94.11 by The Clocktower

94.11

Union College

11/20/19

TheCLOCKTOWER

PC: the independent.com

Whats Inside holiday hopefulness The Global Citizen

Page 05 Hay, Look

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uring the holiday season, it is easy to get caught up in the politics and stress of the world. Though the world seems to be getting more and more chaotic, it is important to realize that there is still hope and positive happenings. Highlighted here are just a few of the things that are shining a bit of light on this crazy planet of ours: Climate change is a continually fluctuating issue. The world seems to be careening between moving in the right direction to being put in peril by one ecological disaster to another. Despite the unclear future, there are people still fighting and doing what they can to make a difference. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg is one of these people fighting to raise awareness. Thanks to her activism, people are still talking about climate change and the implications of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions for both the Continued on page 2.

2| Clocktower Staff Editor-in-Chief present and the future. Seeing someone young and Jovan Cross passionate about preserving the planet inspires people Assistant Editor to take more of an active role in the issues of the future. Juliet Bromme On a similar note, many countries have pledged or created plans to have more renewable and eco-friendly Layout Editor energy sources. Floating solar farms are currently a Chrisheline Kalawo reality in countries such as Japan and the Netherlands. Social Media Editor These are a new way of generating power without using Nicole Mckenzie up valuable land for agriculture and development. Website Manager Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re easier to install than traditional solar panels Celinda Mansilla because they only need to be floated and anchored. The Section Editors water also cools down the solar panels making them Max Bromme more effective without the worry of heating up and Katie Buxton getting damaged. Overall, its a promising solution to Claudia Bauemeister many of the issues surrounding solar panels while still Photographers providing enough energy needed to power nearby towns. We can get pretty discouraged whenever we see the Levi Ventura- Head world going crazy. We see countries burning, wars Enoc Teron tearing families apart and many other injustices that are Joseph Lee heartbreaking. While these events should still be given the Adreana Ward attention they need, it is important to stop and celebrate Life Writers the other victories that mankind has pulled through to Alexander Nesmith improve our lives and time on this planet. Take a moment Hannah Armstrong to smell the roses, count your blessings, hold your loved Hannah Drewieck ones close and remember what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thankful for during Religion not just this time of the year but throughout all of it. Jade Covel Entertainment Wesley Rodriguez-Diep is a senior TJ Pittinger studying international relations. Political Gabriel Zita Jacob Sanchez Sports Sierra Sanchez News Drew Hickman World News Wesley Rodriguez-Diep Social Media Instagram -@clocktowerasb Twitter - @ClocktowerASB Facebook -The Clocktower

hopefulness...

Thanksgivin’ missin’

ACA

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PC: apiabroad.com

s this season of fall in France begins to near the end, several events are evidently missing—particularly the holidays Halloween and Thanksgiving. After thinking about the matter at hand, the realization dawned on me that Thanksgiving is strictly an American holiday. Right about this time, another event displaced the thoughts of the holidays from my mind. Midterms, which had seemed so far away, appeared as if exploding from a pumpkin. As students began measuring their progress, two thoughts dominated everybody’s minds. “How far have I come and how far do I need to go?” Student life contains constant stress. This doesn’t change if you choose to study abroad, it’s just a different type of stress. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’m just going to reminisce on some things in America that made life a little bit less stressful that I would be very thankful for right now. 1. Speaking in a native language is a blessing. Though learning a new language is a fun and educational memory-making experience, this doesn’t mean that sometimes you just

miss speaking to everybody in English. Easy communication with professors and fellow students can easily be taken for granted. 2. American food. French cuisine rates among the best food in the world-- for good reason. Chefs from all over the world go to Paris in order to master the style that has been famous for years, but high-quality European food does not feed the craving for a Waffle House at two in the morning nor does it feel the craving for other unhealthy but delicious American fast foods. It never really occurred to me how much I would miss being unhealthy. It’s really easy to take a lot of things for granted. Speaking English and food are just the top two that I’ve been thinking about recently. However, when it comes down to it, there are so many things about France that I will miss when I come back to the United States. I’ll miss the language that I learned, the food they have and the friends that I’ve made. There are things to be thankful for everywhere both at home and abroad. Alexander Nesmith is a sophomore studying communication.

LIFE WRITING

union r ates thanksgiving food

PC: seriouseats.com

y family’s Thanksgiving meal looks different from yours, and yours looks different from the next. Nonetheless, there are key features to a Thanksgiving meal that tend to be constant, appearing on the dinner table year after year. I asked 15 Union students to rate these dishes. What’s the best? What’s the worst? Read on. In last place, coming in with a shameful 31 points is the dreadful cranberry sauce. Moises Claros summed it up nicely for all of us when he questioned, “Why’s it even there?” Coming in sixth place are the veggies with 50 points. Apparently, Thanksgiving isn’t the time to be concerned about nutrition. Fifth place goes to the stuffing with 54 points. “I won’t be stuffing myself on stuffing this Thanksgiving or any other for that matter,” Hannah Johnson said after rating stuffing as the worst. Voted into fourth place with 61 points is pumpkin pie. Union students were quite split on this, with several rating it as the best and several as the worst. Logan Scroggins said, “Pumpkin pie is overrated,” while Hannah Houchins argued, “Pumpkin pie is

superior.” And then there’s Jordyn Hammond who simply declared, “Crust is everything.” The bronze medal is awarded to dinner rolls with 64 points. The verdict is in: dinner rolls aren’t anything special but are always reliable. The silver goes to mashed potatoes with 77 points. Hannah Johnson rated mashed potatoes as her favorite and added, “If you don’t agree with me, you haven’t had my dad’s.” The gold medal prize is awarded to none other than the turkey! With a whopping 83 points, turkey and its vegetarian substitutes take the win! Rating turkey as his favorite, Tanner Toay explained that Thanksgiving with his grandparents is the only time he gets turkey because the rest of his family is vegetarian. We may all have different preferences when it comes to what fills our plates on Thanksgiving. In the end, it’s not what we desire most for seconds that’s important, but rather who we have around to join us in eating those seconds. Hannah Dreweick is a sophomore studying business administration. PC: axios.com

RELIGION

hay, Look

hanksgiving was originally a time to be thankful for the new harvest. One crop harvested in Nebraska is hay. If you are from a rural farming area, you probably know that there are two types of hay bales. Round hay bales are rolled up into huge round rolls of hay. This shape allows the bale to shed water more effectively when stored outdoors. However, to effectively hand feed this type of bale to animals, it must be unwrapped like a cinnamon bun, which can be challenging. Square bales are rectangular and are packed together in a mold. They don’t shed water well, but they are a lot easier to hand feed because they come apart into nice, manageable little slices called flakes. They can also be stacked more compactly because of their rectangular shape. Recently I was driving through Nebraska and I saw a field full of hay bales, some stacked and others still scattered across the field. I pointed to the scattered bales and jokingly said to my friends, “look, some of the hay bales haven’t worked out their differences

PC: unsplash.com | Leigh Cooper

PC: unsplash.com | Robin Spielmann

yet!” We laughed, but then we actually started thinking about my comment. Sometimes we as Christians won’t work out our differences and stay isolated, wrapped up in ourselves like those round bales, refusing to work together for God’s kingdom. While we are wrapped up in ourselves, we not only prevent ourselves from working toward our common goal of spreading the gospel, we also prevent ourselves from receiving the Holy Spirit. Just as the round bales shed the rain, the Holy Spirit cannot penetrate deep into our souls when we are focused on ourselves. When we come together, we are more like square bales and the Holy Spirit can fall upon us fully. Just like square bales make for easy feeding, it is also easier to give of ourselves like Jesus did when we put aside self-centeredness. Another note about hay bales: an individual hay bale in the field isn’t going to be very useful to anyone, but a stack of hay bales can be used to feed a whole herd of horses or provide shelter to animals. The church can also be a shelter to people, but only if we put aside self and our internal squabbles. Let’s ask God to make us more like a stack of square bales and less like a renegade round bale and thank Him for the perfect selfless example His Son gave us.

Jade Covel is a junior studying religion.

DEMOCRATIC

dts

PC: washingtonpost.com

hanksgiving break offers us several commodities: from a much-needed break from school (hang in there, we’re almost done) to an opportunity for us to sleep in and eat mouthwatering food, the break is an opportunity for us to relax, even if it is just for a bit. We all need to take a step back to reflect on what we need to be thankful for, especially in politics. For that purpose, I’ve created a Democratic Thanksgiving Summary, outlining just some things that Democrats can be thankful for going into the season of giving. 1. Election Changes. This election cycle drastically changed the state government of both the Kentucky and Virginia governments. Kentucky ousted their unpopular and embattled Republican Governor Matt Bevin and elected Democrat Andy Beshear. In Virginia, Democrats gained full control of the state government for the first time in more than two decades. The newly Democratic Virginia will now begin paving the way for a progressive agenda with a higher minimum wage, tighter gun control laws and the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to take place nationally. 2. Smaller pool. Even though former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg decided to enter the Democratic presidential race (for reasons beyond my comprehension), the

field has gotten significantly smaller since the Democratic Summer Summary I did back in September. Beto O’Rourke, Kristen Gillibrand, Tim Ryan, and Bill de Blasio are all candidates that have bowed out with more expected to go. It is also becoming increasingly clear that the top three candidates - Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Joe Biden - are the only realistic contenders for the candidacy. 3. Quid pro quo. Democrats in the House of Representatives are all but certain to draft and approve Articles of Impeachment against President Trump, and with good reason: several of the witnesses in the hearings, from Ambassador Gordon Sondland to Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman have all confirmed a quid pro quo from the White House to Ukraine. They affirmed that military aid and an invitation to the White House could be expected in exchange for an investigation into political rivals. Furthermore, a majority of Americans (48% to 44%, per FiveThirtyEight’s impeachment polls) now support impeaching President Trump. This is shaping up to be a very happy Thanksgiving after all! Gabriel Zita is a junior studying psychology.

REPUBLICAN

Season of thanks

PC: unsplash.com | Marco Krenn

hanksgiving break is almost here! Soon it will be time for us to reunite with our families and take a break from the stress of this school year. Seniors will be preparing to enter into their final semester and planning for what’s next, and freshmen will be wondering what the next four years have in store for them. Unfortunately, even as the holiday season arrives, it saddens me to see the great divide in our country today. It seems like all we hear about is negativity and hatred because of opposing views in American politics. However, there is still light and plenty to be thankful for through this dark time in American politics. I encourage all of us to look past our political and personal divides this Thanksgiving season. Put the differences aside. Let’s look at what we as Americans have to be thankful for. Simply the fact that we are Americans and live in the greatest country in the world is something to be thankful for. We have many freedoms: the freedoms of speech, religion, protection and so much more that many people elsewhere do not have. Things like the opportunity of higher education many of us have or the safety and security

of our country. Many of these are provided by men and women who have dedicated their lives to the service of our country. We can be thankful for their service and defense of our livelihoods and freedoms. Many of us take this season for granted because it has become a way of life. We forget that this is a time of celebration is a gift to us and those that we love. We can all be thankful for family and friends near and far as we get to celebrate with and for the opportunity that we have to spend time to celebrate with each other. . As you go home or stay here this break I encourage all of us to really sit and dwell just for a moment on all of the things we as Americans have to be thankful for. There will always be negative aspects of American politics, but let’s take this time to look at all we have to appreciate. Let’s remind our friends and family we are thankful for them, let’s remember to acknowledge those who defend our country, and let’s thank God for all of the gifts he has given to us. May God bless each and every one of you. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Jacob Sanchez is a freshman studying general studies.

ADVICE

hey hannah Hey Hannah, How do I get my friend to up their style? Like they’re cool and all, but the way they dress is just sad. -Fashion Nova Francis It’s not up to you to up their style. You need to sort out your priorities. As their “friend” you shouldn’t be tearing them down this way. Your style and their style don’t have to coincide. For anyone reading this who are worried that their style doesn’t blend with everyone else’s, be you! Don’t let others tell you how you should dress. Your uniqueness is a blessing, not something to alter. Hey Hannah, I’m scared about going into debt after graduating. What should I do to save money? -Paying Patty

You have to let them do their own thing. At this point, they know you don’t support them doing it and they know it’s not a healthy habit. People are gonna do what they’re gonna do. You just have to hope that they figure it out on their own. If this is something you don’t want to be around, you don’t have to! Let them know your boundaries. Hey Hannah, IS PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA GOOD OR BAD!?!?!?!?!?!? -Panicky Pete I personally love pineapple on pizza, but it depends on who you talk to. Try it yourself and see what you think!

When I get paid, I put half of what I made that paycheck into savings, and the other half I use for what I’m going to need that month. A few other tips on how to save money include staying in instead of eating out, buying used textbooks, and being careful with credit card use. Be aware of your future outside of college. Once you graduate, you’re going to want some money to fall back on. Hey Hannah, My friend has started using Juul and is pretty much addicted. I try to get them to stop but they aren’t listening. What should I do? Should I just leave them be? -Concerned Carson

PC: independent.co.uk

Hannah Armstrong is a senior studying health and human performance.

SPORTS

s.s. Sports

PC: vintagedetroit.com

ince Thanksgiving is just around the corner, it is time to be thankful for the things we have and appreciate the good. Every Thanksgiving my family is thankful for the Thanksgiving Day football games, along with many other American families. Watching Thanksgiving football is a tradition you will probably see in most homes during the holiday season. The first Thanksgiving Day football game was played in 1920. It started being scheduled on Thanksgiving because most people had the day off. The teams that competed in the first ever game were the Chicago Tigers and the Decatur Staleys. The Decatur Staleys are now the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Tigers played only one season before going bankrupt. It is tradition that the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys always host on Thanksgiving. The Lions have hosted since 1934, when the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new owner had them play so that they could

draw more crowds. Dallas has hosted since 1966 and since they are the best supported NFL team by far, their ratings usually go up on the special turkey day. This Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, the Bears play the Lions. the Bills play the Cowboys and the Saints play the Falcons. With all the bad happenings in the professional leagues, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s refreshing to be able to appreciate a tradition that never fails. This Thanksgiving, sit back, eat and enjoy some good games.

PC: FBSchedules.com

Sierra Sanchez is a freshman studying biomedical science.

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UNION NEWS

What is Union’s Senate? A Conversation with Kelina Rodgers

t recently came to my attention that Union has a student senate. This was news to me, and I imagine it would be for several other people as well. I was very curious, so this past week I reached out to the Senate’s Vice President, Kelina Rodgers, to learn more about it. Drew Hickman (DH): So, what exactly is Senate? I’ve never really heard of it before. How would you explain it to me or any other students who don’t know about it? Kelina Rodgers (KR): “Student Senate is the student government at Union College. ASB is the Student Body, while the Student Senate is the government branch. Student Senate is where ideas for changes on campus are brought and discussed. We pass bills to make those changes around campus and we approve certain things that ASB does before they are allowed to do it.” DH: What sorts of roles are there? KR: “Overall, all senators are equal and share the same role of representing the people in their district by bringing their ideas for changes to the entire Senate at our meetings. That’s the senators’ main job and the reason why they chose to run to be a senator.” DH: How do people go about fulfilling those roles? KR: “The way senators can fulfill this role of bringing ideas of change to the group is by writing bills. A bill is a formal, written proposal that outlines what they want to be changed, how it would be changed and why it should be changed. Once a Senator proposes a bill, they present it to the entire Student Senate, and then the group votes on it. If a majority votes to pass the bill, then it has been passed through the Senate and gets passed along to the appropriate faculty so the process of implementing it can begin.”

DH: If it’s a Senate, I’m assuming people can request things of their senator to bring up at meetings? How do people get in contact with their representatives? What sorts of things have been example outcomes of that? KR: “Yes, the whole idea is for each Senator to represent the people in their district! They would love to hear ideas or suggestions from people in their hall or their area. Many senators have posted up things to identify themselvwes, such as posters, but if someone isn’t sure who their senator is, they should ask their RA or email me so they can be put into contact with them! There is always a possibility that after talking to your Senator, they decide to write a bill on your idea and try to get the change that you wanted to see happen. If you have an idea or suggestion, definitely bring it to your senator so they have a chance to help you make it a reality!”

PC: Levi Ventura

Drew Hickman is a sophomore studying communication.

ENTERTAINMENT

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happy thanksgiving chuck!

PC: animatedtimes.com

y family’s Thanksgiving is pretty stereotypical: lots of food, unknown relatives, football and political debates. But, there is one event that sticks out in my mind every year. At the end of the feast, after all the extended family leaves and the mess is cleaned up, my immediate family sits around the TV and watches “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” This story follows Charlie Brown and his friends as they discover the meaning of Thanksgiving and friendship. Charlie learns to be thankful and to not be so hard on himself. One of his friends realizes that Thanksgiving is less about the food you have on the table and more about the people you celebrate with. Many of the scenes stick out in my mind to this day. Charlie’s Thanksgiving meal and the scene with Snoopy and Woodstock in the garage had a special place in my heart. It is these type of memories that warm my heart. They give me a sense of home and comfort. This movie was a part of so many other lives as well. “The Peanuts” comic strips had become famous to so many readers so when the movies were released, viewers already had connections to the characters.

We all have a source of comfort. For me, it was “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” Maybe this wasn’t part of your Thanksgiving, but we all have memories that make us nostalgic for home around the holidays. I recently revisited this classic movie and found it to be just what I needed for my soul. It brought back some amazing memories from home and family when I didn’t have any Greek tests, homework or work. It is that feeling of a warm heart and nothing to worry about that gives us the break that we all need. Whatever it is that you are nostalgic for, it will take you home.

PC: amazon.com

TJ Pittinger is a freshman studying theology.

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MISC. CORNER

november 29

uGather Preview Days 3

uGather

International Club World Cup 9:00 pm

16 Barn Party 6:30 pm

uGather 17

Tacky Turkey Sweater Run

uGather

THANKGIVING BREAK

DID YOU KNOW:

SUDOKU

“Jingle Bells” was originally a Thanksgiving song.

5 7 4 3 7

2 1

THE PUNDERBOWL

8 2 4 7

5 9

1 2 9 6 5 6

4 3

2 5 3

http://www.sudokuessentials.com/easy_sudoku.html

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims!

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. Find the turkey and send us a DM to see what you win.