Editorial: A word of encouragement

CHARLOTTE EHRMANN Copy Editor

This year has been difficult for everyone, but through uncertainty we have managed to get to the end of the second semester. The end is in sight, but there is one thing that is holding me back: this feeling of being rundown or completely burnt out.

I know a lot of my friends are feeling it, and I am sure most of the college is as well, including faculty and staff. This semester I have had to learn how to prioritize my mental health while still trying to complete everything in front of me. It has not been easy, and I know I have had my ups and downs.

We have not had a real break all semester, and I understand why. COVID-19 changed the spring schedule entirely and left students with no real break. The school has done what they can to help by implementing spring break days, but even these have their faults.

With spring break being broken up into one day chunks sprinkled throughout the semester, I have not really had a day off. All of my “days off” have been spent catching up on homework and the million other things that I have not had the motivation or time to do.

As an athlete, I have been running six days a week since August with only a week or two off in between seasons. Don’t get me wrong, I love running, which is why I do it, but I am mentally and physically exhausted. Like most sports, I had practice on most of the schedule spring break days. It was hard to find reason or time to take a break especially in the middle of the season.

Part of the reason for my burnout has been my own fault. I love being involved around campus, and I often feel like there are more things I want to do or be a part of. I spread myself too thin in uncertain times. I have a heavier workload now than I have had in the past, and all of this is catching up to me.

I completed one of my seminars this year, and the process was the most draining thing I have ever done academically.

I did not have the time or schedule room to properly manage my time, and instead I found myself having to pull a total of four all-nighters just to complete the project. I thought that, once it was turned in, my stress level would lower, but it has not. Instead, all my other classes have projects and presentations due all within a few days of each other. I have a difficult time deciding which class I should study for and when, and my grades have shown it.

Overall, this has been my hardest year both academically and for my mental health. I know I am looking forward to the end of year, and I am doing my best to push forward through it all.

For all of you in my shoes or also just feeling extremely burnt out, hold on. The end is in sight, I promise.

Charlotte Ehrmann is a junior psychology and history and political science double major. She is also the Copy Editor of the Bethel Collegian.

Word on the Street

What is something interesting your hometown does during the summer?

noaH Miller FIRST-YEAR

“My favorite is when the community comes out and we have a get together at the town part in the middle of town where the dads are grilling, the moms brought desserts, and the kids are just running around with the other kids in town.”

Matt Hernandez JUNIOR

BetH Balzer “One thing my town does every summer is we have a carnival come to town!”

JUNIOR

“They have programs for kids that include crafting, swimming, and movie watching to get them things to do along with some educational stuff as well.”

Morgan lantz SENIOR

“We do movies in the park. Every other Saturday they play a movie and have vendors come out, they sell popcorn and burgers and ice cream. It’s usually an all day thing because a farmers market is there before the movie starts so you just go and hang out then watch a movie. It’s usually decorated fun too.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Bethel Collegian will accept letters of up to 250 words. The editor reserves the right to reject or edit letters for purposes of clarity, good taste and accuracy and to prevent libel. Letters attacking a private individual will not be permitted. Anonymous letters also will not be accepted. Letters must include a signature, address and phone number. SGA most recently met on Sunday, April 25 to discuss the following business: - New basketball goals near Voth are up and ready to be used - Pickleball equipment is in, ask student to use it - Continuing processing ISR requests for students - Events for spring fling week will be starting soon, so keep your eye out for email updates on activities

If you have any questions, comments, concerns or ideas feel free to reach out to any SGA member

Should Bethel require the vaccine for the 2021-2022 year?

Requiring the vaccine is discriminatory Requiring the vaccine is responsible

Recently, itself in avoiding discrimination. Again one of the more the controversial argument would be controversial that mandating this vaccine would aspects in today’s discriminate against those who fit the society relates to the previous description. While a countervarious COVID-19 point might be that schools already vaccines that require vaccinations, I would argue that have been mass quite a few schools allow exemptions produced and for those. For example, many sick, marketed. unvaccinated, elementary students are BETHANY POWLS While simply required to stay home and are Editor-in-Chief certainly vaccines then the responsibility of their families. have benefited I really don’t fancy contracting people, never before have we seen quite tetanus (hence, I’m up to date on all of the roll-out that is the product of our my vaccinations), but I’ve already had panic. With that, Rutgers College, after COVID, and I personally believe that I informing their students fared better just getting well in advance that it than I would taking they were making this “Whether... you are a vaccine. Should I decision, decided to force their students to either vaccinate or find afraid of the health risks, or if you simply contract COVID, then I will be appropriately quarantined, just like “Public schools require vaccinations another college. believe that it is not those elementary kids. for entry all the time,

Near the strait of in the interest of you Finally, Rutgers and Bethel has every Gibraltar, there’s a tiny town that is currently being celebrated by the and your family to get the vaccine, then that is already facing quite a few issues with their decision… in the form right as a private institution to do the media for being almost is your choice.” of a nasty lawsuit. same.” entirely vaccinated. Since any COVID-19 However, there are a vaccine manufactured few key things to note here. They called at this point has been issued to the the vaccination procedure “Operation public for emergency use only by the Freedom,” as in freedom from COVID. FDA, it is actually basically illegal for an But does this also involve the freedom of institution to require said vaccination; individuals? Because if people chose, of and if there are people who disagree their own free-will, to get this vaccine fully with this statement, then I suggest that aware of the risks and the organizations it should be made illegal. If you want to involved, then I’m okay with that. But if be part of that experiment, go ahead and they were coerced in any way, as many get vaccinated. If not, then you have the of our nation’s college students could right to say no. Should they authorize it, I potentially be, then there is no place for would argue that it’s still too early in the the word “freedom” in that title. grand scheme of things to even consider

Whether you are innately distrustful requiring it, especially since companies of those who are making exorbitant producing said vaccine refuse to take on amounts of money off of our panic, you liability. are afraid of the health risks, or if you simply believe that it is not in the interest of you and your family to get the vaccine, Bethany Powls is a junior English and history then that is your choice. double major. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of

Secondly, higher education prides the Bethel Collegian. Rutgers to concerns surrounding blood clots in College in New mostly women under the age of 50. In Brunswick, N. J. total there were 15 cases out of over 8 made headlines million people vaccinated. Meaning the when they said that risk for a blood clot is 0.0002%. Compare they would require this to the risk of blood clot while taking the COVID birth control, which is one out of every vaccination for the 3000 women, the percentage is then fall semester. One 0.0333%. Meaning the risk for blood question comes clots is much more significant for a CHARLOTTE to mind when medication that has been around for 70 EHRMANN Copy Editor thinking about Rutgers’ decision: years. Now to the ingredients found in should Bethel require the vaccination as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The well? In an ideal scenario, I would argue first is citric acid mono-hydrate which yes. is found in citrus fruits and is often Public schools require vaccinations used as a preservation ingredient. for entry all the time, and Next is trisodium Bethel has every right as citrate dihydrate, a private institution to which is found in ice do the same. This can cream, yogurt, etc. also raise some legality and is used as an concerns, but Megan anticoagulant. Collins, an attorney The next for Welch, Donlon, & ingredient is ethanol, Czarples PLLC, explains which is the same that the mandate would alcohol that is found in be completely legal. alcoholic beverages. Collins explains that 2-Hydroxypropylsince students can still β-cyclodextrin and seek a full education online then it is polysorbate-80 are used to improve completely legal. As with all vaccination the solubility of compounds. Sodium mandates, there are religious and chloride is just salt. And the big bad medical exceptions, meaning that if you scary ingredient is the adenovirus type cannot get the vaccine for either of these 26 expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike reasons then you could still attend Bethel protein. This is simply an mRNA or in person with the right paperwork. messenger code of the virus that tells a The main reason I believe that cell how to replicate the surface of the Bethel should require the vaccine is virus. Our bodies produce antibodies simply because of herd immunity. Not in response and prepare for any future enough people are going to get vaccinated infection of COVID. without the push for it. There has been misinformation spread throughout the media since the beginning of the pandemic, and it has not stopped with the roll-out of the different vaccines. I will take a closer look at the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, one that has been in the news because of controversy. This particular vaccine was paused due Charlotte Ehrmann is a junior psychology and history and political science double major. She is also the Copy Editor of the Bethel Collegian.

FEATURES 5

Bethel students take advantage of WCSC opportunities

ELIZABETH FRIESEN-BURKY Guest Writer

The Washington Community Scholars Center (WCSC) is located in Brookland, a neighborhood often referred to as DC’s “Little Rome.” Situated a half-mile away from the Brookland Catholic University of America Metro Station and about a mile away from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the WCSC Nelson Good House is located in an accessible and lovely neighborhood.

Currently, I am interning at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Due to COVID, I have had a mostly remote internship experience, but have been able to meet up in-person with my supervisor and team quite often around the city to work on a number of assignments and tasks related to press releases, media targets and campaigns, and exhibition pitches for the Portrait Gallery. While the main reason I am in D.C. is to complete my internship requirements for graduation, I have also spent a lot of time exploring and enjoying D.C. and all that it has to offer.

The District of Columbia is roughly 10 square miles and is easily accessible via the Metro, the bus, and by walking. As a city, DC is known for having lots of open green space and parks. I have taken advantage of this by spending lots of time outside in various parks and outdoor spaces like coffee shops, quaint restaurants, and walks around the neighborhood or to the beautiful and serene Franciscan Monastery (which is only about 10 minutes away from the WCSC house).

Most DC neighborhoods are very walkable and easy to access from the house. Even with restrictions and closures due to COVID, I have still been able to enjoy the city and the various neighborhoods around DC including Dupont, Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, and more.

I’ve gone to picnics on the National Mall, biked around Georgetown and on Theodore Roosevelt Island, visited the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin on Easter Sunday, attended mass service at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, worked on internship tasks and assignments at locally-owned coffee shops, and attended art museums including the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the Phillips Collection. As my time at the WCSC program comes to a close, I know I will greatly miss the city and the friendships that I have made living here. I look forward to coming back to Washington DC in the near future with a more informed understanding of the city and the culture that shapes it.

ANGUS SIEMENS Guest Writer

Traveling to Mexico on the social work January interterm deepened my appreciation for bilingualism. Following this experience, I immediately enrolled and completed a five month Spanish audio course. I also felt driven to engage in conversation with friends, music, and film to create as much of an immersive experience.

This was around the time when I started planning my senior social work internship placement. My decision to apply to the Washington Community Scholars’ Center was shaped by hearing individuals share stories of their immigration experiences including facing danger from drug cartels, inadequate human rights conditions, and governmental corruption in the relationship between the United States and Mexico. Another draw to having an internship in the DC metropolitan area was the idea of getting to meet and work alongside a diverse population of clients and colleagues.

Last year I had a brief phone interview with the Legal Director of CASA de Maryland, a large organization that is located in the suburbs outside of DC. Interning at CASA is a unique experience considering the proximity of CASA to D.C. and the organization’s culture which emphasizes strong advocacy and equality for immigrant families and communities. I was exposed to primary litigation areas related to immigration, housing, and employment. The main focus of my time at CASA was the DREAMERS program which initiated the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that was terminated under the Trump administration until the turnover of the Biden administration. As a legal assistant, my job is to prepare immigration forms of the DACA recipients’ new applications in order to be approved by the United States Department of Homeland Security. My second responsibility is to respond to the legal hotline calls of CASA’s Spanish speaking clients. This consists of adding their name to the corresponding wait-list for a consultation about their issue related to housing, immigration, or employment. When there is a legal matter which CASA does not handle, I refer them to a different lawyer or organization.

As I reflect on the spring semester at the WCSC, I am grateful for the opportunity of having an internship situated outside of the Midwest for a change of pace, people, and environment.

*If students are interested in joining the WSCS program, there are spots available for the fall. For further inquiry about the program, please contact Jamie Reich at jamie.reich@emu.edu.