ISSUE 90.9
UNION COLLEGE
NOVEMBER 10, 2015
Holms looks to create homes for students Moving out after college is a large housing,” says Holms, an almostideally be placed in green spaces, areas priority for many students, but is sadly graduate himself. The low cost of the with more nature, woods and fields, often unattainable. With the rising microhouses would also be affordable made specifically for the purpose of prices in the housing hosting microhouses. market, paying for student “This would be beneficial loans and trying to find to the community too, and if a stable job, there isn’t placed strategically around much hope for the average the city it could help create graduate. One Union a more inviting and natural student would like to see environment within the that change. urban setting,” Holms says Ben Holms is a excitedly. He believes green Communications major in spaces such as these would his final year. A Colorado help us to relax and become native, he’s familiar with more focused. mile-high prices for “That’s why people go to housing and is uncertain the mountains, go fishing, of where he’ll end up next Photo of Ben Holms, senior communications major. // Zach Morrison or just seek out nature in because of it. general. Getting away from “I look at the housing technology and into nature here, at home and even in surrounding for low-income families and could help helps our creativity and states and it’s ridiculous how expensive reduce homelessness. Another advantage mental health.” housing and even renting is,” Ben for the size of the microhouse is that it Holms and his father have been comments. “I think there should be would be energy efficient and could use working out a business plan around low-income housing for lower-income materials made from recycled items. microhousing, hoping to get realtors individuals.” “The ones that intrigued me were interested in the idea of small, portable Holms introduced the idea of made out of shipping containers,” houses that could be sold quickly and microhouses as an Holms reveals. to purchase land where they could option for low-income “Because they’re be created. Though far from being a students. Though made out of steel, concrete business, Holms would love to Affordable housing is the outside is low not a new concept, end up owning a company that focuses microhouses have maintenance and it’s on microhousing. almost impossible to yet to reach many easy to recycle them. “I really think this could help a places in the U.S., the find, and microhousing They’re also easier to lot of struggling students and people. Midwest included. could be the answer. move and the shipping Affordable housing is almost impossible What exactly is a cost to move them to find and microhousing could be the microhouse? Holms is semi-reasonable answer to that if we can just get people defines it as a “transportable, condensed depending on where it’s going.” interested.” house comfortable enough to be lived This would make moving for jobs His passion for this project is in by a small family for a long period of much more efficient; the entire house obvious. Perhaps the future will allow it time.” Because of its small size, its cost could be moved rather than needing come true. is much less than a house or apartment. to buy and sell property every time. “I would like to see this created Specific areas for these houses could especially for students and recent be created, potentially benefitting cities –Graci Escobar graduates because we can’t afford real across America. The houses would
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NEWS
The Internet is broken Vocab access point (AP):
In layman’s terms it’s essentially a box that strengthens wireless connections for a certain radius around it.
connection range: It’s the radius within any given access point will remain connected to a device.
interference: It’s
a disturbance in a connection when two or more access points have intersecting connection ranges that confuses the device and can slow or prevent the device from connecting.
sticky client: A sticky
client is a user who connects to the Internet at one access point who travels away, while on the same network, while still connected from that access point even though there may be an access point closer to their new location. This slowing is due to the fact that the connection on any given access point is only as good as its slowest client.
This coming weekend, Acrofest gymnasts will be pouring onto our campus in droves, estimating a total of 600 extra persons on campus. Currently, the UC_Guest connection is limited to connecting 500 IP addresses at a time. Shane Flowers, one of our network administrators in the Information Systems (IS) department, says that raising this number before the weekend, seeing as how we will definitely have more than 500 guest IP addresses on campus, is “non-negotiable…it has to be done.” In order to make sure space on the guest wifi is as wellused as possible, Flowers, along with administration, have asked that we stay off the guest connection, both next week and in the future. With anywhere between 50 to 100 students on the guest connection at any given time, the desire for a stronger connection and the limited room on the guest wifi have created a conflict of interests. The issue of wifi speed on Union’s campus has already been discussed and is surely to continue being discussed. In hopes to clear up what exactly is going on with the wifi, I further interviewed Flowers to figure out why so many students are having trouble connecting to the campus’ wifi.
the traffic stays internal. This is not the case with the guest network,” he shared. Flowers went on to explain how external use of these sites backs up Union’s internal servers and makes everyone’s wifi slower, including those on UC_Guest, for Union College sites. According to Flowers, UC_Guest actually has a smaller amount of bandwidth than UC_Student does. Therefore the issue for connectivity seems to be a lack of knowledge on how these connections operate, not necessarily their speeds. When there are problems with connections, Flowers hopes students would at least report those problems via e-mail to IS. This way, IS can fix the issue on a large scale by improving connections campuswide versus not knowing why so many students are switching to guest. If there is an issue with the routers or hardware, Flowers reported that HP, our modem providers, might be able to solve our issues with an upgrade. However, with so many unreported issues, it’s difficult for IS to narrow down where the issue is originating and take action from there.
By switching to guest, students are acting in contradiction to getting better wifi.
Understanding UC_Guest For many an unsuspecting student there doesn’t seem to be any difference between using guest and student connections. According to Flowers, there are a few important differences students should be aware of. By switching to UC_Guest, students are actually acting in contradiction to getting better wifi. “[UC_Guest] is treated as an external network. When a student goes to a Union College website like Student Portal, Moodle, or the main website, all
Current solutions A few weeks ago, an email was sent out to students regarding the upgraded speed of the wifi on campus. This email caused frustration due to the fact that connection experienced was neither stronger nor faster. Though many variables could lead to these same results, Flowers explained that often it is a sticky client (refer to definition) that slows down the wifi for everyone connected to the same AP. Flowers and his staff are working to effectively calibrate all 192 APs on campus to avoid sticky clients from dragging down APs so easily. His hope is to have all APs re-configured by the time students return from Thanksgiving break.
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NEWS/LIFESTYLE Flowers expects this fix to mitigated by “students not using the completely clear up all connectivity guest wifi that weekend.” issues, and is hoping to see fewer For future use, he advises students potential sticky clients as a byproduct. to simply stay on the student network. To ensure that you “We can tell which are connected to your IP address is using nearest AP and prevent bandwidth for each becoming a sticky network, and we client, disconnect know, for example, then reconnect after that Prescott wandering 502 doesn’t have around campus. a guest in it During Acrofest right now,” he Flowers anticipates all commented. connections will be Due to the affected by the sheer connection’s volume of traffic on the Connecting to UC_Guest will lead to already low network. However, he bandwidth, slower connectivity. // Zach Morrison said this effect can be students
attempting to use guest have been warned that it will be neither faster nor better.
UPDATE: Last week there was an email sent out regarding guest wifi, Acrofest, and good practices for wifi consciousness. According to this e-mail, students who are using the guest network after November 10 will be blocked from all networks. In order to rectify this, the student must actively visit IS to regain access to wifi on campus. Please view and review this email to learn what habits you can pick up to make your wireless experience here at Union as quick and easy as possible.
–Setheesh Moturi
Review | Microsoft Surface Book: Microsoft’s flagship laptop Microsoft just released its newest flagship laptop: the Microsoft Surface Book. Since the dawn of personal computers, Microsoft has dominated the operating system industry with Windows. It never before created its own physical laptop. Until now. The new Microsoft Surface Book is the first one Microsoft has made as the company enters a new industry. Whereas the half-laptop, half-tablet Surface Pro is mostly intended for tablet use, The Surface Book is meant to be a laptop; it features a touch screen and gives the option to disconnect that screen from the keyboard.
The Good: Design: Milled from two solid blocks of magnesium, the Surface Book feels sturdy with a minimalistic style. From the keyboard deck to the palm rests, the interior of this laptop is a surface of metal, with a large space reserved for the glass touchpad. Its screen lid created from a slate of magnesium also puts it at the front line for innovation, and screen is a size of 13.5 inches. Unlike other convertible devices, the screen and base sections share nearly the same thickness and weight to make it perfectly portable. The design of the Surface Book is strong, built solid and meant to last; in other words, having no plastic in the design is
a big plus. The Surface Book is priced at $1,499.99 and the higher weighs 1.6 lbs. models run upwards of $3,000. If you’re a college student, slim chances you have The Hardware: Hardware that kind of money just laying around. obviously varies depending on what Microsoft is trying to use Apple’s laptop model you get, as there are a few model. Instead of paying for this new different options. Every Surface Book model, it would certainly be easier, and has a built-in solid state hard drive, cheaper, to buy a laptop the lowest being 128 with an i7, 1TB hard gigabytes (GB) and drive and at least 8GB offering 1 terabytes (TB) The Surface Book’s of ram for $700-$900. as the best option. The minimum processor is cool touch screen Instead of paying double for a brand name, do an i5; the best being an is a great tool for the research and seek i7, with the minimum RAM being 8GB /dGPU any graphic design out options that have the same hardware and and max being 16GB/ major. processing capabilities as dGPU. Windows 10 a laptop from Mac, Asus comes preinstalled as or Lenovo. well. Basically, whatever model you purchase is going to be fast. The Touchscreen/Tablet: The The Verdict: Surface Book’s cool touch screen is a The Microsoft Surface Book is great tool for any graphic design major definitely one of the better high-end because the screen is bigger than one laptops on the market. And it definitely on a regular tablet and it comes with a has the potential to give the Macbook stylist. The screen has a lot of potential a run for its money. That being said, for sketching, designing and other it’s still expensive. If you have $1,500 to innovative options. dish out on a laptop and you don’t want a Mac, get the Surface Book—it’s by no means a waste of money; you’re buying The Bad: quality. However, if you’re on a budget, Price: There isn’t much wrong I’d look around. You can definitely find with the Surface Book. It’s a solidlya similar laptop for about half the price. built laptop with a great design, great hardware and a good operating system. However, it is pricey; the lowest model –Christian Dye
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LIFESTYLE
Learning to love French
“Why did I choose the hardest This made French that much more What’s on your bucket list? language? Did I make a mistake coming difficult to speak. Many people want to skydive, here? I’m never going to learn French!” Taking time to get off campus bungee jump or visit Antarctica. On my As these thoughts ran through my head, proved to be important for my bucket list I wrote, “Become fluent in a education—and my sanity. This is how second language.” I wrote this assuming I discovered this is a normal feeling. Everyone who studies a I am actually learning French. I attend it would come foreign language experiences class of course, but I also incorporate naturally to me. All the same frustration I was things I like to do with the language I needed to do was I became so going through. I’m learning and I meet locals along immerse myself in But what could I do as the way. a culture I love, and fed up I almost I realized the language and In my experience so far, I’ve voilà! I’d be speaking thought about culture aren’t as great as I discovered learning a new language has another language. thought they’d be? I decided to a process. Little did I know transferring find a way to fall in love with At first, I loved the language. Then, how wrong I was to another France and French again. I couldn’t stand it. But now, after some when I left study I asked hard work and abroad in France. language school. myself an attitude When I first questions adjustment, started learning like, “Why did I I finally find French in Collonges-sous-Salève it was choose French in myself able fun. But after about a month, I was the first place? What to have a drained. The longer I am here, the benefits will learning conversation more my previous idea of France and French give me? in French, of the language changes. I romanticized What originally drew and I love it! this country enough to think everyone me to the culture?” Everything I’ve would be either kind bakers or stylish I watched more gone through is cat women. The hills would sing, and I French movies, worth it. would drink European coffee listened to French Not for a every morning. music and spoke second do I I learned quickly that things aren’t French with others. regret being this way in France. Just like in any Something important in France. I other country, there are rude people. I didn’t have for am thrilled I can no longer go hiking because the a long time was to experience weather is too cold, and I don’t even someone who I felt where this year have time to walk into town for some totally safe speaking leads. European coffee. French with. In class I realized French is, you Speaking a guessed it, incredibly difficult. Almost language you barely If interested in the Adventist Colleges half the letters in a French word are Abroad program, visit know is a humbling silent, there are loads of exceptions and www.aca-noborders.org experience to say the then there is the matter of slang. least, and if you’re shy like me, even I became so fed up I almost thought speaking English to someone can be about transferring to another –Hailey Krueger nerve-wracking. language school.
Was your favorite writer not in this weeks print? Want to look at past stories but don’t have an old copy? Have any comments? Join the conversation at: clocktower.ucollege.edu
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LIFESTYLE
Secular music is safe to listen to
Music is everywhere, in everything. a sense of belonging and to provide Music is embedded in the depths entertainment, especially for those of one’s upbringing and laced through [separated from their homeland].” the human experience. We don’t even After speaking with Aigbokhan, the realize how instrumental (pun intended) influence of music in Nigerian culture music can be, whether to help us in became clear to me. Jasmine Muasau memory recall or in also had a lot to say about about Samoa nostalgic enrichment. and its native music: We have all been raised with a “Music is . . . a very significant part specific musical influence. You hear “I of ceremonies, used to offer praises. As grew up on oldies” and “My momma a result of this, a great multitude of raised me on country” all the time, Samoans are musically inclined. For as but I believe it’s important to think long as I can remember, I have never outside the box and look beyond the met a Samoan who cannot sing or play Americanized mindset. Having spent an instrument.” five years in A love an increasingly exclusive to diverse Union none, music College, I had is “innate,” the opportunity meaning that to tap into our appreciation worldwide for music is musical already found influence and in us from role birth. She music plays listed successful other cultures. musicians Focusing that hail on the Nigerian from Nigeria, and Samoan such as Sade cultures, I Adu, Jidenna, asked two Wale, Nas, Union students, and Llacoin. Sisters Dorinda and Rebecca Ackah represent the Nigerian Recognizing growing diversity of both the students and musical senior Jahbabe influence on campus. // Kasondra Reel some of these Aigbokhan and names, I was Samoan junior Jasmine Muasau, the amazed how far across the globe these following question: musical influences reach. A huge fan “How important and central is of the hip-hop storytelling that Nas and music in your native culture?” Wale present in their music catalog, I “Music in Nigeria is extremely then thought of what Muasau first told broad and dynamic,” began Aigbokhan, me when asking of her Samoan a Social Science major. “Let me just say, music culture: I have yet to meet someone who has “Music plays a very significant role heard our music and hasn’t felt the urge in our culture. It keeps our culture alive to move to the beat.” by the method of storytelling in songs. In learning about Nigerian These stories can range from something music culture, the infectious energy as simple as the origin of the coconut Aigbokhan spoke of was almost palpable tree to the roots of where the Samoan through her descriptions. “Music is a people came from.” huge part of our culture. We are music. It is through the stories of just two The kinds of music we make are rich, individuals that I have been able to full of rhythm and have diverse genres tap into a gold mine of musical history which even get combined to make one and storytelling. What stories does your hit or ‘jam’. This diversity is what pulls musical influence tell? –AJ Valcin us and other listeners together to create
UC Record Picks of the Week •“‘Don’t Lose Your Love’ by Ivan and Alyosha; it’s not your average motivating song.” - Abner Campos, junior Theology major •“‘The Well’ by JJ Heller speaks to my life. Naturally, college becomes more difficult as you progress. I continue to grow and change as well, becoming more capable. However, there are times when I’m exhausted mentally, physically, and spiritually. This song is a reminder that even when I am empty God is not. Instead of asking others to fill me, I need to run to Jesus. He can quench my thirst and refuel my life in ways that no one and no thing can.” - Amanda Ashburn, senior Language Arts Education major • “My favorite would have to be ‘Circles’ by Kerwin Du Bois. The genre is ‘soca,’ a genre of Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad. You’d usually hear it around carnival and summer time.” - Daele Binns, sophomore Nursing major Keep up with all the UC Record Picks of the Week on this Spotify playlist, and feel free to send suggestions my way for future issues - my social media handle is @A2nelito.
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OPINION
Leaving the Adventist church Sacred Slant Sarah Ventura A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my decision to stay in the Adventist church. I’ve received plenty of feedback from that article through Facebook. But one comment in particular stuck out to me: “Great article. I would add: and sometimes liberation is leaving.” I completely agree. I’ve decided to stay an Adventist, but by no means do I believe everyone should. I’ve found a place for myself here at Union College where safe, kind, intelligent Adventists show love for me, even when we disagree. I’ve been able to ask questions and voice doubts and instead of being silenced or shamed. I’ve discovered so many other Adventists asking those same questions, voicing their own doubts. But while my experience is valuable, it’s not everyone’s experience. I have a friend who grew up Adventist, then left. I’ve known Brittney since high school, and what I know about her is this: she’s incredibly intelligent, fiercely loyal and methodically thoughtful. She doesn’t make rash decisions, and once she’s committed to something, she doesn’t leave easily. “I was a 2nd generation Adventist, went to cradle roll, primary, Adventist elementary, all that,” she told me recently. “I was in 8th grade when one of my sisters left the church, and I remember thinking, ‘Wait . . . you can do that?” She chuckled, shaking her head. “Before then, Adventism was just a part of daily life, though I did have resentment toward my church for the ways that some members and leaders treated my family. In our
church, questions came with a price. for the most of the summer … ” Often those who asked, such as my She paused and grimaced. “It was sister, were shunned or silenced— awkward. At one point I was asked if they became the problem to address I was a visitor. Granted, I had been rather than the issue itself.” gone for three years, but this was “My sister and I were the church that I was baptized in, homeschooled for four years, and had grown up in. A few people asked people sent the message that if we how my parents were doing, but didn’t support the church school by all I could think was, ‘If you really attending, we were going to hell. I wanted to know, you’d call them. mean, they didn’t say those exact Their number hasn’t changed.’” words, but we heard their message She left that church at the end loud and clear. Both of my parents of the summer and didn’t look back, lost leadership positions in the but still decided to give Adventism church, and we lost friendships, but another shot at Union College. And I didn’t think she did, until she attended a local about leaving.” Lincoln church that was welcoming Later, she found out that her new converts. older sister, while in college, had “They were reading and done her own studying and had responding to the list of baptismal decided to leave vows, and all I Adventism. “My could think was, parents took her ‘They shouldn’t “I thought, if my seriously, listened have to agree to all to her. They asked parents were willing to this to be baptized. her questions, leave after 30 years in Once you accept and then started Jesus, you’re in.” Adventism, something asking their own And then, questions.” Brittney must be up.” During remembers, they Brittney’s were given a box sophomore year of academy, her set of Ellen White’s writings as a parents left the church. “Even within welcoming present. “And I realized, the first year of my parents attending I can’t support this. I mean, I can a non-denominational church, I saw understand giving them a Bible, but them change. They were happier, this—no way.” Through her studying, more at peace. That’s when I really Brittney had come to disagree with started asking questions. I thought, some of White’s theology; also, Ellen if my parents were willing to White’s writings had been used as leave after 30 years in Adventism, weapon to criticize and condemn something must be up.” For the next Brittney’s family when they were three years Brittney asked questions, still a part of the church. “So, I was studied and prayed. done. I knew it was time for me “The summer after I graduated to leave.” from academy, I decided to give Brittney completed her double my home church one last chance. I major at Union but found spiritual went there by myself every Saturday community in a different church,
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OPINION finding freedom and grace that she wasn’t able to experience as a part of Adventism. “Now, being totally out of the Adventist environment, I’m still trying to process everything. I know
that leaving Adventism was the right decision for myself and my family. We’re in a safer, healthier place now. We’re better able to experience grace and freedom in Christ. Our church’s theology more closely matches our
understanding and convictions. We’re happier.” She smiled at me and shrugged her shoulders. Sometimes, liberation is leaving.
Video killed the board game star Column like I see ’em Kevin Niederman the social event it use to be, it became As long as I can remember, games all about the virtual connection. have dominated my free time. Whether Video games are a lot less about it was tag on the playground, UNO after playing together than they are about school or Pokémon on my Game Boy, playing by yourself. Online multiplayer I was totally enamored. Two kinds of functionality is basically a shortcut games have stood the test of aging and boredom: board games and video games. around programming convincing artificial intelligence Video games have for games by simply been a raging addiction of mine since my dad’s Video games are removing the artificial aspect. roommate purchased a a lot less about It is for this reason PlayStation when I was in first grade. Once I playing together that I am so deeply passionate about had one of my own, I than they are about board games. was ecstatic. Board games have All my friends from playing by yourself. forever offered what around the block would video games did in come over. We’d take the beginning: a gathering of friends turns playing Spyro the Dragon and laughing and screaming, while playing Crash Bandicoot. We’d race and fight and interacting with each other and the each other with Gran Turismo and game. There are snacks and music and Tekken. It was an event. A social event. smiles throughout. And then the Internet happened. Imagine a 10-hour marathon of As time went on, games slowly stopped being about inviting friends over a card game involving diplomacy, treachery and a fistful of luck. There’s to crowd on a couch and share Cheetos, yelling and rage, laughter and joy, and and more about them buying their own systems and staying in their own houses nobody really cares who’s winning or and eating their own Cheetos. Instead of why. Alliances are made and broken in
seconds and crafty players make deals extending into future games, and even the real world. The game itself comes secondary to the friends you play with. The joy of monopoly doesn’t come from the collection of cardboard tiles or tissue paper currency. It comes from your friend Clarence as he slowly crushes his Squirt can in frustrating disbelief after he lands on your hotel-laden Boardwalk. Take that Clarence, you jerk. The game is simply a means to initiate human interaction at its finest. The whole spectrum of emotions that we typically get from reality TV are thrown into your face at full force, and it’s usually amazing. I have nothing against video games, and if I have to be by myself, then that’s a guaranteed good time. But the stories I have from extensive board game sessions outnumber and out-awesome any of my experiences with video games. So if I have the option to play a board game, in the flesh, with even just one other person, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Humans of Union College “One of the happiest moments in my life, at least recently, was singing in the congregation at the General Conference Session in San Antonio. It was exhilarating to be in a place with 70,000 or so people from so many countries and speaking so many languages who, despite their differences, share the same hope and harmonize together. It was just a little taste of heaven.”
–Monica Pervis
Letter to the editor Eliezer Roque Cisneros
STAFF Editor-in-Chief
Natalie Bruzon
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Copy Editor
Emy Wood
News Editor
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Lifestyle Editor
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Opinion Editor
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News Reporters
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Disclaimer: I don’t believe in ordaining women into pastoral ministry. For those still reading, I have another disclaimer. I don’t believe in ordaining men into pastoral ministry either. Last week, I read Sarah Ventura’s “Sacred Slant” article on women’s ordination and I was disillusioned, to say the least. Maybe I have come to expect too much from my church, thinking we can step aside from a partisan approach to “dialogue.” Over the summer I watched pastors, leaders and mentors split their heads in the hours preceding the general conference vote against ordaining women in our church. I understand some people are upset, and I can even see why some people were willing to leave this church over the decision. But is this what Adventism is? Bickering over the recognition of a position? I personally know and have come to appreciate many pastors. Some of the most passionate were often not ordained. When my family moved to the western
slope of Colorado, Spanish-speaking Seventh-day Adventist churches did not even exist in the 12-city area, despite the prominence of Hispanics and the presence of long-standing, wellestablished, English-speaking Adventist churches in all of the major cities. Our Hispanic churches all came about in that area, not because of ordained ministers, but because of hard working individuals with a collective zeal for the labor of ministry. What I hope I am getting across is that ordination isn’t a requirement to do ministry. Ordination is a recognition and ministry isn’t a career anyone should want to be recognized for. If you are a young man or young woman who wishes to serve God, don’t wait to be ordained, neither expect to receive recognition. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “[They run] to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1st Corinthians 9:25 NIV) Ordination is simply human recognition. Ministry is for God’s love.
HARD
AJ Valcin Madison Wagnaar Christan Dye Opinion Reporters
Kevin Niederman Sarah Ventura Nigel Sumerlin
ACA/SM Reporters
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