Editorial: Pronouns are empowering

CAPRI STEVENSON-BISOM Design/Layout Editor

This past year I came out as agender, which means I don’t identify as either a man or woman, and I am essentially genderless. I have asked people to start using they/them pronouns when referring to me. As a result, my friends and I have started to make an effort towards being more aware of people’s preferred pronouns and using non-gendered language.

Let us start with some basic LGBTQ+ terms that pertain to gender identity and expression. My gender identity falls under non-binary or genderqueer, which means not specifically male or female. Rather than a man or woman, I would be called an enby. Non-binary and genderqueer fall under the transgender umbrella, as in not cisgender. Cisgendered means your gender identify is the same as the sex you were assigned at birth.

Gender expression is something entirely different from gender identity. Someone can look masculine, feminine or androgynous, but that does not mean that they are a man, woman or enby. I can wear a suit or a dress, or look feminine or masculine, and that does not make me any less genderless.

In the English language, common honorifics such as Mr., Mrs. and Ms. are gender specific terms. However, a genderneutral honorific does exist: Mx. (pronounced “mix”).

A lot of people think that there is not a gender neutral term for nieces and nephews. However, there is a gender neutral term that is also the plural form: nibling. This word is derived from sibling, and we can take it one step further and call aunts and uncles piblings, which indicates the siblings of your parents.

A common way to address crowds is by saying “ladies and gentlemen...” Some fun alternatives include, but are not limited to: “distinguished guests,” “gentlefolk,” “homo sapiens,” “guys, gals and nonbinary pals” or just a simple “everyone.”

Many professions tend to put “man” or “woman” after their job title. It can be an easy fix to be more inclusive and replace “man” or “woman” with person or a more appropriate job description. Some common replacements could be: business person instead of businesswoman/ man, member of congress instead of congresswoman/man, mail carrier or postal worker instead of mailman, salesperson or sales attendant instead of saleswoman/man, etc.

People who use other pronouns besides she or he can still be in romantic relationships. We just wouldn’t be a girlfriend/ boyfriend or a wife/husband. Using gender neutral terms like partner, significant other, spouse or enbyfriend are very important to many enbys.

It can be beneficial to be aware of gendered language not just for non-binary or transgender people, but also to be aware of everyday sexism in the words we use. Take an extra second to ask someone their preferred pronouns and use more inclusive language.

Capri Bisom is a junior chemistry and art double major. They are also the design/layout editor for the Bethel College Collegian.

SGA CORNER SGA resumed meetings for the 2020-2021 session beginning January 24. Goodville Mutual Casualty Company provided $7,000 in funding for capital improvements to campus. President Gering feels strongly about the safety and well-being of campus and put the money towards initiatives that interest students: talkaphone tower and water fountain additions. SGA is working on updating the outdoor recreation area near Voth including a turf field, and new adjustable basketball hoops (Thanks Maintenance!). Each committee of SGA is also starting their respective projects for the upcoming semester. The Committee on Finance has been working on processing several ISR requests for students. The Committee on Academic Affairs is looking to start a book-share program and purchase school supplies for the CAD in the upcoming semester. The Committee on Student Life has been working with maintenance throughout this school year to come up with ways to improve lighting on campus, and they worked to start this column to provide more consistent updates from SGA. Speaker Wiles confirmed that the mural project for this school year is in progress, and will be designed by Adam Kroeker and Oscar Gonzalez. Lastly, Junior Sandy Dao was appointed to the senate as SGA’s newest member.

Word on the Street

International Students: How does your opinion of American politics differ from your initial impression?

JoAQuIN PluIS ArgeNTINA

I have always thought that the ex-president was someone who spoke his mind, but did a lot of show and always tried to be polemic. Since I arrived here, I was able to watch the transition from Trump to Biden and how that evolved, and Trump’s attitude made me reaffirm what I originally thought.

JulIo QuIrogA SPAIN

Now that I have been here for over a semester, I think that maybe only having two major political parties with such a different view can be problematic to society. If there were more parties involved, maybe there could be an adjustment in law that can benefit almost all citizens.

TomAS QuercIA ArgeNTINA

I believe that Donald Trump wasn’t made for a being U.S. president. Although I don’t know too much about politics, that is my opinion about it. In Argentina we have several political parties but in the U.S., it is just Republicans and Democrats. I liked how the country is organized.

The thing that stuck out for me was Trump’s approach after the election when he did not want to give up a presidential post followed by the Capitol’s attack. Politics in America are almost the same as in the Czech Republic. We also have a democracy, so there is not a big difference in the political system.

mIlAN Bucek cZecH rePuBlIc

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.

Is increasing the minimum wage good or bad for America?

America is more than ready to raise the minimum wage The proposition to double the minimum wage is irresponsible and unrealistic

One of the States is $1,468. Working a full time main promises job at minimum wage would only earn of the Biden someone $1,160 per month. The cost of administration rent does not include additional bills or is to raise the even food. Setting the minimum wage minimum wage. to $15 an hour would allow someone to This raise in earn around $2,400 a month. minimum wage Another argument against raising CHARLOTTE EHRMANN Copy Editor would be the first increase in the minimum wage is that skilled workers make roughly $10-15 an hour. over a decade This should not be an argument against and also the largest increase in the raising the minimum wage, but this federal minimum wage history. The instead should be an argument for new proposed minimum wage would raising all wages! This should be an be $15 an hour. This argument that should raise in the minimum be taken up with the wage is an attempt to employer, not those allow people a chance “As inflation rises so American citizens to earn a livable wage. Since most of our does the cost of living, who are struggling to make ends meet. news is presented and and without raising One last consumed in the form of the minimum wage argument for raising social media, there have people cannot afford the minimum wage been misconceptions and misunderstandings to live.” is simply that it is time to raise it. As about the minimum inflation rises so does wage. the cost of living, and

The first without raising the misconception comes from the idea of minimum wage people cannot afford earning a livable wage. I have seen many to live. Read that again. People right people argue online that the minimum now cannot afford to even live. Not that wage was never meant to be a livable people cannot afford to buy things they wage. To that I would love to point out want, these people cannot afford food or the original act in which the minimum shelter. wage was introduced. According to Not raising the minimum wage to Forbes Magazine, when Franklin D. meet inflation allows big companies Roosevelt introduced the Fair Labor and those at the top to continue to Standards Act of 1938, he had intended accumulate wealth while those at the the minimum wage to be “more than a bottom have to decide between paying bare subsistence level.” From the mouth rent or eating dinner. of FDR himself, the minimum wage has always been designed to be a livable wage. Charlotte Ehrmann is a junior history and

A full time job at $7.25 working political science and psychology double major. forty hours a week for one full year would She is also the copy editor for the Bethel only equate to $15,080. Let us break this Collegian. down even further. The average monthly rent for an apartment in the United It should first be or education, let alone dedication and said that, regardless loyalty. It is not simply a case of ‘raising of the theoretical wages.’ Such rewards must be earned, and arguments that have companies are not able to give them out been circulating on at will. this issue for what The removal of the bottom rungs would seem like time of the economic ladder will have seismic immemorial, the effects on the rungs higher up. Many ARRAN KEARNEY proposals recently put small businesses, those which employ the Staff Writer forward by President majority of Americans, will find themselves Biden to raise the unable to cope. A potential fifty percent Federal minimum wage to $15 an hour increase to the wage bill, which does not could not have come at a worse possible even consider the additional layouts to time. The pandemic has affected everyone, those disgruntled employees higher up the but none have been hit worse than small chain, will inevitably lead to the closure of businesses. The fact that many such establishments any such proposals are or reduced hours for staff. being seriously considered Minimum wage at this point in time is employment offers absurd – and that is to say “The minimum wage genuine opportunities nothing of the arguments represents, in its to the unskilled. These that underlie such proposals in the first place. The proposal to present form, a virtual backstop within the are opportunities that, through hard work and loyalty, might lead to double the minimum economic system.” financial betterment or wage is an attempt to (at the very least) the entirely reshape the acquisition of skills that bottom rungs of the will be advantageous economic system in the in future employment. United States. Those who stand most Doubling it would wipe out the structure’s firmly in opposition to such legislation are through which generations of Americans the millions of workers currently earning have moved and lived. around $15 an hour - a decent wage that is The minimum wage represents, in earned in jobs that require significant levels its present form, a vital backstop within of skill and expertise. Indeed, for many the economic system. The conflation such people, it is a wage that they have between menial and skilled labor here is a earned through climbing the economic dangerous and short – sighted one, dressed ladder within a company (a ladder that up as compassion. Such a radical and illthey will undoubtedly seek to climb further considered jump, especially in the shocking in the future). It is something that has taken economic climate of the present, would be years of dedication and loyalty – something disastrous for the American worker and for which a person might well take some pride the United States. in.

Imagine their dismay when many of those who rest below them in the ladder now think it right and just that they ought to be handed that same wage for work that (generally speaking) requires far less skill Arran Kearney is a first year aspiring history major. He is also a staff writer for the Bethel Collegian.

FEATURES 5

Bethel Worship Center returns under new leadership

ELIZABETH ALDERFER Staff Writer

Have you heard that Bethel Worship Center (BWC) is back and better than ever? BWC is a student-led gathering for students to worship, as well as a safe space dedicated to bringing people closer to Jesus.

A Sunday morning service for everyone on campus, BWC aims to be a convenient and meaningful place for students to gather. In a time where COVID-19 has prohibited worship in many churches, it is encouraging to see Bethel have a place to worship once again.

Since the beginnings of BWC in the fall semester of 2019, BWC has overcome many obstacles, but the leaders are confident that now is the perfect time for it to make a comeback. A.B. Stokes, former football coach, brought intense energy and enthusiasm to get the worship center started. While he is no longer with the Bethel community, there are many others who stepped up and continued to bring the passion and energy to this place of worship. When COVID-19 hit last March, it was tragic and caused BWC to come to a halt, just as leadership was attempting to get more people involved and increase attendance. This past fall, COVID-19 still prohibited BWC from returning, but it provided leaders to see the importance and meaning it holds to students, envision hopes for the future and find ways to make the greatest impact in attendees’ lives.

Michael Unruh, campus pastor, witnessed firsthand during his first few weeks and interview process that BWC was important to many students.

“Students asked about how I felt about continuing BWC, so it was clearly an important part of students’ experiences of worship on campus,” Unruh said.

With much student interest and obvious enthusiasm, Unruh helped connect people and prepare for the launch, but stepped back from a leadership position and turned it over to Ashleigh Hollis, director of annual giving. BWC is led by passionate, enthusiastic students, including: Reagan Cowden, sophomore from Derby, Sydney Brown, sophomore from Keller, Texas, Lindsey Pfannenstiel, sophomore from Hays, Ryan Clark, Moore, Okla. and Katy Ponce, sophomore from Chino, Cali. Hollis serves as a main coordinator, leader, and contact of BWC.

This team of leaders has hopes and ambitions to make BWC thrive and grow this semester.

“It’s going to look different than last year. Last year was mainly worship and a message. This year we plan to do bible studies, fun activities and incorporate more students. We want everyone to feel at home and think of BWC as a place they can go whenever they need it,” Pfannenstiel said.

With Bible studies, activities and more being planned, there are opportunities for many students to get involved.

Additionally, Ponce articulated hope that each Sunday service will be unique and diverse.

“We do not plan on having every Sunday be the same routine. We will have typical services in which people come in and can worship and listen to an honest, enriching message. However, we also hope to have services that include Bible Studies, guest speakers, and activities that allow people to be creative and feel set free from current stresses,” Ponce said.

Now that you know a little more about BWC, you may be reading this and feel a call to get involved! You are in luck! If you feel so led, the BWC team is looking for people that want to get involved. Some major areas they expressed need for are with planning services week to week and helping musically.

If playing an instrument or singing confidently is your forte, or perhaps you have a band, BWC would love to see you consider joining the team! If you have questions or want more information, feel free to reach out to any one of the leaders mentioned above, they would be thrilled to meet and discuss questions, concerns or ideas. With all this in mind, the overall goal is to make this semester of BWC richer with content and music and bring more energy than in the past.

Bethel Worship Center is another great way to get involved with Bethel’s campus. BWC gathers every Sunday at 11 a.m. in Krehbiel Auditorium.

Consider joining on a Sunday morning to start your week off by worshiping through music, scripture and fellow believers. Your life could be positively impacted, or if you choose to get involved you could witness other people’s lives being changed.

Continue to look for announcements or updates around campus as the semester progresses, you don’t want to miss out!

Students wait for Bethel Worship Center service to start on Feb 7. Photo by Schyler Entz

Song lyrics were projected onto the big screen for students to follow during worship, and groups of students spoke during different sections of the service. Photo by Liz Alderfer