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The Clocktower September 9, 2020 Issue 2, Volume 95

How to become the teacher’s pet An evolution, from guinea pig to puppy dog

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ast week, we discussed how to earn your peers’ hatred so you may become a beloved character in the future. This week, we must follow up by learning to suck up to your teachers in order to achieve full book, TV and movie cliché. By following these commands (like a dog), you will earn your spot as a Teacher’s Pet. 1) Sit. Before we can get into more sophisticated commands, you must master the simple art of sitting down and paying attention. Teachers can spot an attentive student from a mile away… and they love it! By listening intently to your instructor, you lay the groundwork for becoming a model Teacher’s Pet. 2) Fetch. Turn in your assignments on time. This showcases

a trait that professors believe every student should have -- responsibility. Turning in anything late annoys teachers to no end. They simply can’t comprehend why you wouldn’t turn things in on time. Show them you value their course by turning everything in on time, creating a subtle Teacher’s Pet attribute.

3) Speak. Has your teacher ever asked a question in class, then looked on as no one

Image of a teacher’s pet ©KQED.org

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Love

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SDA News

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Lincoln News

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Politics

Current Event

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Union News

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Staff

Editor – in – Chief Jovan Cross Assistant Editor Juliet Bromme 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 Max Lassel Adventist News Hannah Olin Union News Jade Covel Lincoln News TJ Pittenger

ENTERTAINMENT

felt confident enough to answer? Be the student your teacher needs by breaking the ice and answering.

Even if you give the wrong answer, your teacher will notice you and appreciate your willingness to speak in class. A word of warning: do not talk too often. Just as a dog gets annoying when barking incessantly, having only one student answer can be frustrating to a teacher. Make sure you let others have a chance at answering. The balance of answering and letting others answer shows teachers your ability to read a room, and they’ll appreciate the help.

4) Shake. Remember, your professor is a human.

Ask about their day, families, other pets etc. Get to know them on a personal level. You have several teachers each term, but they have a multitude of students. Showing that you care about them beyond one class will make your professor grateful in ways we students will never understand.

Following these commands will help you move up in your teacher’s mind from experimental guinea pig (we all know they use us to test new material) to lovable puppy dog. By setting yourself up as a Teacher’s Pet, you seal the deal as the “adorkable” character everyone loves.

Editor Hannah Drewieck Photographer Andrew Schwartz Sports Joel Shetler Pop Culture Drew Hickman Comedy Sam Ortiz

LIFESTYLE Editor Maria Kercher Photographer Annabelle Harper Outlook Lacey Stecker Politics Alex Nesmith Love Kaitlynn Toay

Teacher’s Pet ©Mississippi Today

Lacey Stecker is a sophomore Communication major from Noblesville, Indiana

First date frenzy Where to find the finest spot for a fantastic first date

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ith sweaty hands and an anxious heart you ask the question. They say yes! You may think the hard part is over, but now questions about where you will take your new date begin to flood your mind. To help you out, I’ve compiled a few suggestions for great first date ideas near Union.

Sunken Gardens - 27th and Capital Parkway Sunken Gardens is a great choice for an outdoor date. Sunken Gardens has hundreds of flower and plant species and a lily pond with vibrant koi fish.

It’s a perfect place to take a walk and enjoy some outdoor time together.

Holmes Lake - Normal Blvd. and 70th Street Holmes Lake is a perfect location for a date and its close proximity to Union College makes it an easily accessible location. This park boasts multiple hiking and biking trails, a dog park and a lake.

Pioneers Park - 3201 S. Coddington Though Pioneers Park is a bit of a drive from Union College, it has many attributes that make it an awesome date spot. Pioneers Park has a nature center, multiple walking paths that total over eight miles and exhibits where visitors can see animals such as white-tailed deer, bison and elk.

The Mill - Prescott Avenue The Mill is not only great for study dates, it’s also a great location for a casual first date! The Mill is located

Meghan Fleming and Micah Redlich ©Annabelle Harper

right across the street from Union College’s campus. It is within walking distance and offers a multitude of hot and cold beverages, indoor seating and an outdoor patio area.

Lincoln Children’s Zoo - South 27th Street Home to over 400 species of animals, the Lincoln Children’s Zoo is an exciting and educational place to visit. It’s located right next to the Sunken Gardens. Though the zoo has temporarily shut down some exhibits due to COVID-19, they still offer wildlife walks around the zoo. Tickets can be purchased online in advance.

First dates can be a nerve-wracking experience, but having a great location for your first date can relieve some of the stress. Choosing a location where you and your date feel relaxed will set the tone for your time together. It’s important to remember, you’ve gotten this far! Pick a great location and have fun, the rest will sort itself out.

Kaitlynn Toay is a senior English major from Edgeley, North Dakota

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What happened at the Republican National Convention Read all you need to know about the RNC with this quick recap guide

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t the Republican National Convention (RNC), speakers ranged from first generation immigrants to most of the Trump family. The convention took place in person in Charlotte, N.C. at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Day 1: Day one of the RNC opened the convention with a bang, leading with Kimberly Guilfoyle, Presidential Advisor, presenting her now iconic speech. She finished with an impassioned “America, the best is yet to come!” promising much more of the president in the upcoming term. GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel stated, “Four years ago, President Trump started a movement unlike any other, and over the next four days we will hear from a few of the millions of hardworking, everyday Americans who have benefited from his leadership.” School Safety Advocate Andrew Bullock praised the President, saying he “took action” in making schools safe during his term.

Day 2: The second day was used to show the American people how Donald Trump kept his promise to make America great again, by highlighting many economic victories that took place during his presidency. Cris Peterson, a Wisconsin dairy farmer, was brought in to talk about how the Trump administration has handled the pandemic relating to the agriculture industry.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel

Cameron directly dragged presidential nominee Joe Biden, referencing his earlier comment that “if you don’t vote for me you ain’t black,” proclaiming “you can’t tell me how to vote because of the color of my skin.”

Day 3: This night’s events focused mainly on the heroes of America, the hope and strength Donald Trump provides to America, and how you won’t be safe in Biden’s America. Vice President Mike Pence held a speech to rally America to her heroes, talking about how he was there when President Trump gave the order to kill Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike on Iran grounds, and how it was a great victory for the United States. Burgess Owens highlighted the hope and prosperity

ON THE RADAR THURS. 9/10/20 - 09/11/20 Preview Days

THURS. 9/10/20

Project Impact -- No classes

SAT. 9/12/20

Outdoor Movie

FRI. 9/18/20 - 9/19/20 Virtual Parent’s Weekend

SAT. 9/19/20

Faculty vs. Student Basketball Game

WED. 9/23/20

Team Shirts for Softball Event

“Candace Against the Universe:” Phineas and Ferb are back!

Disney cartoon revitalized, then reviewed ©CNN

of the Trump administration, citing “business ownership among blacks, Hispanics, and females has reached all-time highs. Those same groups enjoy record low unemployment and unprecedented prosperity.”

Day 4: On the fourth day, President Trump came to the stage. President Trump gave his response and thoughts on the past four years and current events, and laid the groundwork for his expected next term. When the topic of COVID-19 came up, Trump proclaimed America as the leading responder in the world. “We launched the largest national mobilization since WWII” to fight the coronavirus. He also highlighted how the task force defending the nation was led by Mike Pence. But the overwhelming final message of the RNC was “America, the best is yet to come.”

As a political writer, I am required to do everything in my power to remain unbiased. I’ll just leave it at that.

Alexander Nesmith is a junior Communication Major from Calhoun, Georgia.

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espite their endless summer having ended in 2015, “Phineas and Ferb” cemented itself as one of Disney’s best cartoons. It’s one of three shows on Disney Channel to get four seasons, it got an excellent Disney Channel Original Movie and had multiple albums released containing the show’s best original songs. After five years, the show’s creators have returned to produce a second film for Disney Plus.

“Candace Against the Universe” has an obvious conflict: Candace realizes her desire to bust her brothers lies in her desire to feel special. Then the film goes bananas and she gets abducted by aliens. Phineas, Ferb, their friends and Dr. Doofenshmirtz team up to save her. After the first film took place in a parallel universe, the only way to raise the stakes would be to go into space, and Disney did just that.

The middle part of the film is sometimes a drag. Basically, Candace is just vibing the whole time and the characters arguing about who should lead them on the journey is a waste of time. “Adulting” is among the better new songs (“Such a Beautiful Day” and “Us Against the Universe” are my other faves). The film’s humor isn’t as clever

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On Thin Ice Current events as seen through a different lense

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as the show’s, making the five year break palpable--it relies way too much on easy jokes, in my opinion. There are definitely plenty of laugh-out-loud bits, but at certain points you’re going to roll your eyes. However, the final showdown is a really dynamic - and surprisingly emotional - set of scenes.

“Candace Against the Universe” has some great jokes, fun action scenes, an interesting emotional angle (with a very sweet ending), and catchy new songs.

The story meandres for a big chunk of the runtime, and the humor can get predictable, but all the positive factors make this a nice revisit to a beloved universe. “Phineas and Ferb” should probably stay dormant after this though.

P.S. If anyone sends me videos of them doing the dumb dance from “Adulting,” it would make my year.

Drew Hickman is a junior Communication major from Shawnee, Kansas.

EENKAN, ALASKA. — The privately-funded Frozen Lakes Ecosystem research expedition led by Dr. Anitta Mawter, has been at the forefront of controversy as criticism mounts over safety concerns and lack of proper safety measurements.

For 10 months out of the year, Mawter and her team are stationed in Alaska, conducting research on the many frozen lakes found in the Arctic Circle. There is a permanent base located here in Leenkan, Alaska, with the team setting up temporary camps at each of the lakes being studied.

This has been standard procedure in previous years. However, given a rapid and unexpected flare up in greenhouse gases earlier this year, critics are adamant against the setting up of a temporary base on the fornow-frozen lakes.

In speaking with Dr. Anton Faicu, risk management expert, he said, “Given the current circumstances, it is absolutely outrageous that [Dr.] Mawter

Dad Joke of the Week: Why are penguins really bad at arguing logically?

They fall down too many slippery slopes.

Seventh-day Adventist church responds to racial injustice ©Alaska Department of Fish and Game

would choose to still take her team and set up operations on any of those lakes. To have all the members of the expedition gather in such a localized space, knowing the risks that this year’s heat increase brings, it is not hard to see how something bad is very likely to happen, and our models back up that conclusion. Sure, the lake research is important and it should continue, but discontinuing the practice of temporary bases for now would be the best thing to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the expedition.”

Responding to the criticism, Mawter stated, “Going out on the ice as a group has been an integral part of this research experience. It helps build community and improves the efficiency of our research. We are well aware of the concerns cited by certain people and are taking full measures to ensure the safety of our whole team. We have ordered waterproof equipment and clothing, flotation devices, and in the event of lake ice breaking, we are currently training several members to be lifeguards.”

Samuel Ortiz is a sophomore Nursing major from Orlando, Florida.

In the aftermath of the shooting of Jacob Blake, the North American Division calls its members to action

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his past year has been one of increased awareness of the struggles the Black community has, and is, facing. Along with this has come the call for justice, not only in America, but throughout the world.

Many have joined in this movement for equality and peace, including the Seventh-day Adventist church. Sadly, the violence has continued. In recent weeks, racial tensions escalated after the people of the United States were shocked by the news of the shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake by Wisconsin police. In the aftermath, Adventist church leaders reached out in a call for peace, unity and love. The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists issued this statement to its members throughout the country on Aug. 26: “Racial tensions in the United States have been raised even further after the recent shooting of 29-year old Jacob Blake, a black man, by police officers in Wisconsin. This event, like countless others, has amplified the voices of Black Americans and others as they cry out seeking justice for the acts of violence perpetrated against their community.

The Seventh-day Adventist church in North America hears their voices and

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IRR responds to derecho devastation in Iowa After a week in Iowa, students see how God still works today

©adventist.org

calls upon our churches and members to serve as conduits of peace and hope to our Black brothers and sisters. We recognize their pain and the injustice they face, and strive to serve as their voices when they are silenced by those seeking to quiet them. Let us call for changes in the way the Black community is treated by those put in positions of trust and protection.

When acts of racism and violence hurt the Black community, all of us are impacted. As God’s children we can and must do better in the way we equitably treat each other. Jesus Christ proclaimed, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand’ (Matt.

12:25, NKJV).” (North American Division of Seventh Day Adventists, Aug. 26, 2020).

As the fight continues, may we all take these words to heart. Through Jesus, we can bring peace and hope to this world. As His followers, let us not only call for change, but work towards it.

Hannah Olin is a sophomore History Education Major from Princeton, Illinois.

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od answers prayer. Need evidence? Just ask the International Rescue and Relief (IRR) group that responded to the derecho, a storm described as a ‘land hurricane,’ that went through Iowa on Aug. 10. From Aug. 17 to 23, 23 IRR students as well as IRR graduate Carle Middleton and faculty Andrew and Kalie Saunders worked to help the residents in and around Belle Plaine, Iowa remove debris and trees destroyed by the storm from their property. While there, they experienced some amazing God moments.

First of all, God gave them access to a $700,000 tree removal crane. As part of the team was looking for sites to work at the next day, they met a man who had broken his back in several places trying to get a tree off his roof.

One of the branches punched through his roof and left a hole that needed patching. Gideon Rescue Company (who IRR deployed with) told the gentleman they would do their best to get the hole in his roof patched. As they were trying to patch the hole, someone walked up and asked if they needed a crane. Turns out, the crane operator, Mike, runs a company based in Michigan that travels to disaster areas and takes out trees. He volunteered

Medical clinics provide support for students amid COVID-19 COVID-19 strains mental health, but two care centers near Union can help

IRR Students in Iowa

©Kalie Saunders | uGroups

to work with the team for the rest of the week. This allowed the IRR team to remove trees on houses and other technical removals that would not have been possible otherwise.

About mid-week, another miracle happened. A tire blew on the crane, putting it out of commission. Mike usually has a hard time finding replacement tires as the crane uses a rare type of tire, and estimated it would take three days to get a new one. The IRR and Gideon teams started praying, and within an hour God provided a tire and it was getting put on the truck.

Many other instances like this happened throughout IRR’s stay in Belle Plaine.

It really confirmed to them that they were exactly where God wanted them.

To read more about what happened on the Iowa response, see the link on Union’s website.

Jade Covel is a senior Religion major from Topeka, Kansas.

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OVID-19 is a thing. These are scary times that we are living in.

It is important to know where to go if you need medical services. Now, besides COVID-19, I want to talk about what these amazing places do with their hard-working people. Beside Campus Health, what options are nearby? What specialties do each place provide?

What is each place doing to help flatten the curve? Here are some options for different aspects of health.

For starters, I wanted to take a look at a place that is right across the street.

College View Harmony Health is a place that specializes in mental health.

To follow all possible precautions when it comes to COVID-19, they are flexible with both in-person or online appointments via Telehealth. They are able to help with a wide variety of issues during this time. Even if you just need someone to talk to about time in quarantine, the people there are more than willing to listen.

The next place that helps with your overall health is just a few blocks away from the campus. Urgent Care Clinic of Lincoln provides everything you may need. They do provide COVID-19 tests and you do not need an appointment for a test. As well as testing for COVID-19, if you are having a cold that is not

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related to COVID-19, they are the place to go. They have good people who are willing to help in any way they can.

A fun bonus is that they have Union graduates working there.

The other piece of this is that there are people at the Urgent Care Clinic to help you with prescriptions. Sometimes it’s hard to find a place to help get a refill for a prescription but the doctors at the clinic are more than willing to help with this. The professionals there are happy to meet in person or over the phone to talk to you.

So, these are two of the places to go if you are in need of professional medical help here in Lincoln. Hopefully this will give a sense of what the city offers medically and what is convenient and close to Union. Please stay safe.

Bryan Medical Center ©Max Lassel

TJ Pittinger is a sophomore Theology major from Gilson, Illinois.

Sports at University of Nebraska-Lincoln look different this time around What to expect from the Huskers for 2020-2021

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OVID-19 is imposing, complicated and frustrating. Some of those who are most affected are athletes.

If this were a normal year, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) would host 20 different athletic programs.

These programs draw attention from the Cornhusker faithful, generating over $122 million in revenue, according to the Nebraska Athletics 2019 Budget. Nebraska athletics stayed in the black in the last fiscal year, generating $41 million in profit. That is achieved through only three sports: football, men’s basketball and women’s volleyball.

But this isn’t a normal year. The Big 10 conference has already canceled the football season, UNL’s biggest source of athletic revenue (nearly $100 million).

The Big 10 is working to cancel the rest of the conference’s sports as well. What will Husker fans do without football? They won’t be watching cross country running, which was also canceled in late August.

However, there is talk of UNL basketball remaining available in a bubble scenario, similar to the strategy the NBA has used this year. Bubble basketball means that players are quarantined together and no outside people are allowed to come into contact with them. Less exposure to people means less exposure to COVID-19, helping keep players safe.

Basketball would not only help the fans during the pandemic, but it would also help the students and players too. COVID-19 will prevent fans from attending games,

but Husker fans need sports. Fans will still appreciate sports even if they have to watch from their couches.

As unpleasant as it sounds, bubble basketball seems to be the best case scenario. There is the possibility of COVID-19 forcing the UNL campus to close. In the first week of students returning, UNL recorded over 140 positive COVID-19 cases. This would create a difficult decision for athletic directors.

However, Husker fans are hopeful they will decide that the show must go on.

Joel Shetler is a jnior Science Education major from Ruckersville, Virginia.

Joy of Missing Out Words from the Staff

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y FOMO (fear of missing out) is a confirmation of having missed out every time I get online. I’m reminded of what others are doing that I’m not; hangouts with friends I wasn’t invited to; and life milestones that I haven’t met or may never meet, but my peers have.

I’ve missed out on some big things in life, like not going to my BFF’s wedding, not graduating high school, and delaying the start of my career for 10 years.

Missing out is a fact of life, and focusing on it causes me to miss out on what I have here and now. We have every right, and even the power, to replace our fear and disappointment with joy, contentment, and gratitude. Everything I have “missed out on” represents some other opportunity or life experience I got to be a part of.

It all depends on my focus--am I too busy stressing about what I’ve missed to

see the joy of what I have? Giving into fear or disappointment over comparisons keeps me from recognizing the life right in front of me.

Here are a 3 simple ways I find joy in missing out: 1. Put down the phone.

Social media and the resulting comparisons can suck the life out of me. So I have to routinely shut it down--the notifications and the noise of other people’s opinions and lives. This gives me space to reset in the soothing hum of my own daily routines.

2. Make a happiness list.

What makes me happy? What, big or little, brings a smile to my face or sparks joy in my life? Naming these can lead to ideas to take action, and simply reminds me what brings me to life.

3. Reach out.

Even as an introvert, connections with people are still deeply important. Being around people I care about gives meaning to life. That starts with extending invitations, saying yes to invitations extended to me, and being fully present with those around me.

Whether FOMO keeps us chasing what isn’t meant for us, or if it’s just the emotional pit that lingers when we see our “dull” lives in contrast to “everyone else’s”-the power to change that is is finding joy right here.

There is joy in missing out on what’s best for everyone else’s life so that you can live what’s best for your life.

Trina Cress ©Max Lassel

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The Clocktower encourages reader feedback and strives to maintain accuracy. If you have comments, please email us at cltower@gma ltower@gmaiil.com l.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.