic of political correctness has been brought to the forefront of American attention—and quite necessarily. In case you missed it, Dr. Carson said that he did not believe that a Muslim should be the President of the United States due to his belief that someone of Muslim faith “…does not traditionally separate church and state, traditionally has a theocracy, traditionally treats women in a different way than we do, treats gays in different ways than we do…” One of Dr. Carson’s main points in his presidential campaign is to ignore political correctness and say what nobody wants to say. This raises two questions: how important is it to be politically correct, and is ignoring political correctness necessarily a good thing? By definition, political correctness is the avoidance of forms of expression or action that are perceived to exclude, marginalize or insult groups of individuals who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against. At first glance, this seems like a good policy to fol-
low—those who are already disadvantaged or discriminated against do not need any more opposition, especially from those who are much more privileged (whether economically or socially) than they are. Discrimination against gender, religion, or ethnicity are publicly condemned in contemporary American culture. So why is there such a stigma against being politically correct? According to Ben Carson, it’s because “(Americans) need to be in a place where people feel free to express themselves and not be intimidated by political correctness. It’s destroying our nation.” The problem with Ben Carson’s statement against political correctness is that it ignores those who are the minority, the ones towards whom we try to be politically correct. Yes, freedom of speech and of thought is important and one of the bases of our country, but if the comments and prejudices of the majority—especially of a public figure such as Dr. Carson— impede the minority’s chance of living the American dream, there is a major issue. Someone like Ben Carson, who grew up in Detroit as an impoverished child of a single
CREATIVE COMMONS
How Political Correctness Affects Inter-Group Dialogue Erik Vyhmeister | Political correctness is the art of speaking publicly without offending anyone. The idea behind it is simple: before you speak, pay attention to what you’re saying, and if you can say the same thing in a kinder way, do so. In the interest of promoting good relationships with everyone, this is a good idea: political correctness is supposed to prevent accidental offenses. In theory, this means that if someone is being offensive, it is because that is their intention, not an accident. Who decides whether a statement is offensive or not? Typically, the person or group the statement concerns gets to be the judge. However, that begs the question of whether or not the statement should be considered offensive and therefore whether or not the offense taken is justified. The main take-away is that as a society, we do not agree on what is offensive. Public debate and discourse have been heavily affected by attitudes on political correctness. Whether in writing or in speech, it has become increasingly important for authors or speakers to “clean up” their works to fit the public’s idea of political correctness, which may mean changing
some wording, or more often removing entire ideas. Nobody wants to be unpopular, which effectively leads to censorship of ideas that could be perceived as distasteful to some people (whether or not they actually are distasteful is a different point entirely). And sure, there are ideas that aren’t
that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation” has caused a lot of uproar. Much of the response has been a series of name-calling and accusations of racism and/or xenophobia directed towards Carson. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders responded, “People should be
rectness stems from our strained race relations. For example, some English vocabulary has disappeared from modern usage because of the connotations with slavery or derogatory use. This is both good and necessary for social progress. The idea behind political correctness is to take a clos-
The current focus on political correctness is causing people to “tame” their ideas to fit what they think other people want to hear. worth considering, but our cultural focus on political correctness is censoring many other ideas that could be valuable. The problem is in how we societally deal with ideas that are offensive. When someone says something that is perceived as offensive, the discussion shifts to the nature of the speaker rather than the content of their ideas. A recent statement by Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson that he “would not advocate
elected to office based on their ideas, not their religion or the color of their skin.” During the week following the controversial statement, Carson strove to make it clear that his statement was referring to concerns about irreconcilable differences between Islam and the U.S. Constitution. However, the damage to his image has been made, because he spoke non-positively about a group to which he does not belong. Much of the desire for political cor-
er look at our vocabulary and see if it carries a different (often negative) meaning for the audience than the speaker. This is a noble goal: removing unnecessary conflict from discourse. However, it does not allow for the inevitability that personal views can sometimes be offensive to others. The current societal focus on political correctness is causing people to “tame” their ideas to fit what they think other people want to hear. Full freedom of expression and full politi-
cal correctness cannot coexist. Political correctness, as it is used today, sends the message: “If it’s not nice, don’t say it!” Political correctness is supposed to be about clearly communicating only what is intended without accidentally muddying the waters with offensive vocabulary. However, what it has accomplished is scaring anyone with an idea that could upset some fraction of the population away from speaking out. I am not advocating for allowing hate speech; there is a major difference between an idea or opinion that upsets people and a persuasive speech inciting a group to violence, be it physical or verbal. Free speech should mean that everyone is allowed to present their ideas and/or opinions publicly. It does not mean that all ideas have the same value, only that they all deserve to not be censored. Political correctness has shifted into attempting to make everyone comfortable. There are difficult topics that need to be discussed. When that happens, somebody will inevitably be offended, whether or not that was offender’s intention. One cannot listen to people with dissenting opinions
and expect to be comfortable with everything they say. People cannot express themselves fully if they are then judged when one of their views offends us. While they may learn that their view is offensive, they will also learn not to express themselves. So when talking about complex issues, let’s actually talk. There is going to be disagreement, and there is likely to be some offense taken on all sides, but unless we actually express what we truly think, we are not going to make any progress.
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THE STUDENT MOVEMENT
Pulse
Annual Alumni Basketball Game
Evan M. Rorie Pulse Editor
Daniela Castillo | As each and every player on the bench clutched tightly to the edge of their seats, so did nearly everyone from the crowd. With only ten seconds left in the game, freshman Nick Little shot the basketball and scored. The 2015-2016 Cardinals snatched the “W” for the Alumni basketball game held this past Saturday night. Johnson Gym was packed with people ready to watch both the Cardinal Men’s and Women’s basketball teams challenge their former team
players. The Lady Cardinals started the night off leading the game by 10 and the score only increased from there. With the help of lead scorer Kia Williams, the ladies let victory ring with an outstanding 61-29 point final score. “We definitely have a lot more talent than we did previous years,” Center Mindy McLarty said. “Every single player on the team is of use, and that’s going to help us out in the long run.” It is safe to say that Coach Kevin
Wooldridge chose the right players to represent Andrews University Women’s basketball this year. The Lady Cardinals hope to bring home more wins when season officially starts in November. “It was fun to play on Saturday night and get a win even though it wasn’t really against the Alumni. Everyone got a chance to play and get on the court, and I know the team had fun. It helped us to start getting used to playing with each other and building our chemistry. I’m excited
for this new season. We have a lot of new people with talent and a great level of commitment. We should have a good year,” Senior family studies major Gati Wankyo said. Shortly after the Lady Cardinals’ game finished, the guys stepped out on the court, leaving the crowd feeling nothing but anticipation to see whether or not the Cardinals’ rebuilt team could take home their very first game of the year. After losing their point guard and other valuable players from last year, it was time to add
new faces to the team, while working on preparing the men for the upcoming season, which begins in late October. The team has a great group of freshmen this year with a phenomenal amount of potential and with a solid work ethic. The Cardinal program has a strong foundation to build for the next four years and the potential to have a promising season this year,” Cardinals Captain Robert Moon said. As the game kicked off, both teams were head to head throughout nearly the first half of the game. In the second half, it was as if both teams were getting more comfortable on the court, which caused the numbers on the scoreboard to skyrocket. The crowd began to roar as former Cardinal Ryan Little hit a deep three from the top of the key. Within the next four minutes to follow, Little knocked down five more, causing every scream from the bleachers to get louder. With Ryan having an outstanding total of 10 three pointers this game, the crowd was nervous to see whether or not the Cardinals could bring the win home. As the alumni took the lead, the motivated Cardinals were far from giving up. With a little more ball movement and tighter defense, the Cardinals then handed off the ball to Ryan Little’s brother, Nick to change the game last minute. Off of a screen, Nick Little took three steps to the basket, and with a floater, the Cardinals stole back the lead for a hard-worked win, 63-62. Nick Little said, “I had missed my last two shots, but nothing felt better than coming back and hitting that game winner.”
PHOTOS BY THATO LEHOKO
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7
Pulse
Lady Cardinals Soccer Name: Meredith Martin Interviewed by: Justin Walker The Andrews University Lady Cardinals secured their first win of the season when they defeated Mount Mary College 3-2 last Sunday. The Lady Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first half and despite Mount Mary’s best comeback efforts the Lady Cardinals were able to hang on for the win. One of the women who had a standout performance was Meredith Martin, who assisted on the first goal of the game before scoring a goal herself a few minutes later. The goal and assist were her first of the season. The following conversation is an interview with Martin. Take us through your assist. I got the ball towards the corner of the box and attempted to cross the ball. The ball hit the defender and usually when that happens it bounces out of bounds for a corner kick,
but it bounced back to me and I just kicked the ball towards the middle. I was hoping that one of my teammates could kick it in and luckily someone was there to score the goal.
thing about being on the team? I love the competition. I look forward to learning new techniques and striving to be the best so that we can be the best on game day.
And what about the goal? I didn’t know I scored at first. The ball came in bouncing in the box and one of my teammates collided with the goalie and everyone kind of slowed down or stopped because we all thought it was a foul. Well, the ball kept bouncing towards me and I saw a defender and the goalie coming towards me, so I just kicked the ball and it went in.
Any personal goals for the season? I would love to get a hat trick. I like to think that would be my greatest accomplishment as a senior on this team. I’m looking forward to winning more games, more playing time and growing as an athlete.
What did you do when you scored? I didn’t really do anything, because by the time I realized it we were already going back to our positions for the kickoff.
What can we expect from the team going forward? We hope to make our record better than the season before. Hopefully more wins will bring more support at our home games and grow the soccer program here as a whole.
Getting the win must’ve felt great. What’s your favorite PHOTOS BY PAOLA CACERES
Mens Soccer Team Comeback Hero Name: Daniel Braun interviewed by: Justin Walker Last Tuesday, the Cardinals soccer team pulled off yet another comeback victory at home. This time Grace Bible College were the victims as Andrews overcame an early 1-0 deficit to win 2-1. The hero of the day, Daniel Braun, scored both goals of the game; these are Braun’s thoughts: Congratulations on another comeback win at home. What is it about this team that allows you guys to keep fighting even after giving up a goal? When they score, it drives us to want to try harder, because we know we
are capable of winning the game. Do you guys do anything differently when you give up a goal, or do you stick to the original game plan? Even if we score first, we always play like it was 0-0. When they score first, we just play harder and that starts by listening to the coach. What was your mentality during the goals that you scored? I wanted to win, so during this play I received the ball and all I thought about was scoring. I knew that we were better than them. We just needed to do what we had practiced.
What’s it like to score a gamewinning goal for your school at the collegiate level? Actually, the winning goal was a repercussion of team work. I wouldn’t have scored without my teammates, so the winning goal wasn’t important. The important part was that our team fought together for the victory. What can we expect from you and the rest of the team going forward? Not giving up until the referee blows the last whistle.
Health & Fitness Expo Tim McGuire | Andrews University held its annual Health and Fitness Expo this past Sunday in Johnson Gymnasium. Since healthy living is a vital aspect of Seventh-day Adventist beliefs on which Andrews University is founded, many of the booths at the expo were based on concepts from Ellen G. White’s writings, which addressed issues related to healthy liv-
ing. The vast majority of the booths in one way or another revolved around water. There were booths dedicated to drinking water and its importance. There was also a booth dedicated to water treatments, showing how water can be used for non-hydration purposes in the body, hot and cold showers to treat illness and using hot
rags to relax the muscles. Other booths were dedicated to ways to live more healthfully. There was a booth dedicated to sugar consumption, as many Americans consume very high amounts of sugar daily. There was a booth about veganism, which had a multitude of resources for people interested in learning more about or even trying
the vegan lifestyle. Since exercise is also important to living a healthy life, there were many elements at the expo dedicated to fostering an appreciation for exercise. There were inflatable bouncy castles for children, scooter bowling, a weight-lifting instructional booth, a basketball hoop and other booths allowing people to exercise and burn
off energy. Given that one of the most unrecognized aspects of human health is that of one’s hearing, the Andrews University Department of SpeechLanguage Pathology and Audiology set up a booth to provide free hearing screenings and to answer any hearing-related questions. Other Andrews University depart-
ments, including the Department of Nutrition and Wellness, Department of Physical Therapy and Department of Medical Laboratory Science, set up booths to promote interest in the health sciences, as well as answer any questions people might have about working in health professions.
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Humans
Passion for Fashion Name: Steven Fujimoto Interviewed by: Ben Dietel
Andrei Wayne K. Defino Humans Editor
Seated outside the Campus Center, laptop in hand, one may expect him to be typing a school report, or perhaps finishing a pre-lab assignment for a chemistry class. In reality, he is working in a more particular and uncommon industry. Sophomore business management major Stephen Fujimoto is employed by Georg Roth Los Angeles, a upscale fashion company centered in California. According to Fujimoto, being a high-end fashion worker has more benefits than merely getting to see what people will be wearing the next year. “Working in the fashion industry,” Fujimoto said, “puts you in contact with people you never thought you would associate with.” Fujimoto claims to have had some unique experiences with his job, such as a dinner with Jennifer Lopez, or marketing work with celebrities Michael Phelps, Katy Perry and Uncle Kracker. While these are indeed enviable, Fujimoto says he has gained more than just connections and bragging rights; he has learned some practical skills as well. “The side most people don’t know about fashion is that it involves not only a designer’s sense, but also a lot of knowledge about how to influence people to buy your product and feel fresh wearing it,” Fujimoto said. “A lot of
study on how people think goes into this business.” According to Fujimoto, one of the best ways to get people to wear the company’s products is social media and marketing. Just having a good quality product doesn’t mean it will sell. The strategy is to sell the idea that their product is the new best thing they have to have, not the product itself. You have to influence people to want it, or even need it. This is Fujimoto’s main role with the company, and he really enjoys it. “I love having the opportunity to learn about how to influence people to think a certain way,” Fujimoto said. “I have learned so much already, and that is exciting to me.” Now that he has transferred from Southern Adventist University to Andrews University, Fujimoto’s role in the company has been slightly cut, due to the amount of school-related work he already has to do. He has temporarily stepped down to a more simple job of working with the online side of marketing, frequenting well-known online stores such as Amazon. com and creating product listings there. While this job is a lot more laid back than his original work, Fujimoto certainly hasn’t lost any of the bravado he holds for his occupation. “Being a fashion worker,” Fujimoto said, “has really broadened my perspective of society and its trends, which will be beneficial for the rest of my life.” PHOTO BY THATO LEHOKO
Kevin Wilson: Seminary Student Name: Kevin Wilson Major: Theological Seminary Class standing: Graduate Interviewed by: Andrei Defino How’s seminary life? Seminary, man, it is a mixed bag. It’s easy to go to both extremes like “this is the worst place in the world” to “this is everything I expected,” but since I’ve done 6 years of undergrad here, it sometimes feels like a repeat. I guess one thing I’ve really learned is that I just have to choose my experience. I’m being challenged, I’m learning so much, and I like it a lot. What has been the hardest and easiest part of your graduate experience? The hardest part of Seminary has been trying to navigate around the lack of community which I miss from undergrad. Everyone’s supposed to maintain this professional candor that it sometimes seeps into the social aspect of school. Most days I finish my classes and go to the campus center to find that circle of community again. The easiest part is probably the classes; it’s easy work but it’s busy work.
You were the AUSA Religious Vice President during your senior year here at Andrews University and even though you’ve moved on to bigger things how are you still finding the time to be active around campus and make time for your friends who are still completing their undergraduate studies? That’s something I’ve been really thinking about. I’m not paying thousands of dollars for the education; I’m paying it for the experience. It’s a matter of priority. For me, being at Andrews is not so much about the lectures but to create connections and enjoy the people. The relationships I’ve built and the ministries I do are the workout gem for my academics. The faster I get to apply what I learn, the faster I can galvanize it. Speaking of relationships and your history as the Religious Vice President, I hear you’ve initiated this thing called Triads. How did it start? To start, it’s not just me who started it. I mean I may have acted as the
voice for the angst we felt but it was a group effort. It started after I graduated and my friends and I came to a realization that if we weren’t intentional we could fall into two pitfalls. One: we can build relationships and social circles that are a mile wide but an inch deep – everything would be superficial; we found that we had less than 8 people we could truly talk to or cry to despite the amount of friends we said we had. Two: discipleship could have been reduced to an event rather than a lifelong process. In a college like this it’s easy, we realized it’s easy to go from one thing to the next. College teaches you to be selfish where we consume what is being produced – where everything becomes me, me, me. We saw that this ideology would seep into our spirituality where we would ask “what could this service, vespers, chapel, Week of Prayer, whatever, give me?” We slowly interpreted these things as another product and we established that discipleship isn’t and never was an event; it is the fitness of our faith. With a group of friends across Meier, Burman, Damazo, and Lamson we
tried to meet once a week to grow in Christ and with each other. It started as an idea that we just went with but those who were able to truly commit later said that they found their best man, their maid of honor, and their truest friends. Those testimonies fueled the movement that is now Triads. So, what is Triads now and what does it look like today? Basically Triads is the answer to the dissatisfaction my friends and I felt. It is what we believe discipleship should look like – authentic relationships as a paradigm for discipleship and inspiring others to love and live Jesus. It is a movement that through trial and error has been three years in the making. The vision is for Triads to be a movement of dissatisfied disciples who exist to be church. In order to reach our mission of being church, we grow deeper with God, growing closer to each other, and reaching farther than ourselves. It’s not just a Bible study for information transfer but rather an experience to dig deeper and bridge the information from
the scripture and make it intimate for ourselves and for each other. How can people who are interested join the Triad movement? Anyone who wants to join Triads basically gets a group of three together and share life with each other, see Jesus in scripture, and seek God through prayer once a week. Then once a month all the Triads will congregate at our monthly gathering to connect with each other. If you want to form a Triad, the cut-off date is October 3 since we believe that intimate relationships take about 9 weeks to really form. We have a website, facebook and twitter pages if anyone else wants more information. www.autriads.com Facebook/twitter/instagram/Snapchat: autriads
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den below. I think when someone has the call from God—which is the Holy Spirit part—some people come so broken, and so lacking in confidence, that they cannot put forth their very best. But with encouragement and coaching they can do their very best. Then there are others who are so talented, just raw talent, and sometimes they’re so arrogant that their preaching stinks. Everything is good: voice is great, gestures right, but something is lacking. It’s hard to say definitively “it’s this, this, and this.” The ones who are arrogant, we do our best to teach them to be gracefilled. And the ones who are not naturally talented, we do our best to bring them up to standard.
choir. I need to preach beyond the choir. And every opportunity that I have to preach beyond the choir I use this prophetic preaching to speak truth to power. I find in the Scriptures, in James 5, that James took on “rich oppressors” in a very confrontational way as he ministered to people who were suffering. We have a responsibility to do the same. Unfortunately, I think that the traditional practice of our eschatology has limited our denomination’s participation in social justice issues. It seems to me that we believe that these things will happen as a sign of the coming of Christ, and if we attempt to fix them we will delay the coming of Christ.
group tended to spend most of the time discussing theological issues. The black group tended to address incarceration of blacks, drug abuse in the family, all of these kinds of things. In fact, I financially supported a group that addressed these issues, including having conferences on being a responsible parent, from the perspective of black men.
In the last year, there has been a lot of public attention in the United States about race issues, policing, prisons. The latest Atlantic Monthly cover story is about “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration.” How do you see the Christian’s role in relation to social justice here and now? It’s obvious that I am black, and I cannot separate myself from the suffering of people of color, and I am aware of the injustices, and I think that as a preacher I have a responsibility to speak truth to power. I actually teach a course called Prophetic Preaching, which is designed to protest against these kinds of injustices. It doesn’t make any sense preaching this to the
What do you think about teaming up with Christians of other faiths who are doing good social justice work? We should team up with people who have been in the trenches longer than we have. But we are not a people who tend to team up with others. We are very exclusive; we are very “do it ourselves” kind of believers.
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Humans
Hyveth Williams Hyveth Williams Professor of Homiletics
You’re a professor teaching homiletics (preaching) at the leading Adventist seminary in the world, and yet our world church has said women can’t be ordained as ministers. How do you wrap your mind around that paradox? It’s very difficult. Just about three weeks before the General Conference decision, I was in Indonesia, and in one of our Adventist universities 600 people gathered to hear me teach them how to preach, and they loved it. I’m still getting emails. And in another university 200 people gathered. Then, three weeks later, they decide we’re not worthy of ordination. So it’s hard to wrap my mind around it. However, I must say I am not discouraged. I’m actually encouraged, because compared to the last time they voted on this, the amount of people who voted to support ordination has risen exponentially, so I see the change that is happening. And this will come back. I know the GC president has said, “This is the end of the story.” No. It’s not. It’s not even the middle of the story. How many female students does the Seminary have these days? I think we have about 135 female students right now—out of close to 500.
Wow. That’s a significant number. Yes, not like the three or four female students in my day. And how are you encouraging them in light of the ongoing situation? Ninety percent of the professors are so incredibly supportive. I saw one of them weep, and say, “I am so sorry this has not happened for you.” And I have seen a couple of them turn in their ordination credentials. Male professors, who will now “just” be “commissioned”? Yes. So there’s a strong message to the women in the Seminary that we are supported. And for the women who are studying, I do my very best to remind them that they were called by God, not by a person or a conference. We study and prepare to serve God. How much of good preaching is technique, study, preparation and talent, and how much is the moving of the Holy Spirit at the time you’re giving the sermon? All of those have significant parts to play. I have seen seminarians who, when they preach their first sermon, my reaction is, “I’ve got to tell this person that this is not for them.” But I have felt impressed by the Spirit to work with them and coach them, and I have seen the tremendous explosion of gifts hid-
You’re a sharp dresser. How does that fit in with your sense of self, with who you are? I believe that as a minister of the gospel I have to fight in my own armor. Saul’s armor may look pretty good, but if it doesn’t fit me I’m not going to do my best. I’m not going to win the battle. I’m representing God first, and the denomination second, and I think I should dress well. So I do—and I love it. What’s a Bible text that’s at the core of your Christian faith? Joshua 1:9, the command that God gives us: “Be strong and courageous, and know that I am always with you.” I write that text in every book I sign.
Have you ever been involved in interdenominational organizations or projects? When I was pastoring in California, I joined with two interdenominational clergy organizations: one was all black and one was all white—except for me. Their missions were different. The white
PHOTO BY SCOTT MONCRIEFF
by Scott Moncrieff Faculty Advisor
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THE STUDENT MOVEMENT
Arts & Entertainment
Alumni Gala Concert
Shanelle E. Kim Arts & Entertainment Editor
Nicole Hwang | To celebrate homecoming weekend, the Howard Performing Arts Center hosted the Alumni Gala Concert on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m. This unique event featured all three main campus musical ensembles: the Wind Symphony, with conductor Alan Mitchell, the Symphony Orchestra, led by Claudio González, and the University Singers, with Director Stephen Zork. The Wind Symphony commenced the evening with a performance of “The Star Spangled Banner,” wherein three tenor Singers provided the melody. They also performed Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “All I Ask of You” from The Phantom of the Opera, an unusual selection from the theatrical, voice-centered canon of musical composition. Cristian Neacsu, Class of 2008
alum, performed a violin solo with the Symphony Orchestra of “Mozart’s Concerto for Violin, No. 4 in D major.” Characteristic of the Classical era, and of Mozart in particular, this piece was elegant and lightweight in its makeup. It featured a prominent string section in the orchestra, with only a few brass instruments to enhance the aural statement. Concertmaster Pablo Sánchez, understanding the supple, polished nature of Mozart’s music, remarked to his fellow musicians that “(his bow stroke) is like almost nothing,” reminding them that “it takes more effort to play softly and well than to just throw your bow onto the string.” Neacsu currently holds positions at both the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Burman University (formerly Canadian Uni-
versity College) in Alberta, Canada, but he served as concertmaster of the Andrews University Orchestra during his tenure at Andrews. University Singers was the final ensemble that performed, closing the program with a selection of both old and newly-learned material. Conductor Stephen Zork selected a couple of unique songs to perform. One was their first piece, “Let the River Run,” which created the illusion of running water in their voices. At first merely a brook rippling over stones, the water became broader and deeper as the stream widened into a river. This first song possessed an animated quality— graceful, and perhaps even a little wild—showcasing the realism with which air can be breathed, pushed and shaped to imitate water.
This was evident to Singer Kara Kang, who commented, “It’s like (Mr. Zork) is playing with water.” The last song listed on the program was “Now Is the Approach of Winter,” words by Garrison Keillor. Professor Zork explained that this particular song was a twist on the original by Thomas Morley, “Now Is the Month of May,” praising Keillor as “a lyricist (and) a wordsmith.” This piece points satirically at the holiday season as a time of feasting and celebration, outlining the many kinds of food the speaker intends to eat. Autumn having officially begun on Sept. 23, the words were appropriate to the times, especially with Michigan’s historically swift onset of winter weather. The theme of feasting was referred to by Singers David Ortíz and Jared Marsh, who affec-
tionately called the piece “The Calories Song.” The Gala Concert provided a place of warmth both for alumni who have participated in any of the featured ensembles and for those who are merely fond of music. As the first concert of the season, the goal among performers was to not only to focus on technical excellence, but to recall good memories and nostalgia for the alumni. This was expressed by Conductor Claudio González, who, when backstage with the orchestra, said of the audience, “They are not here to criticize; they’re here to enjoy. This (concert) is a kind of worship. This is my philosophy of playing music.”
PHOTOS BY THATO LEHOKO
Part 1: The Scorch Trials This is the first of a two-part review of The Scorch Trials installment of the Maze Runner saga by James Dashner and its film adaptation, currently playing in theaters. Warning: Spoilers ahead! Janelle Aguilera | A short summary of The Maze Runner, the first book in the series: Thomas wakes up in an elevator, with no memory of who he is or how he got there; he only knows that his name is Thomas. He finds that he has somehow ended up in a place called the Glade; he is the newest arrival amongst a group of boys who also have no memories of their pasts. They are trying to find a way out of the Glade through the Maze that lies outside, a huge labyrinth that contains monsters called Griev-
ers. Eventually, some of the Gladers—the series’ moniker for the Glade residents—are able to escape, only to find out that they have been part of an experiment all along. This summer, I read a lot of book series, one of which was the Maze Runner saga. The second book in this the saga was The Scorch Trials. The story starts right where the first book ended: our main character, Thomas, and his group of Gladers have just escaped from the Maze. They are brought into a dormitory where they are separated into different groups. They wake up the next morning under attack by zombie-like people, called Cranks. The Cranks are trying to get into the building and are trying to kill the Gladers. Even though they escape, more horrors await; things go from bad to worse until they come
face-to-face with a man who works for the very organization that put them in the Maze to begin with. As the book goes on, they find out that they must endure another phase of the trials. The man in charge tells them that the world outside of their building has been afflicted with an illness caused by sun flares, and that they will be sent out into this world to find the cure. The characters in this book are colored in so much detail that by reading, you almost feel like you are there with them. I’m a sucker for a dystopian novel, and this series was not a disappointment. One thing that both The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials do well is giving the readers information at the same pace the characters in the story are receiving it, making the characters more
relatable. This book not only kept me engaged through every chapter, it was a quick and easy read. There is also an underlying eeriness to the book. Part of that creepiness stems from the parallels it makes to our real-life society and government. The Gladers push through task after task, making unlikely friends and escaping near-death situations. Through everything they endure, will they make it? This is what the book keeps you wondering. One thing I found very interesting while reading this book was all the allusions to Christian beliefs. They often described the Scorch, which was the part of the country most affected by the sun flares, as having the heat of Hell. They compare some of the thunder and rainstorms to God sucking up the ocean
and spitting it out, which reminded me of Noah. Though I could not find any evidence that the book’s author, James Dashner, is a member of any religion, I like to think that these references were no mistake. Characters even call on “Dear God above” when desperately in need of help. It was almost a parallel to the struggles we go through: none of us have likely experienced the fictional torments that this book puts forth for its characters, yet the novel acts as a metaphor for our struggle. Seeing as the movie is currently in theaters, this is a book I advise for anyone who loves a good story, a lot of action and an author who likes to play with your mind.
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Arts & Entertainment
A Concert Connected Fonda Mwangi |On Saturday, Sept. 26, the Black Student Christian Forum (BSCF) annual Alumni Concert filled the seats of the Andrews Academy chapel. The concert was a compilation of alumni and student-led performances. “Connected” was the theme of the evening; the concert began with a short video on different people answering the question of how to stay connected with friends and family and also how to stay connected with God. Marguerite Samuels, an alumna of Andrews University, performed a beautiful rendition of “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands.” About her performance, Stephanie Nwoaha, a senior general studies major, said, “I thought the lady that sang was Whitney Houston resurrected.” Silent Praise, a group of current Andrews students, had quite a
unique performance. A few of the members, sporting gray wigs, impersonated elderly women and performed a sign language piece about how the saving blood of Jesus Christ “still works.” The crowd was excited by the enthusiasm and passion displayed by the performers; the performance was
involved in the performance.” Next, Dr. Eurydice Osterman, honored alumna of Andrews University, performed two original medleys on the piano. Both pieces were slow, peaceful and beautifully performed. Freshman biology major Joy Ngugi said, “(Osterman’s performance) mentally brought me back to child-
I will be humming those songs all week long... followed by a number of standing ovations. “I really liked the song that Silent Praise signed,” Hannah Mbungu, a senior chemistry major, said. “I like that they did a little bit of acting along with their singing. It made it fun to watch and kept the audience
hood simplicity with the songs that she played. They were the kind of songs I remember hearing when the sun would set Friday night, or during Sabbath School the next morning (such as the song ‘Jacob’s Ladder.’) I needed that.” Deliverance Mass Choir (DMC), di-
rected by Anthony Bolden, was by far the highlight of the night. They sang a number of pieces, each wonderful in their own respect. The first piece performed was an a cappella version of “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” The performers’ voices blended perfectly to the point that one did not feel the absence of instruments. The chapel was filled with the harmonies of the choir bouncing off every corner of the walls. “I was blown away,” senior behavioral neuroscience student Paris Rollins said. “I’ve always appreciated DMC for their upbeat gospel numbers, but their rendition of ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ gave me chills. I received a blessing from their ministry tonight, and I will be humming those songs all week long.”
PHOTOS BY THATO LEHOKO
Whisk Review: Union Coffee House & Café 115 E Street, Buchanan, MI 49107 Carlyle Tagalog
Vibe: The Union Coffee House & Café is a very calm, “hipster” café located in Buchanan, Mich. There is a relaxing feel that emanates throughout the café, welcoming anyone in for a good time. Located on a small town street in Buchanan, Union Coffee House & Café is a place to go on any day of the week. Student Friendly: Only 17 minutes away from the Andrews University campus, this eatery offers a relaxed environment that is dif-
ferent from the buzz of St. Joseph or South Bend. Its urban café-style atmosphere and decoration makes it an inviting environment to either study or unwind with a few friends—all while sipping a cup of one of their aromatic coffees or lattes. The Union offers free Wi-Fi, as well as comfortable seating areas—certainly inviting features for any college student. Originality: The Union is filled with elements that enchant all the senses of its customers in a chill environment: handwritten chalkboards, handmade wooden crafts, pleasant colors, brewed coffee
smells, contemporary music, fresh food and much more. Additionally, to cater to the laidback vibe, they even have a mini library full of free books to read, a table of board games for friendly competition and a calendar of local events and concerts—all for customers’ enjoyment. Such originality displays investment in the local community of artistry and talent without disrupting an enjoyably calm experience for the usually-stressed college student. Menu: The menu offers simple café food. Options range from sandwiches, wraps, burritos, soups and
bagels to coffee, chai, smoothies and chillers. While the food and drink may sound simple, they are made with tangibly fresh ingredients. There are plenty of vegetarian options, as well as gluten-free options. The café offers a variety of freshly-brewed hot and cold drinks fit for any weather type. Price: The average price for a meal is about $8, depending on one’s budget and appetite. The café drinks are all under $5. Prices are comparable to those of Panera Bread or Starbucks. Service: The service is good,
however, paying at the cash register (with gratuity) comes before receiving your order. Nonetheless, one does not feel at all rushed in, nor is there any waiting for a waiter.
new café to lay back and relax, the Union Coffee House & Café is certainly the place to go! Score: 4 of 5 Whisks
Atmosphere: There is a welcoming and relaxing ambience. It is well-decorated and well-lit for a relaxing time to either study—on a weekday—or to chat and celebrate—during the weekend. Extra features such as the library, board games, decorations, events, crafts and even a guest book greet the customer with an amicable atmosphere. If you are looking for a
Shinedown’s New Sound: A Threat to Survival for Their Future? Demetri Kirchberg | There are not many musical acts brave enough to change their sound after 12 years, four albums and over 6 million album sales, but with their September release, Threat to Survival, that’s exactly what Shinedown has done. For more than a decade, Shinedown has been pumping out so many hit songs that it never takes long listening to rock radio for one of theirs to come on. Tracks like “Second Chance” and “Bully” spent weeks in the number 1 slot on Billboard charts. After so much success and consistency, their new album is a sharp left turn from the norm with a new sound that focuses less on performance-based
songs and more on popular production techniques. The first offering and lead single off Threat to Survival was in-yourface, foot stomper “Cut the Cord.” Immediately going to #1 and dominating radio waves, fans were enticed by this heavy rock track laden with bluesy elements and a heaping helping of attitude from vocalist Brent Smith, serving lines like “I’m gonna make it rain/ So ring the bell,” and “I got a way of making noise/ The power to destroy with no static.” The lyrics, while fitting with the bolstering tune, are far from the best of Smith lyrics, and shallow when compared to past albums. In the past
Shinedown was able to separate itself from other comparable commercially successful bands like Nickelback and Three Days Grace by featuring mature and honest lyrics about real struggles with issues like drug addiction, disconnection from family and salvation. Songs like “Cut the Cord” and later track “Dangerous” exhibit that Threat to Survival is a departure from such meaningful lyrics. Sonically, this album is mostly cohesive, with a common thread of gospel blues influence throughout, such as a melodic motif in “Oblivion” that sounds like it’s right off the streets of New Orleans, or the female choir echo in “Cut the Cord.” Past singles
like “45” off their debut album featured this style in a small way and were very successful. While adding diversity to the sound of the album, paired with the production of the album, Threat to Survival becomes nearly unrecognizable as Shinedown. The project was led by songwriter David Bassett and Shinedown’s own bass player, Eric Bass. Their efforts left this album with remarkably heavy-handed production that reflects much of contemporary pop/ rock techniques. Midway through, “How Did You Love” is so laden with non-instrumental and inorganic sounds that it appears that Shine-
down has lost its regard for talented performance-based recordings. A comparison with acts like Imagine Dragons is easy to make here. “Thick as Thieves” is the biggest departure for the whole album. With minimal guitar work, and a lackluster vocal performance from Smith, who in past albums has proven himself a powerhouse, this track could easily have come off a Christina Perri album, but certainly not Shinedown. Highlight of Threat to Survival is the opener “Asking For It.” Containing most of the best performances from all members, driving guitars, sonically large but simple vocals and standout drum work, this track is as
close to classic Shinedown as this album comes. If a more underground act had made such a non-characteristic change towards more mainstream and popular sounds as Shinedown has here, it would be called “selling out,” but since they’re already had such commercial success, it’s hard to determine why this change of form has occurred. All considered, this album gets a 3 out of 10, and the only threat I see, is the threat of its survival in my iTunes library.
THE STUDENT MOVEMENT
The Last Word
Boehner, the Pope, and the Supermoon
Samuel James Fry Editor-in-Chief
Between John Boehner’s resignation as the Speaker of the House, Pope Francis’ historic address to the U.S. Congress and the “supermoon” eclipse—the past week and a half has been chock-full of events that have some Adventists pumping their fists and triumphantly proclaiming Bible prophecy is upon us. Notably absent from this discussion, however, is a genuine understanding of what it means to be God’s remnant church— one that still has a mission to fulfill. As a denomination that gives special credence to Bible prophecy, Adventists believe that our seventhday Sabbath keeping will play a key role in end-time events. We believe that we will be forced to choose between keeping God’s holy commandments and observing the true day of worship, or will ultimately be compelled to observe “Sunday laws” ushered in by a church-state alliance,
spearheaded by the Roman Catholic Church. This unique “apocalyptic consciousness” has had a lasting impact on the doctrine and formation of Adventist beliefs, and its prevalence in our sermons and Sabbath-school lessons is clearly demonstrated. Somewhat ironically for a denomination that traces its roots to the Great Disappointment of 1844, some factions of Adventism still place a lot of emphasis on trying to predict when the next end-time event will be upon us. Why are some of us Adventists so obsessive about every move of the Pope? Why do we give an almost supernatural precedence to his every action? Perhaps, among Adventists, Bible prophecy and our denomination’s unique “apocalyptic consciousness” are such emotionladen topics that it is difficult for people to listen, read between the lines and connect in a way that promotes
genuine understanding of the facts involved. Perhaps our denomination’s fringe element’s fear about the actions of the Pope could be shaken if we put more faith in the power of God, rather than fear of the doctrines of the Catholic Church. Maybe, if more time was spent practicing our remnant faith instead of touting our current events knowledge, we would have the momentum to penetrate the remaining parts of the world where the gospel has yet to be preached. What does worrying about the “imminent” passage of Sunday laws do to help the millions of people who still need to hear the good news of Christ’s imminent second coming? While we can appreciate the significance of historic events, we should not allow ourselves to become consumed with trying to predict specifics when it comes to end-times
events. In 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Paul writes that Christ’s coming will be like a thief in the night. We won’t need to watch the skies or turn on CNN to know that we are living in the last days. In fact, the Bible states that it isn’t our place to know when these events will transpire. While we should certainly take note of the signs in Bible prophecy— trusting in God to guide and protect us daily should rank higher in our priorities than tracking the latest escapades of Catholic leadership. The Pope and his followers are tirelessly going about their business—and regardless of our personal opinions— we should be working just as hard. If we do, we stand a chance of generating as much buzz as his Congressional address.
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.
Walk Like an Egyptian Name: Dillon Cray Zimmerman Major: Chemistry & Math Class standing: Senior Interviewed by: Dakota Hall
Mission Spotlight
What made you decide to become a student missionary? The largest motivation was simply a sense of being called. While this is difficult to articulate exactly, I have always wanted to share the gospel in a context that was not overtly Christian. Having education in mind for my future, I also wished to test my gifts as a teacher. The mission field is a great place to do this since there are not as many regulations about certification. I also wanted to gain life experience from being away from home. Finally, I simply like to travel and see new places and new experiences. What is the coolest thing about Egypt? Food is mad cheap here. I can get a satisfying meal for about five Egyptian pounds. That’s about 64 cents. Additionally the food here is typically fresher and has fewer chemicals, which I have found to be better for my gut. You also get to see camels, which I find rather funny. Finally, there are just a lot of old sites to see in this area. It’s one of the oldest regions of the world and has so much history. What do you miss most about being at Andrews? What are you happy to be away from? I miss seeing all my favorite people, especially my chemistry, physics
and math friends and professors. I miss the long two hour talks with Dr. (Ryan) Hayes about design, the “fiveminute questions” with Dr. (Keith) Mattingly (only physics majors will understand this), and discussing ways to teach math with Dr. (Robert) Moore. I miss seeing my friends in lab, the physics study room, or the cafe. And yes, unlike most people on this fair planet, I am going to woefully miss snow this year (Egypt doesn’t get much moisture, period). On the other hand, I don’t miss all the deadlines. The culture here runs on “Egyptian time,” which means that deadlines aren’t as stringent. This will be a big change when I get back stateside. What has been the most challenging part of teaching? I would say two things: discipline and failing students. I’ve never liked disciplining. It wastes class time, it annoys the student, it annoys me and it just makes class time unenjoyable. However, there are always problematic students that I have to deal with. The other thing I hate is failing students. This is especially the case when I pointed out the potential error about six different times. I remember a student coming up to me angrily protesting how he didn’t know he was supposed to answer a question a certain way. I simply had to tell him that I had mentioned that specific type of problem on about 10 separate occasions. When students just don’t seem to get it, it makes me feel like I failed, even though I know part of the
responsibility lies on the students. What has been one of your most inspiring experiences so far? After class one day, a student followed me to where I was taking care of office work. He just started asking a lot of questions, some of them really deep and challenging. Finally, he admitted that he saw something different in me when he compared me to others, something that he wanted. Up to that point, I had thought I wasn’t doing much in the way of witnessing, but it was a major blessing to hear that people could notice the difference in the way I carried myself. What has been one of the most discouraging or unpleasant experiences so far? I’ll share two. The first was related to eating contaminated food. Unfortunately I have Crohn’s disease, which is basically when your white blood cells decide your digestive tract is a threat and decide to attack it. So if any foreign cell enters my gut, my immune system panics and goes on a rampage throughout my entire body. In this case, I couldn’t eat much of anything for three days except apple juice and cereal. I was getting so thin, I thought I would have to go home or else perish in the desert. Thankfully things have quieted down. Another big discouragement is working in an environment where all the missionaries don’t seem to share your perspective on missions. Many of the other teachers don’t like the students, they prefer to distance
THE STUDENT MOVEMENT STAFF
Samuel James Fry Editor-in-Chief Paris D. Rollins Assistant Editor Shenika K. McDonald News Editor Daniel J. Fults Ideas Editor Evan M. Rorie 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
themselves from them and question why I would actually enjoy hanging around the students. Some of the teachers have even beaten up students who annoyed them or verbally belittled them. This is an extremely painful thing to deal with emotionally because I feel like all my influence is counteracted. Additionally, I many times feel like I have no one to turn to for support since they don’t share my views on missions. Any advice for prospective student missionaries? Get in the habit of praying a lot. You’ll do it even more in the field. Take a journal with you in case you have no one to vent to. Commit to making at least one friendship with (someone of the local population) while you’re there. Finally, be sure to read up and learn about the culture and people. Keep in mind, however, that regardless of how much preparation you do, you will never be prepared enough. There will always be things you don’t expect. I anticipated the students giving me trouble. I anticipated health concerns. I did not expect that some of the missionaries would be negative influences. There has been many times where I’ve wished to go home. During those times, it is important to remember how God has led in the past and how he has brought me here. The same will likely happen to you, but press on based on what God has done in the past.
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