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The Clocktower March 24, 2021 Issue 18, Volume 95

An interview with the new SA president Setting the precedent for the next year

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he SA elections are over! With your new SA board being led

by Maurie Andino, we can look forward to some changes next year.

Without further ado, here’s the first interview of your new SA president, Maurie Andino.

Alex Nesmith (A) - How are you feeling after your win? Were you expecting to win or was this a surprise?

Maurie Andino (M) - I always like to be optimistic… Adam is a stand up guy you know, and there are a lot of people that really support him. If I wasn’t running I would have voted for him for sure. So yeah, I really tried to stay on my toes.

A - How do you feel about your SA team this year?

M - I’m really happy with the team that was voted in by the students… I think that no matter who was voted in, it was going to be a good team overall because a lot of the people that ran did so because… they want to see change via their positions on SA. A - What are your biggest goals for this next year?

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M - So… there’s a lot of things that I think need to be done here. I want some things that some SA members have said. One that really resonates with me is Union doesn’t really have–other than the balloons at the beginning of the year–we don’t have that many traditions, so that’s one thing I want to start to instill and hopefully … that’s something that would transcend my own presidency … Also just opening up … to our full capacities in the Thunderdome, and the cafeteria back to full hours. I know that’s something I’m going to fight

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Union News

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Editorial

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SDA News Pop Culture

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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

for myself … Whichever way I work with Administration, I really want to push to open things as quickly as possible because I know a lot of people are feeling isolated socially.

A - If you were going to give a message, to try and tell something to the whole student body, what would that message be?

M - So something that I want all students to know is if you have an idea or a problem with something, please talk to me in person or DM me on my phone. My phone number’s on uGroups … I really am open to anything … whatever is on students’ mind, talk to me or another SA member...I hope that as the SA president I can set the precedent. We can only make the changes if we know that students want them, so I’m going to make sure that it’s very easy for people to communicate … Some people might not feel comfortable coming up to me directly, but if you want to do it in an email or anything I can be completely open to talk.

Alexander Nesmith is a junior communication major from Calhoun, Ga.

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Parity in the NBA? Nine teams that could win the NBA title

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or the first time in a long time, the NBA seems to be relatively balanced.

It seems like there are good and even great teams in each conference. In my opinion, there are nine teams that have a good shot at a championship and of those nine teams, four are legitimate contenders.

The five teams in the “Threats” category are teams that are either a player shy or have something fundamentally wrong with them.

The “Legitimate Contenders” are teams who I think have the right pieces and have a player (or two) who is arguably the best in the world.

Threats Philadelphia 76ers: Lead by MVP frontrunner Joel Embiid, the 76ers have looked great this year. The team’s supporting cast is more fitting than last year and their stars have improved. The only reason they are not in the top tier is that I don’t trust them in crunch time.

Miami Heat: The Heat might stand out to some on this list because they haven’t looked too hot this year, but remember, they did make the finals last year and Butler has proven he can flip the switch.

Boston Celtics: The Celtics are another team that hasn’t looked as good this year compared to last year. The reason that they made this list is that I believe in their young duo: Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Utah Jazz: The Jazz do have the best record in the league, but unlike the rest of the teams on this list, the Jazz do not have an elite offensive player. Enough said.

Denver Nuggets: Denver does not have anyone to stop elite offensive players and while they might have the second-best offensive trio in the league (after Brooklyn), someone has to be able to stop a LeBron-, AD-, KD- or Kawhi-level player in order to win a championship.

Legitimate Contenders Brooklyn Nets: The Nets are built differently. They added Harden to a title contender composed of KD and Kyrie. And

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on the seventh, they picked up former allNBA forward, Blake Griffin. As far as star power, the Nets win easily. Also, offensively, it‘s nearly impossible to stop this team.

Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks have yet to prove themselves in the playoffs, but Giannis has already proven that he is an all-time talent. Also, the addition of Jrue Holiday helps. Unlike the other three teams’ best players on the list, Giannis has not won a FMVP and does not know what it takes to get over the hump.

LA Clippers: The Clippers underachieved last season, but any team with Kawhi on it has to be a contender. The two-time finals MVP is one of the greatest defenders of all time, while also being elite offensively.

LA Lakers: Assuming Anthony Davis is back, the Lakers are definitely real contenders. Sure, LeBron is getting old and the Lakers lack rebounding, but they are the reigning champions and have the best duo in the league, along with a solid supporting cast.

Jacob Roney is a junior business administration major from Sturgeon, Mo.

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Leif Lastine shares his summer job experiences Students can find summer employment as a literature evangelist

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elieve it or not, spring is upon us, which means the hunt for the perfect summer job has begun! There are many options for college students looking for a rewarding occupation over the break.

One option is Literature Evangelism (LE).

To get an idea of what Literature Evangelism is and to see if it may be a good fit for you this summer, I asked Leif Lastine to share his experience working as an evangelist.

Hannah Olin (H) - What is LE? Leif Lastine (L) - LE is using books and tracts to start a conversation with another about Jesus and the gospel. It typically involves door-to-door sales and/or distributing tracts but can also include ANY VARIETY of creative methods to share the gospel with literature.

H - What is the job like?

L - It requires hard work and commitment, but honestly, it’s the easiest method of sharing your faith. That’s because if you don’t know what to say or you’re kind of shy, then you can just talk about the books. In a Youth Rush program, you generally go door-to-door with a team of other people Sun – Thurs.

H - Pros and cons?

L - The cons are that it takes hard work and commitment, it will take up most of your summer and you will be challenged to grow personally. The best pro is that you will guaranteed come out of the experience with a much deeper faith and love for God, but you will also gain skills that you could use all your life. You will make AMAZING friends that you really bond with and your school will give you a scholarship towards tuition.

H - What was your personal experience?

L - After I was baptized I wanted so badly to share the gospel. I went to Youth Rush in Minnesota in 2019 and had such a profound experience I came back home, quit my job on faith and started canvassing full-time. My experience doing this is what prompted me to

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come to Union and pursue being a pastor so I can teach other people how to do LE in their home church. Basically, LE’s ALWAYS have a FRESH testimony to tell!! And you will too.

H - What should you expect going into LE? L - Expect to give yourself wholly to the work and/or program. Talk to your girlfriend/ boyfriend beforehand and agree to take it seriously. You will get out of it as much as you put into it and more.

H - What should someone do if they want to become a LE? L - You want to talk to [LE] leaders and get a feel for where might be best for you. Pray about it as well and you will sense God leading you. Or talk to Leif at campus ministries.

Honestly, the cool part is that you learn skills that are valuable in any/every profession, not just witnessing and you will become a better leader too.

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

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The hard talks

Discussing the difficult topics in a relationship

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elationships aren’t always rosy. They also come with hard talks, weird ruts and situations that are difficult to navigate. Communication is the key to overcoming all of these things, but sometimes topics need to be discussed to make sure that moving forward in the relationship is the best choice. Compatibility is vital.

While I don’t feel that a couple has to be perfectly compatible to make it work, having similarities in important aspects of your life can make your relationship smoother.

Religion Religion is a tough topic in relationships and each person has to decide for themselves where they draw the line. Are you comfortable dating outside of the Adventist faith? Do you want your partner to conform to strict Adventist beliefs? These are topics to discuss before considering a future together.

Where you want to live The best laid future can become disrupted if you and your partner want to live on separate sides of the world. Though I personally like long distance relationships and feel they can work, many feel the distance is a deal breaker. Discuss this with your partner and see if there’s a way that you can both achieve your goals while living in an agreed upon location.

Career goals Many people have the idea that your career goals will change once you are married, especially if children are brought into the equation. It’s a great idea to talk about this in any serious relationship. It’s a good idea to discuss if you want to have children, what your timeline is and what the ideal family situation looks like to your partner.

Your partner might feel it’s important to have one parent home with the children all day.

Who will it be? Or will it be a joint effort?

Having a plan set in place can help bring your life goals closer and make both you and your partner feel more comfortable about the future.

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In any serious relationship, there comes a time where difficult conversations are inevitable. Shying away from these topics may prolong a relationship that does not fit into your life plan. Knowing where you both stand in each other’s lives can help give you direction and encourage you both to actively work toward your goals, both as individuals and a couple. As you continue to have these conversations, they will get easier. Openness and honesty will help you both to navigate these life talks more easily.

Kaitlynn Toay is a senior English major from Edgeley, N.D.

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Childhood stories

The good ones last

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s we grow up and learn more about life, it is important to look back on some of the important lessons we learned as kids. C.S. Lewis once wrote, “I am almost inclined to say that a children’s story which is only enjoyed by children is a bad children’s story. The good ones last.” I want to revisit some of the “good ones” that have impacted my life, and hopefully yours as well. If you haven’t read any of these, I would recommend picking up a copy.

“The Chronicles of Narnia” This fantasy book series had to make it on this list. C.S. Lewis’ books truly left an impression on me, and I have recalled their lessons often. They contain lessons on humility, greed, love, kindness and faith.

Choosing just one favorite book from the seven is difficult, but “The Horse and His Boy” takes first for me. The stories and characters have shaped many children’s lives throughout the years, teaching them morals and ultimately about Christ Himself.

“The Giving Tree” The story of the little boy and a tree will always remain in my memory. It is such a good reminder to practice thankfulness and giving. There are so many people in our lives who have given of themselves to make our lives better. It is important that we don’t forget them so that one day, we can do that for someone else.

“The Little Prince” This dreamlike book offers simple lessons on what is important in life. The tale was written by a French aviator and was published in 1943. It takes the reader back to how simple the world was as a child. The story focuses on the life of a small prince who, after a series of journeys, longs to go home to his asteroid B-612.

“Jonathan Livingston Seagull” This is a beautiful book. The photographs of seagulls and the vivid descriptions make it a piece of art. The story is simple and poetic.

It was published in 1970, so many of you probably haven’t heard of it. The book is about a seagull who is different from the flock

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because he loves to fly. The author, Richard Bach, was a pilot and many of his books involve flight. It contains a wealth of lessons about being different, pushing yourself and discovering more about life.

“Calvin and Hobbes” These comics are hilarious. The humor only gets better with age and Calvin only becomes more and more relatable. I didn’t realize how true some of the comics were until I reached a certain age. These books embody what it means to be a kid. They capture imagination, friendship, getting into trouble and just growing up in general.

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

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Union College hosts bouldering cave competition Join to win prizes

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ave you used the bouldering cave this semester? If not, start now! Coming up on April 1st (no this is not an April Fool’s joke) a bouldering competition will be held down at the bouldering cave in the atrium of the Don Love building. So how do you get started? There will be three opportunities to win prizes (valued at over $100): an easy route, an intermediate route and a harder route. Each participant will only be able to win one prize; the more difficult the route the higher value the prize will be, so pick the highest difficulty route you can complete.

So how is the bouldering cave accessed?

Well, it is pretty simple. After you sign a release form and complete a brief, less than five minute, orientation, your ID card will work to enter the bouldering cave any time the atrium is open. Complete the form by coming to the bouldering cave Monday through Thursday, 6-10 p.m. A staff member, myself, Logan, Adam, Christianna or Jonathan will be there to help you.

All you need to do is to tell the staff member that it is your first time at the cave and we will get you a release form. You will need to know your address and be 19 years old or older (those under 19 will need a parent or guardian to sign for them). Then the staff member will give you a tour of the bouldering cave, show you where

the Vs that mark the start of the routes are and where the Xs are that mark the finish. Each route is color coded so it is easy to identify which rocks are part of the route.

Next, the staff member will demonstrate how to fall safely and will have you demonstrate a safe fall. Then in a few days, your ID card will be activated to open the bouldering cave anytime. As far as routes to start working on for the competition, some good ones would be First Time, Jacob’s Ladder, and Turtles and Gecko.

The staff are there to help with bouldering tips as needed. Have fun preparing for this competition and watch for more details around campus!

Jade Covel is a senior religion major from Topeka, Kan.

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©Loma Linda University

Adventist slang: health edition How to live longer

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elcome to yet another edition of Adventist Slang. Today we talk about health. If you haven’t figured it out yet, one of Adventist’s favorite outreach programs is the health message.

The church loves to connect with potential members through the concept of healthy living through biblical practices. I don’t claim to be a health expert in any way, shape or form, but I do know that Adventists have a few slightly obscure health related sayings that can be a bit confusing.

The health message The main component of the health message is defining what is and isn’t considered kosher. There are different levels depending on your geographical separation from Berrien Springs (see Adventist Slang: The Great Controversy edition), but there is one solid rule of thumb you can follow: Eat no meat, but enjoy all the Little Debbies you want (Little Debbie snacks are manufactured

by Adventists in Tennessee.)

Soy flu This is what Adventists got instead of the Swine flu. Why? We don’t eat meat (especially the unclean meats, which is a whole other issue). Getting the Swine flu is impossible for any legitimate Adventists, let alone vegetarians/vegans. The common substitute for meat is soy. Therefore, we all had Soy flu.

144k Ugh, marathons, am I right? Long distance running is the worst, and a 144k run is just absolute insanity. This is the longest race you’ll ever run, and there aren’t even gold, silver and bronze medals for the top performers. Everyone in the 144k gets the same participation prize of heaven.

Blue Zone The Adventist mecca of Loma Linda is one of five places in the world that qualifies as a Blue Zone. A Blue Zone is a place where people are extremely healthy and tend to live longer. How? They follow the advice above, of course (and maybe get ahold of whatever miracle Queen Elizabeth got that’s kept her kicking all these years).

The health message can be quite confusing, can’t it? The Adventist Church loves using the mass confusion surrounding healthy living to introduce people to the church. It’s an effective method for obvious reasons. I mean, if you live in the right place as an Adventist, you’re bound to live longer.

Who wouldn’t be interested?

Lacey Stecker is a sophomore communication major from Noblesville, Ind.

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EDITORIAL

You asked, we delivered

A look at Student Senate’s biggest accomplishments this past year

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his school year has definitely been chaotic thanks to COVID-19, but despite all the challenges, Student Senate has been hard at work. The team of twelve senators has been diligently working on various issues that have been presented by students, and many bills have passed. Some changes are still in process, while others were implemented right away. Even though the year is not over, I want to share some of Student Senate’s accomplishments so far.

Even though it feels like first semester was a long time ago, one of the biggest bills that passed through Student Senate was right before Christmas break. Edward Barboza, one of the village senators, presented a bill to allow skateboards on campus. Once it passed through Senate and administration, the process of allowing boards on campus began. After we worked with campus safety for a few weeks to figure out the logistics, skateboards are now allowed on campus! If you are interested in boarding to class, just stop by campus safety to sign the waiver and register your board.

Another huge topic that has been continually discussed during our meetings throughout the year is worship credits.

Toward the beginning of this school year, Micah Rose presented a bill that would prevent worship credit requirements from appearing on students’ transcripts. This passed through Student Senate, but was not welcomed by administration or Campus Ministries. Student Senate continued to talk with Pastor Rich to find a solution that would work for both the students and administration, but nothing has been agreed upon yet.

A lot of students have also brought the issue of the cafeteria’s and library’s limited operating hours to several of the senators’ attention. In response to this, Edward Barboza and McKenna Biorn presented a bill last month that called for the cafeteria to extend its hours. This would accommodate more

students, as some are currently missing out on meals due to being in class during the times the cafeteria is open. This bill passed through Senate, but when it was presented to those in charge of Union Market, they said it would not be possible this year as they need the time to properly clean and sanitize to keep up with COVID-19 protocols. They did, however, say that it would be a high possibility for next year.

Kevin Jeune also presented a bill that would extend the hours the library is open on Fridays and Sundays, which passed and is in the process of being made a reality. Hopefully, the new extended hours of the library will be starting soon.

One of the most recent changes Student Senate enacted is an additional requirement needed to be able to run for SA Vice President. Starting next year, a person can only run for the position if they have previously served on Student Senate. This is to ensure that in the future, Student Senate continues to run smoothly, even when a new SA Vice President takes over. Since it is the job of the SA Vice President to lead and operate Student Senate, the senators felt it was an important requirement to add.

These are just some of the large issues that have been addressed in Student Senate this year, and I am sure there are more to come before the school year ends. This has been a very productive year for Student Senate and that is thanks to the amazing team of senators that the student body elected!

Kelina Rodgers is the SA Executive Vice President and a senior business administration major from Apopka, Fla.

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Dorm life versus village life

An inquiry

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nother school year is coming to a close, and with that comes saying goodbye to many of our senior friends … and hello to the many newly-vacant off-campus housing spots! As I am nearing that fork in the road where these are the sort of options I can start thinking about, this is something that has been on my mind. On one hand, sure, village life does sound attractive, but dorm life also has its perks right?

To get a better and clearer picture of people and their experiences on either side of the literal and metaphorical parking lot, I reached out to see what exactly life is like for each respective side.

What is one thing that makes dorm/village life superior?

“Living in the dorm is pretty nice; I get to be with all of my pals. It’s really nice being just a few doors away from people you like.

That’s probably one of the only upsides.”

- Gavin Forbes “Having my own space and not having to live by the dorm rules like curfew or nightly check and everything. Also, not having to climb four flights of stairs every time I want to go home!” - Shelby Jongema What’s the thing you hate the most about dorm/village life?

“The thing I hate most about dorm life is that the walls are so thin and I can hear people from many doors down. I’ve occasionally heard someone playing the recorder and, in those times and many, wished the rooms were a bit more soundproof.” - Megan Johnson “I live about 15 minutes away from the school so I would say paying for gas lol … and maybe driving in the snow when it snows.” - Teddy Manase What would it take for you to become a village/dorm student?

“Nothing really. If I was eligible to be a village student then I would be one right now.

It’s cheaper by far.” - Finn Stevens “It would take annual paid trips to Cancún

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to get me in the dorms.” - Sarah Johnson It seems to me that based on these responses, one could come up with a definitive conclusion to the question of dorm versus village, and yet, I remain curious as to what the general opinion is. Let me know which one you think is better on our Instagram account this Thursday (@uc.clocktower), and make sure to come back for part two next week, but this time with faculty and staff!

Sammy Ortiz is a junior nursing major from Orlando, Fla.

Sammy’s Vine Throwback of the Week:

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©Nathan Sweet

A TikTok celebration

How the UNL volleyball team went viral

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am not your sportswriter, that is my friend Jacob. However, something within local sports has actually gone viral in our city! If our city goes viral, that is my department!

UNL takes their sports very seriously. I am sure that anyone who has spent five minutes off campus can tell. It is all about the Huskers.

You may think of the Huskers being solely a football team. However, you may not know that the Huskers is also the name of UNL’s volleyball team.

In December, the volleyball team was unsure if they would be able to play this year due to COVID-19, until two members of the team got a phone call from their coach announcing their travel schedule. The first two girls to hear the good news were Lauren Stivrins and Lexi Sun. They got the call from their coach and were immediately ecstatic. So what did they do to celebrate? They facetimed the rest of the team while dressed in their uniforms and recorded the entire team’s reaction.

They were all shocked to hear the good news of being able to play once again. Their reactions spanned from disbelief to shock and awe. To them this was what they had wanted

for a while. Stivrins and Sun recorded all of the reactions and then posted onto Tiktok where the video went viral, showing the team spirit of UNL. They were bored out of their minds and then just decided to announce it to the rest of their team members.

Stivrins said that “this team is so close like that we can call anyone at any time and they’re going to pick up.” Almost the entire team picked up the phone and gave their reactions.

This closeness has been cultivated by their coach, John Cook.

Cook said it was his passion to train them and bring them closer together as a team.

He has also said that he has every game date memorized in his head because of how ready the team is. The team spirit they have shows how excited the team got at the announcement of the season schedule. Along with this, it shows how connected they are. Finally, this reveals the positive spirit some people are still able to have, despite COVID-19.

TJ Pittenger is a junior theology major from Gilson, Ill.

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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.