95.13 by The Clocktower

The Clocktower February 3, 2021 Issue 13, Volume 95

They’re back and better than ever! Super Bowl 55 is set: the Chiefs versus the Buccaneers

fter a Sunday highlighted with mistakes, the conference championships are over and Super Bowl 55 is set. On the road to the Super Bowl, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers took on Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in the Nursing Home Bowl, aka the NFC conference championship. The Buccaneers struck early and played with the lead the whole game. The Packers had multiple chances to come back after each of Brady’s three interceptions, but they could not capitalize on these mistakes. With a 31-26 victory, the Buccaneers will be the first team ever to host a Super Bowl, and Tom Brady will be heading to his tenth Super Bowl, an all-time record. The other conference saw the battle of the young quarterbacks in the AFC conference game. Chiefs fans were glad to have Patrick Mahomes back from a scary injury that happened in

the Browns game. The Bills, led by Josh Allen, headed to their first conference championship since 1994. After the Chiefs fumbled the ball on a punt return, the Bills went on to score a touchdown after their first field goal. However, they missed the extra point, which gave them a 9-0 lead early. The Chiefs did bounce back, scoring 21 unanswered points, and from that point on, Buffalo was in too big of a hole to come back. Ultimately, the Chiefs took down the Bills 38-24 and will head right back to where they were a year ago: the Super Bowl. So, now the question is: Who will win Super Bowl 55? Here are my predictions: MVP if the Bucs win: Tom Brady. Typically, the award goes to the winning team’s quarterback and I think that if the Bucs win, Tom will have good enough stats to win his fifth Super Bowl MVP title. MVP if the Chiefs win: Patrick Mahomes. Although the Chiefs, like the Bucs, have a loaded offense, I think that Mahomes will have another crazy game and ultimately get his second MVP trophy.

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Union News

Politics

5 Adventist News

Pop Culture

4 The official

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Outlook

Comedy

Lincoln News

10 Editorial

11 Faculty & Staff

Editor–in–Chief Juliet Bromme Assistant Editor Hannah Drewieck Distributor Marvin Velasquez Media Manager Francisco Campos Photography Editor Joseph Lee Layout Editor Chrisheline Kalawo Assistant Layout Editor Justin Anderson

NEWS Editor Olivia Jacobs Photographer Nathan Sweet Adventist News Hannah Olin Union News Jade Covel Lincoln News TJ Pittenger

ENTERTAINMENT Editor Annika Cambigue Photographer Andrew Schwartz Sports Jacob Roney Pop Culture Sierra Lastine Comedy Sammy Ortiz

LIFESTYLE Editor Maria Kercher Photographer Robert Umali Outlook Lacey Stecker Politics Alex Nesmith Love Advice Kaitlynn Toay

©Google Images

Winner: Chiefs! I might be a little biased, but I think the Chiefs have proven that they are the better team this season. They have championship experience and a better overall roster. Final scores: 38-30. The Buccaneers have scored at least 30 points in each of their games this postseason, and while the Chiefs scored only 22 points in their game with the Browns, they didn’t have Mahomes. With him and their offense, I see no reason they shouldn’t score 38 points like they did in their game against the Bills. Best Super Bowl ad: Doritos. One of the main reasons why people who hate football watch the Super Bowl is the ads. Doritos is known for their crazy and unique style of ads. From their Dorito Time Machine to their Old Town Road commercials, Doritos does not disappoint. This year, I think they will take the gold. Jacob Roney is a junior business administration major from Sturgeon, Miss.

©Nathan Sweet

SA hosts Among Us game night before record breaking snow hits Lincoln Snow days at Union College

ell. Last week was exciting. A record amount of snow, the last SA zoom event before we return to in-person events and not one, but TWO snow days. Saturday night began with a game of Among Us on Zoom hosted by SA. Participants were broken up into groups of about 10, with two SA members hosting the game. Each group played for eight to 10 games or for an hour, whichever was reached first. If the crewmates won, each crewmember got one entry in a raffle for one of three prizes, including a pair of Air Force 1s and a $100 Scheels gift card. If the Imposters won, each Imposter got three entries toward the raffle of their choice. The fun continued into Sunday night when Dr. Frankie Rose sent out an email saying school was canceled Monday. I happened to be in the student center when

the text alert hit the students’ phones and the excitement in the room was tangible. Small groups formed talking about it. In the past four years, it has been rare for Union to cancel classes before snow has even hit, so this came as a surprise. The snow started softly Sunday evening and continued steadily throughout the night and all through Monday. Then came the news that Lincoln Public Schools canceled school for Tuesday, and shortly after, Union was also canceling classes on Tuesday, besides a few exceptions like EMT class, which still met. According to an Instagram poll, students spent their days off in a myriad of ways: There was a lot of sleeping, several people procrastinated, while others were good students and did homework (apparently I was not a good student last week) and of course there was a fair amount of sledding. It would be a shame to waste such a good snow! Even though it is still early in the semester, it was a greatly appreciated relaxing week. (Being part of a historymaking snow storm was pretty cool too!) Jade Covel is a senior religion major from Topeka, Kan.

Adventist slang: The Great Controversy edition What are we fighting about?

adies and gentlemen, the time has come for another explanation of Adventist terms that were never explained to you. This week, we dive into the largest debates facing the Adventist church. Today I give you the definition(s) of The Great Controversy. The Great Controversy: Ties Are they man jewelry? According to every church within a 200-mile radius of Berrien Springs (the Adventist Church Headquarters), women are not allowed to wear jewelry unless it’s “functional” (functional, in this case, meaning watches). This rule, however, tends to anger many women, as men still get to wear ties, a nonfunctional accessory. The most logical argument is that, if men misbehave in a church setting, it’s easier for their wives to quietly tug them down and remind them of appropriate behavior. But is this enough to justify ties when women can’t wear necklaces? The Great Controversy: Drums Can they be played in a church setting? This controversy is strongest between the 200- and 500-mile radius of Berrien Springs. If you live within 200 miles, the answer is a hard no. If you live more than 500 miles away, the answer is a confident yes. If you live between 200 and 500 miles, it’s cause for drama. The older members of the church strongly believe that drums have no place in church. Allegedly, the beat of the drums takes away from the meaning of the words. On the other hand, the younger audience believes having upbeat and fun

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music attracts more people to the church, therefore converting more members. With two strong and opposite opinions, this controversy will never end. The Great Controversy: Big Franks versus Super Links Which is the superior veggie hot dog? With a similar flavor and identical purpose, can a decision be made? This debate has been known to end friendships and split families. A disagreement on such a fundamental Adventist stance could destroy you and everything you love. But let’s be real, the correct answer is Big Franks (and I will fight you)! The Great Controversy: Dancing Where is the line between praising the Lord and blatantly worshiping the devil through dancing? Some would say you can only raise your hand in praise, anything more would be inappropriate. Some believe you may dance as hard as you’d like when the time is appropriate. However, the overarching idea is that we may sway gently like trees in the wind, as long as you don’t get “blown away.” Just remember, this debate is regional, just like drums. Through this list, I hope you’ve begun to understand just how controversial the church truly is. Afterall, we did start as a rebel organization. Lacey Stecker is a sophomore communication major from Noblesville, Ind.

Adventist students provide aid in California

La Sierra and ADRA partner to help during COVID-19

a Sierra Adventist University has partnered with Adventist Disaster and Relief Agency (ADRA) to distribute masks to the communities surrounding the university. As the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to spread into the new year, Southern California has remained one of the hardest hit areas of the United States. ADRA, along with Partnership for Humanity, LIFT Non-Profit Logistics and Global Specialty Services have donated 500,000 masks to La Sierra University to aid in slowing the spread of the virus in these communities. “ADRA has been delivering lifesaving supplies and resources to the most needed areas of the world since the pandemic began. In many instances, we have redirected our resources to support families here in the United States, because we know from health data, that this country currently has the most coronavirus cases globally, and we’re not out of the woods yet,” said Mario Oliveria, director for emergency management at ADRA. Students from the university will be coordinating and distributing the masks to the surrounding churches, schools, and other various establishments. “COVID has ravaged the southern California region . . . While vaccines are arriving and hope is on the horizon in terms of driving back this pandemic, face masks will continue to be needed during the coming months for the health and

safety of everyone,” said John Thomas, dean of the La Sierra University Zapara School of Business and ADRA board member. “We are so privileged for our university and its students to be able to partner with ADRA in distributing greatly needed face masks to our communities. . .” “We are so grateful to La Sierra University, its students, and our trusted partners for teaming up with ADRA to help communities cope in this unprecedented health crisis,” said Oliveira. The university is also helping to store more than a million masks for ADRA while they are preparing to send them overseas. They are expected to arrive in several Latin American countries before the end of the month. If you would like to learn more about how ADRA has been helping during the COVID-19 pandemic, check out their website at adra.org.

©La Sierra University

Hannah Olin is a sophomore history education major from Princeton, Ill.

Only 8.5% of people can read this No clickbait here

hroughout history, there have been wonders that have belonged to specific civilizations. The Greeks had their fire; the Mayans, their calendar. As of last week, we have our ink. Scientists working at the National Institute of Printing have created an ink that is only visible to 8.5% of humans, according to their estimates. While a study is being conducted to explain how exactly this works, the general consensus is that in a few individuals, a rare genetic mutation creates extra cones in their eyes, allowing them to have a higher degree of vision and enabling them to see the light reflected off this ink (for a more in-depth explanation, ask a biology professor). After pulling quite a few strings (and redirecting funds from the school’s Wi-Fi budget), we were actually able to get a small sample of the ink. The following, printed in the ink dubbed “Photoreceptor X,” is an excerpt from Hans Christian Andersen’s book, “Kejserens nye klæder”:

So, are you one of the 8.5% of people who could read it? Let us know tomorrow on our Instagram page: @uc.clocktower! Sammy Ortiz is a junior nursing major from Orlando, Fla.

Sammy’s Vine Throwback of the Week

Stonks

Guerrilla Investoring

“M

eme stocks” is not a term I thought would ever exist. That being said, Netizens created and weaponized meme stocks, a stock heavily invested in for “lols,” to usher in the new era of the stock exchange. Gamestop, Nokia, AMC and the cryptocurrency Dogecoin were and are being boosted to destroy hedge funds and take billions from Wall Street. A mass investment scheme was mobilized to combat a “short squeeze” implemented by billionaire investors. A short squeeze is when a stock or other asset jumps sharply higher, forcing traders who had bet that its price would fall to buy it in order to forestall even greater losses. Reddit thread u/wallstreetbets noticed this trend being inflicted on Gamestop and called to arms its 3,000,000 followers to counter-attack. Casual investors heavily invested in the stock and managed to drive the value up 10,400% at one point. This little maneuver forced billionaires using the short squeeze method to buy stocks back to mitigate damage to funds they already lost. Redditors managed to take a $20 stock to a $500 value in three weeks. This movement cost Wall Street over four billion dollars. Gamestop was not the only company that received a boost. AMC has had a rough year dealing with the pandemic. Investors expected them to fold later this year and began trying to short squeeze AMC the same way they tried with Gamestop. Redditors responded again in a mad rush, pulling stock value up from $4.96 to $19.90 in a matter of hours. Cryptocurrency was also mobilized,

©NYTimes

as Dogecoin found itself in the center of attention. Dogecoin has been valued at roughly $0.01 per Dogecoin. As this article is written, Dogecoin is valued at $0.07. Which means if you invested $100 on Tuesday, you would have had $700 on Thursday. It can be expected that Dogecoin hasn’t finished climbing yet. In the end, those on board were able to claim back billions of dollars. Those who caught the wave were able to take their fair share of the prize. The rest of us who found out minutes after the deed was done are left staring in awe of the undertaking. Billionaires are clamoring for laws against this, and the masses are being reminded of the power that they wield. And I am left with my hand to my head thinking, “if only I had been five minutes faster.” Alexander Nesmith is a junior communication major from Calhoun, Ga.

Dear stranger... Where have you been?

020 seemed like the year where many people lost contact with the outside world. While we live in the 21st century with amazing smartphones and things like Zoom, I get the feeling that many of us are getting sick of everything. Because of these incredible inventions, we can still stay in contact with people while we may be in quarantine. With 2021 however, people are starting to get back into the old school ways of staying connected. Humanities Nebraska has adopted a program from Oregon called “Dear Stranger.” This program was created with the goal to bring many people together while a great disconnect was going on. It is a letter exchange program where local Nebraskans will send a letter to someone they do not know. Their specific theme for this round is remembering places before quarantine. The idea is about as simple as it gets. You write a letter, you receive a letter. Hopefully, you will make a good connection along the way. Everyone is able to write about the places they visited before we all were trapped inside. Get creative with it.

©Nathan Sweet

In Oregon it was a great success. So much so that when Nebraska adopted it, they hoped for many more participants than Oregon. The deadline for submitting a letter is Feb. 28. This gives plenty of time for many people to still get involved. If you want to get involved, you can go to Humanities Nebraska’s website and find the page for Dear Stranger fairly easily. I encourage everyone to do it since Lincoln is so cold and COVID-19 is still around. Many people need to feel a connection right now and this might be the way for you to connect with someone who needs it. The beauty behind this program is how simple it is. The ability to send a letter to someone you do not know as an encouragement is something that I think we should all do. It could be the old soul in me, but I love sending letters to people. I really enjoy finding ways to encourage someone else. There are many people out there who are struggling with the feeling of loneliness and we can encourage them. We can make someone’s day better and we don’t even need to know them. TJ Pittenger is a junior theology major from Gilson, Ill.

Fake news

Why are conspiracy theories spreading in America?

rom 9/11-truthers to flat-earthers, anti-vaxxers, pizzagate, lizard people, the deep state, QAnon and many more, this period could be considered the golden age of conspiracy theories. After all, misinformation and distrust are rampant, allowing ideas that are not based in reality to have some very real impacts on the world. Why is this occurring? Some answers can be found by examining the past. There are some common conditions that can occur in society making it easier for conspiracy theories to rise in popularity. Sander van der Linden, a social psychologist conducting research on conspiracy theories at Cambridge, was quoted in Vox, saying, “You see this kind of boom in conspiracies whenever there’s political or social unrest throughout history … whenever there is significant uncertainty in the world.” One example of this is the Salem witch trials. The 1690s were full of change. Women’s rights were expanding, there were frequent conflicts with Native Americans and the place of religion in society was being questioned. Looking for security, people turned to a conspiracy theory. The idea that a large network of secret witches was looking to undermine society caught like wildfire. This led to the hanging of nineteen victims. The idea that a large network of evildoers exists continued into McCarthyism and is present today with the conspiracy of the deep state. The appeal of conspiracy theories has also remained the same. To their followers, these far-fetched plots add stability and meaning in a world that is volatile and often makes no sense at all. 2020 and 2021 have been a time of extreme uncertainty and sociopolitical unrest. Many people feel isolated and

are turning to social media in search of a community. Online, it is all too easy to stumble across conspiracy theories. A recent study by MIT academics found that fake news is 70 percent more likely to be retweeted. Also, due to the current algorithms of social media, users are fed more and more of the same opinions, creating an echo chamber. However, social media platforms are not the only ones to blame. Adam Enders, a researcher of the effects of conspiracies on politics, noted the weaponization of conspiracy theories. In an interview with Politico Magazine, he stated, “Entrepreneurial politicians have realized that they can tap into these conspiratorial populist sentiments that can be activated … Strategic politicians can cue conspiratorial thinking.” At the core of the problem of conspiracies there may be a much simpler cause that lies in human physiology. Our brains like novelty. People believe in these plots because it’s fun. Living in a world full of “real-life” superheroes and villains and plots is entertaining. It fills a void, providing community, meaning and purpose in some people’s lives. The question left is: How can the world and individuals combat misinformation and non-reality? Find out some possible solutions next week.

Sierra Lastine is a sophomore English literature major from Grand Junction, Colo.

EDITORIAL

Granitas are getting old

Recommendations of new drinks to try at The Mill

uilding a coffee shop across from Union College was just about the best idea anyone has ever had. But after three years of living right across the street from The Mill, I have a problem. I order the same thing every time: a granita with toffee nut syrup. In an effort to branch out, I turned to Instagram for non-basic drink recommendations. Here is what everyone raved about. London Fog This drink is earl grey tea with steamed milk and vanilla syrup. John Michael Sagarra described this drink as “basically a latte, but with tea.” It is his drink of choice in the afternoon or night because it’s not as strong as coffee. Mexican Mocha with Cinnamon Whipped Cream This is Jacob Sanchez’s favorite drink at The Mill. He said it tastes like Mexican hot chocolate called “chocolate de Abuelita,” and reminds him of Christmas as a child. Italian Soda with Lavender As someone who doesn’t drink coffee, Diana Celaya is always looking for a new drink to try at The Mill. One of her favorites is the Italian soda with lavender syrup. She said it tastes like a sweet soda and it’s quite creamy. Chai Variations Several people suggested I try a chai tea drink from The Mill. Gavin Forbes raved about the sparkling chai (regular iced chai tea made with sparkling water). Nathaniel Brown prefers the

dirty chai because of its slight coffee taste and additional caffeine punch, while Abbie Proudfoot recommends trying the iced original chai. Caramel Steamer Logan Scroggins says The Mill’s caramel steamer is “undefeated.” It’s simply caramel-flavored steamed milk – another great option for anyone who doesn’t drink coffee. I love caramel and this recommendation intrigued me so much that the day after Logan suggested it, I walked down to The Mill and tried it for myself. I ordered it with almond milk and guys, it’s actually really good. It’s quite sweet, but I’ll definitely order it again when I don’t want coffee. Bella Coola Gabriel Zita likes this herbal tea because of the warm, calming effect it has. He described the taste as being similar to pineapple candy. I can’t wait to try this one! I hope that if you too have fallen into a routine of ordering the same drink over and over again, this list has given you new ideas! Hannah Drewieck is a junior business administration and communication major from Stoughton, Wis.

FACULTY & STAFF

Real Forks and Knives

A review of restaurants within walking distance of Union College

his year has been a strange one, to say the least! Between masking, closed dining rooms and solo eating, it may have been a while since many of us have eaten a meal served on a real plate, using real forks and knives, and that didn’t require washing in a dorm room sink! There are several restaurants within walking distance of Union College that could scratch that itch for you. As an added bonus, the restaurants listed here aren’t part of national chains. Giving one or more of these restaurants some of your business could help keep Lincoln’s economy going strong! Penelope’s Lil’ Café – 4724 Pioneers Blvd. Located just south of the Casey’s, by the giant praying mantis sculpture, this little gem is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is one of only a handful of restaurants that offers an egg, hash browns and toast breakfast option where you don’t have to pay more for meat you don’t intend to eat. Breakfast prices include a hot beverage for no extra fee. This restaurant features its own delicious, homemade black bean veggie burger. It has many choices for vegetarians and vegans, as well as several chicken and beef choices. The sweet potato fries and homemade potato chips are fabulous! Breakfast ranges in price from $5 to $10 and lunch/dinner ranges from $6.50 to $10. The Eatery – 2548 South 48th St. The Eatery is one of my personal favorite Lincoln restaurants. Located

just north of McDonald’s, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The salad bar is small but exceptional, their portabella mushroom sandwich is amazing, the homemade veggie burger is just lovely, and they even have a haystack! The fruited French toast is made from challah bread – quite unique. They have a variety of flatbread pizzas, burgers and sandwiches. For a unique appetizer experience, try the breaded portabella sticks. Whether you are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, paleo or have a more varied palate, this restaurant has multiple delicious options for everyone. Breakfast runs from $7 to $15 and lunch/dinner runs from $8.50 to $19. El Toro – 2600 South 48th St. This Mexican place can be found right next to the Subway restaurant in the Van Dorn Plaza. The menu has a substantial vegetarian section, which includes chili relleno, veggie fajitas and one gigantic bean tostada. For the non-vegetarians, try the pollo en mole or the fish tacos. Lunches run from $7.50 to $10 and dinners run from $6 to $15. Portions are all large. Need a full plate on a budget? Just ask for the beans and rice! It’s filling, delicious and only $3.25! Lesa Kean is an associate professor in the division of Science and Mathematics.

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2 https://www.puzzles.ca/sudoku/

The Clocktower encourages reader feedback and strives to maintain accuracy. If you have comments, please email juliet.bromme@ucollege.edu or hannah.drewieck@ ucollege.edu. ucollege.edu The Clocktower, established in 1927 and sponsored by the Student Association of Union College, is published 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, Student Association, Union College, or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.