93.9 by The Clocktower

THE

ISSUE 93.9

UNION COLLEGE

11/14/2018

CLOCKTOWER WHAT’S INSIDE PAGE 03 MEN’S MINISTRY

PAGE 04 5-ISH MOVIES

PAGE 07 SEKOYAH PC: Levi Ventura

WORLD PAGEANT PROVIDES A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

n Nov. 3, the International Club hosted World Pageant with assistance from the ASB team. Students with cultures from all over the world came together to celebrate the diversity at Union College. A few faculty and staff members volunteered their time to judge the pageant and decide who would win the title of Mr. and Ms. World Pageant 2018. To start off the event, ASB provided food representing the cuisines from several different countries. Students chose between Greek, homemade Ethiopian, Mongolian sushi, Chinese and Which Wich. An assortment of cheesecake and drinks to completed the meal. The pageant began with a beautiful rendition of “We Are the World,” by students from the Fine Arts division. “I feel like it was the perfect opening because it really showed that even through all of the differences, we all can just join together and be one,” said junior international rescue and relief major Racquel Amich. With Denford Musvosvi and Nathanael Torres as the MCs for the night, the audience was the benefactor of several jokes and was informed of each participant before they took the stage. Jamaica, Ecuador, Polynesia, Mexico,

various countries in Africa and the United States of America were all represented cultures. Participants were expected to don cultural attire during his or her first appearance on the stage. After the catwalk, everyone had a chance to perform an act they felt represented their culture. “The Polynesian team did really good! I liked that Naifou involved people from the audience in their performance. I think it’s cool to see new kinds of dances,” said junior psychology major Celinda Mansilla. The finale of the night featured the Capital City Cloggers from Lincoln. Afterwards, Naifou Meafou and Kimberly Ortiz were announced as the 1st place recipients. The International Club president, Corine Ilunga Maloba, reminisced on the event. “The most rewarding thing was to see the people who said they would think about it ended up winning and doing well which was encouraging for us.” While the officers were able to find contestants, it was challenging for the club to find students to participate because students didn’t have their traditional attire with them, as they were used to the event being hosted in the spring. The next collaboration between ASB and the International Club will be World Cup at the end of next semester.

Yeimy Rodriguez is a junior studying business administration.

LIFESTYLE

CLOCKTOWER STAFF Editor-in-Chief

Maegan Luckiesh

Assistant Editor

Danica Eylenstein

Head Layout Editor Hannah Gregg

Assistant Layout Editor Jovan Cross

Web Content Manager Cameron Cizek

Social Media Manager Danica Eylenstein

Section Editors Juliet Bromme Katie Turk Max Bromme

Photographers Esther Pervis (Lead) Britni Conrad Kayla Potts Levi Ventura

Writers

Arts: Cameron Cizek Entertainment: Nicholas Morrison How-to: Alaysha Harris HOUC: Danica Eylenstein Lifestyle: Amanda McCarter News: Jordan Judge & Yeimy Rodriguez Political Opinion: Ashley Bower Religion: Kasondra Reel Sports: Tyler Dean

Social Media

Instagram - @clocktowerasb Twitter - @ClocktowerASB Facebook - The Clocktower

Website

clocktower.ucollege.edu

PC: Levi Ventura

THANKSGIVING BREAK EVENTS IN LINCOLN

s Thanksgiving break approaches, thoughts start to shift from homework and tests to free time and friends. Below are some Thanksgiving break activities that can help you relax and have some fun. If you’d like to just sit back and unwind after your last class, the Nebraska Wesleyan University’s theater is the perfect place to do so. Over Thanksgiving break, the theater will be performing the show “Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.” The show is a comedy-drama that tells the story of a James Dean fan club that comes together to honor the anniversary of the man’s death and finds out some interesting things about their idol. Tickets are $7.50 for students and showtimes can be found at: www.nebrwesleyan.edu/undergraduate/ majors-and-minors/theatre/current-season. Hosting a “friendsgiving” is a fun way to celebrate Thanksgiving if you don’t have family nearby. A get-together with friends can be as simple or elaborate as you want to make it. It’s also a great opportunity to hang out with friends without the worry of homework and maybe even get to know some new people. You can whip up an old family recipe or experiment with something new from Pinterest. No matter what you choose to do, nothing can beat a home-cooked meal and the company of good friends. If you want an opportunity to burn off all of the calories from your Thanksgiving feast, you can participate in Lincoln’s Hungry Turkey 5k run/walk. On Sunday, Nov. 25, many Lincoln residents will come together at Haymarket Park for the event.

COLLEGIATE

There will also be cinnamon rolls waiting for those who cross the finish line. The price for registration increases as the race time approaches, so be sure to sign up soon if you’d like to participate! More information and registration forms can be found at: https://nebraskaruns.com/lincolnhungryturkey5k. You can also get a head start on Christmas shopping over the break. Starting at 8 a.m. on Black Friday, Gateway Mall will be handing out tote bags with coupons and other goodies to the first 200 shoppers who visit the Swag Stop. Auntie Anne’s will also be handing out mini breakfast pretzels while supplies last. If you don’t mind facing the crowds, it can be the perfect time to save some money while finding gifts for friends and family. Amanda McCarter is a senior studying biomedical science.

PRACTICING COMMUNITY AROUND THE WAYS OF JESUS

ampus Ministries is always coming up with new ideas on how to address the spiritual needs of Union students. Initiatives range from women’s ministries to coordinating vespers and concerts.

One area of spiritual need that’s often not adequately addressed is spiritual ministry for men. However, Austin Burke decided to start a men’s ministry group on campus. He wants to focus on meeting the needs of guys. Burke is wanting men to join to learn about Jesus, and how He’s relevant to us today. The group will be a place where people who’re hurting or just needing someone to talk to can come discuss their struggles with one another. The group is called “Practicing Community Around the Ways of Jesus.”

PC: Levi Ventura

Burke gave it this name because of a sermon series he saw by Pastor John Mark Comer that was discussing how to be like Jesus and how to build a community around the ways of Jesus. The first meeting was on Oct. 24. It’s started out small, but Burke hopes it’ll grow with promotion of the ministry around campus. He wants the group to be a community where guys can come together, grow and learn from each other. Burke also wants to plan events such as backpacking and other activities out in nature. As more people join, Burke plans to coordinate and sort out the details of those events. This men’s ministry is perfect for guys who are looking for something small where they can go to hang out and in which to discuss their needs, struggles and issues. They meet every week on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Campus Ministries office in the Dick Administration Building. For more information, email Burke at Austin.Burke@ucollege.edu.

Jordan Judge is a freshman studying business administration.

ENTERTAINMENT

5-ISH MOVIES TO WATCH TO GET IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT NICFLIX

he holiday season is fast approaching and nothing says “I’m a college student” like binge watching 31 movies in one week, amirite? These are a few movies about family, love and thankfulness to get you in the holiday spirit! “Fast and the Furious 1-8” What’s more Thanksgiving-y than a group of semi-criminals planning heists and racing cars? Honestly though, these movies have such a consistent theme of family and loyalty through the entire series and sometimes you just need a little more action in your life. (Feel free to skip “Tokyo Drift” though. That mug is pointless.) Disney’s “Robin Hood” Robin Hood’s idea of taking from the rich and giving to the poor is a fun take on the holiday spirit and teaches you to be grateful for what you have. Plus, what’s more “family” than Disney? “Funny People” This 2009 dramatic comedy stars a different side of Adam Sandler—a movie star/ comedian who learns how to appreciate life and the people in it after being diagnosed with potentially fatal leukemia. I haven’t actually watched it yet, but I’m planning to over break! It seems like a good “Friendsgiving” movie, focusing more on the family you choose. “Bucket List” A billionaire and a car mechanic form an unlikely friendship while fighting cancer in the same hospital room where they decide to complete a list of final adventures together before “kicking the bucket.” Whether it’s the first time or 6th, this movie shows the value

PC: Kayla Potts

of family, forgiveness and appreciating the every moment.

“Dan in Real Life” This is one of my family’s favorite movies and definitely my top pick for all of you over break. Steve Carell plays a single dad bringing his three daughters to a family reunion in Rhode Island. It’s quirky and awkward and the family dynamic is so realistic anyone with a big family can relate. DON’T watch the trailer! Just trust me. Theater Movies: There are three movies coming to theaters over Thanksgiving break that you HAVE to watch! “Robin Hood”—watch the Disney version and then check out this new, super dope action rendition. “Creed II”—Michael B. Jordan plays Apollo Creed’s super jacked son being trained by Rocky Balboa himself. This second installment focuses on priorities and family, something I think a lot of us can struggle with. “Wreck It Ralph 2”—if you haven’t seen the first one, watch it RIGHT NOW. It’s all about owning who you are and learning to see yourself how your friends see you and the second one looks JUST as good. -Your Friendly Neighborhood Movie Guy Nicholas Morrison is a senior studying graphic design and business administration.

ARTS

A PAINTING CREATED BY AN AI APPALLINGLY SELLS FOR $432,500 MEMENTO ARTEM

an a computer be capable of creating genuine artwork? The art market recently tried answering this question with the sale of “Portrait of Edmond de Belamy,” which was created using Generative Adversarial Networks or GANs, by a collective of Paris-based students called Obvious. Touted by auction house Christie’s as, “[The] first portrait generated by an algorithm to come up for auction,” the painting’s value was estimated at $7,000-$10,000. However, an anonymous phone bidder eventually placed a bid bringing the total price to $432,500, almost 45 percent its estimated value. Are AI-fueled robots taking a stab at creating the future of art? Think again. Art requires human emotion and consciousness in order to meet the definitions of what humans accept as art. So, is this AI creation considered to be of the same level of human expression? Probably not. Although it may not be considered authentic, this “robo-art” is something unique and different. What’s really interesting is the process of how the “Portrait of Edmond de Belamy” was created. The members of Obvious, fed a data set of 15,000 portraits to an AI. Then, the AI was trained to tell the difference between human and computer generated images. This aspect was designed so it could create something that looks like a human painted it. Lastly, it was printed on a canvas and framed. This process resulted in a blurry, human form. Although it was trained to not create something another computer could design, the movement of the “brush” still feels too

PC: “Portrait of Edmond de Belamy” | PC: www.dezeen.com

mechanical. What stands out the most is the facial expression or lack thereof. It creates a sense of uneasiness to the point of being disturbing. The figure has black dots for eyes and no indication of emotion or real sign of life. Perhaps, this is an ironic reflection of the piece’s creator. Even though this “robo-art” won’t capture the complexities of the human condition through original artwork, it will be interesting to see where the future of AI evolves. Will the art market use it as a novelty cash cow? Or will the world accept it as a genuine artwork on par with the work of old masters. We’ll have to see what the future holds. Cameron Cizek is a senior studying computing.

RELIGION

ACCORDING TO STATISTICS HARDLY WORTHY

‘T

is the season to be thankful. The billboards and ads all say it: “What do you have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving?” But in reality, whether it be finals, getting gifts for family or reconciling your bank account, the end of the year sucks. Each day 365,000 babies are born and 18 million birthdays celebrated. 510,000 tons of rice are harvested. 600 people will get promotions. 4,383 dogs are adopted. 35,000 balloons are sold. 200,000 skittles are made. “I love you” is said over 9 million times. 35 billion smiles are shared. 105 billion laughs are heard. There’ll be over 5,000 weddings. 42 million hugs will be given. Over 80 people receive organ transplants. Our bodies will lose and reproduce up to 50 trillion cells. Each tree will provide enough oxygen for two people. Each person takes 8,000 steps and 23,000 breaths. So with all of this, yes, today may suck, but according to statistics, today is shaping up to be a pretty great day This morning, I sat at my computer, tears streaming down my face because of a heart wrenching video of a father crying out for his son. His son was one of the victims of the Thousand Oaks shooting. He wanted the world to know his son’s story, and understand what he as a parent is going through. How he aches because his children are left without their big brother. He reflects on the last thing he said to his son, “Son, I love you.” There’s a fire raging after a small campfire got out of control and led to destruction. Reading the facebook posts from my friends who are trying to fathom what’s happening to their homes and families. The destruction hits close to home for so many, and for some has

PC: Britni Conrad

caused the loss of their houses. Reading the posts I see expressions of thanks to friends who have opened up their homes and invited their families in. There’s posts of gratefulness that they are safe. Thankfulness is relative. This father who lost his oldest child to a deadly shooting is thankful his last words to his sons were ones of love. These friends who lost their homes express their gratefulness for families and friends who’ve extended hospitality to them. So, ‘tis the season to be thankful. Let those you love know how much you appreciate them. Make sure your parting words are ones you won’t regret, just in case they’re your last. Be thankful today for those you have. https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/08/us/jasoncoffman- california-shooting-borderline/index.html https://brightside.me/article/all-of-this-happensduring-just-one-day-on-earth-1705/ https://www.organdonor.gov/statistics-stories/ statistics.html#expandcollapse https://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/ shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics

Kasondra Reel is a senior studying nursing.

SPORTS

PAY TO PLAY

YOU HEARD IT HERE LAST

or years, the “one-and-done” issue in college basketball has been hotly debated. Is it right to require athletes—who will ultimately become professionals—to forego a year’s worth of income simply for the sake of education?

I think no, and if someone is good enough at sports to be playing professionally, they ought to be able to earn a living at whatever point in life they see fit. The NBA seems to agree with me and recently created a college alternative for athletes coming out of high school. These top prospects can now sign in the G League (the NBA’s minor league) for up to $125,000 to fulfill their year’s requirement between high school and the NBA. Many college basketball fans have worried this will take away from the quality of their school’s program and from the quality of NCAA basketball as a whole. I tend to agree with that sentiment, but requiring athletes to attend college for just a year hasn’t worked either. Student athletes across all sports who seem to have a bright athletic future are often caught cheating and/or slacking their way through their college career.

HOUC HUMANS OF UNION COLLEGE

From another angle, it is often debated whether or not colleges are abusing the marketability of some athletes, in that often times the college could make a significant amount of revenue thanks to their athletic programs. Additionally, there’s speculation and accusation (though it often goes unverified) about schools paying their athletes under the table, in order to incentivise them beyond what scholarships the school can offer. I think there’s only one effective solution to these problems; why not just allow schools to pay their athletes? There’re obvious problems with this idea (particularly that there would need to be a salary capping system that allowed smaller schools to still land star talents,) but it seems fair that someone who markets, takes part in and takes on risk as a result of an activity ought to get paid for it beyond the level of a scholarship (which, in the case of NCAA basketball, can have almost no value to the player.) If the NCAA doesn’t soon implement some sort of payment-based incentive, it’s likely that other sports will follow the lead of the NBA, and that NCAA athletics will lose much of their appeal and ultimately their profitability.

Tyler Dean is a senior studying finance and math. We formed last semester in January. It consists of me, on bass; Kyle Dahms, who used to go to Union, on guitar; Spencer Curtis, who also used to go to Union, on drums and Caleb Allen on vocals. We’re kind of an alternative rock band–I don’t know exactly, it’s hard to define. We’re currently recording our first EP, titled “Creating the Distance,” at The Grid downtown. We’ve recorded four songs so far, which should be coming out soon. After that, we’re going to find some local shows to play at.

HOUC is compiled by Danica Eylenstein. | PC: Kayla Potts

I’ve been playing the guitar since I was four years old and have played bass for the past six years now. I’m part of a band called SEKOYAH.

This band is something I’m pretty excited about because we play original stuff. I hope people will check it out when it drops on Spotify and Apple Music Friday! You can follow us on Instagram; that’d be awesome.

Brett Larsen is a freshman studying business administration.

MISC. CORNER

HOW TO SHOW YOU’RE THANKFUL

hanksgiving is right around the corner. This time of year brings people closer together, and what better way to start off the season of giving than by showing gratitude to the ones we care about? I want to share with you a few fun and simple ways you can show your friends that you’re thankful for them. Small acts of service Small acts of service are the little gestures you can do to show your friends they’re appreciated. This can be something simple like buying them a cup of coffee before classes, getting them a pastry from Goldenrod just across the street or offering to pay for their laundry. Personalized gifts Personalized gifts are a great way to show your friends that you pay attention to the little details of their lives. Getting them a gift card to their favorite food place, buying a bag full of their favorite things, purchasing something special that represents your friendship or creating a scrapbook filled with your favorite memories will show them you care. Spread the love A hug goes a long way. There are also mental and physical health benefits that come from receiving hugs on a daily basis. This is a simple gesture that anyone can do at any given moment. What better way to spread some love than wrapped in the warm embrace of those close to you. Treat them to lunch or dinner This is the perfect excuse to take a break from cafeteria food. Everybody loves a good meal, so schedule some time to take your friend to lunch or dinner and offer to pay for them. There are a lot of restaurant options nearby.

Send a thoughtful note In a world where we’re always on our cellphones, taking the time to send a note can be more personal. You can leave encouraging words randomly, letting your friends know they’re appreciated and loved. Go that extra mile Sometimes all your friends may need is for you to be present. As a college student, life can get busy, so taking the initiative to spend quality time with your friends can help strengthen your relationships and it lets your friends know that you value them. I encourage you to use these tips to help spread appreciation during this holiday season. Don’t forget that gratitude is the best attitude!

Alaysha Harris is a senior studying communication.

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https://www.puzzles.ca/sudoku_puzzles/sudoku_medium_439.html

DID YOU KNOW the highest point in Pennsylvania is lower than the lowest point in Colorado The Clocktower encourages reader feedback and strives to maintain accuracy. If you have comments, please email us at cltower@gmail. com. The Clocktower, established in 1927 and sponsored by the Associated Student Body of Union College, is published semi-weekly during the fall and spring semesters. The opinions expressed are the opinions of the writers and are not to be construed as the opinion of the editors, Associated Student Body, Union College, or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.