The winter blues Trying to make it to Christmas I ’m not going to sugarcoat it, things are going downhill over here. Not having a Thanksgiving break or meal with family got to me. There’s that saying, “you never truly appreciate something until it’s gone.” Well, I definitely didn’t realize how much I like Thanksgiving. I love the warmth of the holiday: that feeling of all gathering together, cooking, eating and catching up about life. It is also a perfect time to be reminded about the practice of thankfulness, which is something I desperately need currently. Without Thanksgiving break, these gray winter days before Christmas seem to drag on and on. It also doesn’t help that my German progression is now moving at a snail‘s pace. Earlier I had two major breakthroughs, one after fall vacation and another a few weeks ago. The first improved my speaking abilities and the second, my comprehension. Since then, however, I’ve stagnated. It is not so easy to see any improvement. Now, I just have to push through, which is what it usually comes down to before Christmas break. Maybe there are some students at Union who can empathize with me. Aside from the German language though, there are other reasons for this downward spiral. Currently, I cannot travel. Austria has been in lockdown since November 22nd. Everything is closed. I am trying to stay positive about the situation. I always knew there was a chance of lockdowns happening during my time in Europe, and I’m just lucky I made it this far without one. I’m also fortunate to have an Austrian student visa, so I can probably make it home for break. The top thing to be thankful for is that, (unlike most students here) I’m not in quarantine, yet, fingers crossed. Everyday a student tests positive for COVID-19 and then is confined
The Clocktower 3 Lincoln News 4 Pop Culture 5 Politics 6 Technology 11 Editorial 12 Editorial 13 Christmas Jokes 14 Giveaway TURN THE PAGE The official COLLEGEUNION newspaper December 8, 2021 Issue 10, Volume 96 7 Comedy 8 Outlook 9 Sports 10 Explore Nebraska
2 to their room for the next two weeks. The mood here has become rather glum, as people lose more and more friends to solitary confinement. I’m sorry to write more about COVID-19 as I’m sure most people have heard enough about it, but in Austria it seems to be everyone’s primary concern right COVID-19now.brings a certain heavy mood of boredom and loneliness. People just wait for the time to pass, for something to change. Some friends and I decided to start doing things to make life interesting again. So far, we’ve played some pranks on people, started a meme account about Bogenhofen and implemented movie nights. These have all drastically improved the situation, especially the meme account. Bogenhofen is the perfect size for an account with some very niche humor. Anyways, I hope this article was not too depressing. I hope that the winter blues have not set in over at Union. Good luck to all of my fellow students with finals. Editor–in–Chief Juliet Bromme Assistant Editor Hannah Drewieck Layout Editor Chrisheline Kalawo Assistant Layout Editor Justin Anderson Lead Photographer Joseph Lee Assistant Photographer Jacob Sanchez Distributor Jordan Judge Web Manager Diana Celaya EditorNEWS Maria Kercher Adventist News Sophia Jaquez Lincoln News TJ Pittenger Technology Charles Metz EditorENTERTAINMENT Annika Cambigue Sports Evan Majors Pop Culture Annelise Jacobs Lincoln Spotlight Kelina Rodgers Comedy Caleb Schaber EditorLIFESTYLE Lacey Stecker Outlook Hannah Olin Politics Aubrey Benton Travel Sierra Lastine Sierra Lastine is a junior English and foreign language major from Grand Junction, Colo.
Happy Holidays Lincoln is bringing something back for the first time in nearly a decade with the drivethru light show. In Haymarket Park, there is a stretch of road less than a mile long filled with lights synced up to music. You can drive down through the park until January 1 and enjoy the light show. Nikki Chipps, the general manager of the light show, said in an interview, “It is amazing having something like this at the very heart of Lincoln.”
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t is the holiday season -- time to spend with friends and family, to sit in the living room and watch Rudolph, Frosty and Santa on the TV. It’s time for hot cocoa, lights, snow and gifts. It’s time for Marriah Carey to make her early appearance. Even with the warmth and comfort inside, there is still much to doTheoutside.WellWorship
It’s the most wonderful time of the year I
Experience at College View Church held an Ugly Christmas Sweater competition on Saturday, December 4. The winner will receive an undetermined prize for who has the best ugly Christmas sweater. The competition took place in the young adult room of the church, with Pastor Guadalupe Montour heading the competition with her team. When asked about the competition, she stated, “the uglier, the merrier!” Downtown Lincoln has been turned into the North Pole. The downtown district has been decorated with the most festive elements possible including lights, an inflatable Santa, places to write people’s names on the Naughty or Nice List and a candy cane trail. The CEO of the downtown district, Todd Ogden, said in an interview that “We wanted to create one destination in Downtown to attract people to, that they can enjoy, giving them memories for many years to come and also highlight everything downtown has to offer while they’re here.”
The holidays are more than just getting to go and do something. As the semester ends, this time of year is a time to take a breath and relax. When finals are over and there are no projects, there are no tests to study for, it is a time to be with family.
TJ Pittenger is a junior theology major from Gilson, Ill.
The second half of the film features Peg’s annual Christmas party. The whole community is in a festive time, with decorations and lights strung all over the town. A specific scene has Edward making an angel out of ice, creating an artificial “snow.” The film also features the themes of love and family, which are usually found in Christmas classics. Reminiscent of the Grinch, “Edward Scissorhands” features a fish-out-of-water, but with a little less Christmas. This article deserves a sequel of accepted Christmas movies that shouldn’t be considered Christmas movies.
4 MoviesChristmas... … that aren’t actually Christmas movies “D ie Hard”
This movie takes place at Christmas. That feature grants it a chance at being classified as a Christmas movie. The film almost mimics “A Christmas Carol,” with Tony Stark representing Ebenezer Scrooge. A “ghost” from his past, Killian shows up for revenge. The character arc that Tony follows eerily echoes the change caused by Christmas spirit in Hallmark movies. And we can’t forget the epic one-liner in the final battle scene. “What are you waiting for? It’s Christmas!” proclaims Stark. “Take them to church!”
Annelise Jacobs is a sophomore communication major from Peru, Maine.
“Batman Returns”
Let me put this one first and never mention it again. It takes place during a holiday office party, the soundtrack has Christmas music and a corpse is dressed as Santa. The screenwriter has confirmed multiple times that “Die Hard” is as much a Christmas movie as “White Christmas.” And it ends with the trademarked Hallmark snowfall. The debate on whether “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie has gone on for so long. Let it go, no one cares. “Iron Man 3”
This one makes more sense than the last. The whole franchise fits the merry and bright Christmas theme well. This movie does a great job of representing the holiday season while keeping the twisted and dark theme for which the franchise is known. Here’s why “Batman Returns” is a Christmas movie: It occurs during the Christmas season, it features massive Christmas trees and an overload of decorations, the phrase “Merry Christmas” is said multiple times and, of course, there is the classic snowfall, in an excessive amount.
This semi-rejected James Bond film is mockingly considered the “James Bond Christmas Special.” The distaste for this film was tied to the Bond actor George Lazenby. Recently, the film has returned to good light and all is well. This movie qualifies as a Christmas movie for several reasons. The first, of course, the film happens during the Christmas season. The location is in the snowy alps, which covers that requirement and gives the opportunity for an incredible ski chase scene. The soundtrack also features an original Christmas song, “Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?”
“Edward Scissorhands”
“On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”
12. These people are just going to be who they are and they are family. If all else fails just nod your head and move on.
4. Talk about something you learned in class that no one else understands enough to form an opinion on and just bore everyone to death (like my sister does when she talks about perovskite solar panels and new photovoltaic technologies… whatever that means).
7. Come up with a really insane political take that will stop the table cold.
3. Talk about funny family stories. You can stick to the tried and true ones that get told over and over again (like the time that your grandfather thought that the dog food was swiss steak). Or ask for new stories from the older members of your family. It may not seem like it now, but back in their day your grandparents may have been cool.
T he holidays are a lovely time to spend with family, but sometimes the dinner table can get a little stressful when the dreaded topic comes up: politics. In preparation of trying to keep the peace this Christmas, I have compiled a list of 10 tactics to help save Christmas… or at least your 1.sanity.Make sure to prepare, before you get to Christmas dinner. Make yourself a list of topics specific to your family that everyone can agree on. For my family this includes “the sky is blue” and um…. If all else fails find a rant partner that you know will agree with you to limit the risk of explosion.
6. Make sure to talk about the weather, just maybe stay away from the issue of climate change.
Use these tactics to divert and distract your family from politics
2. Make sure someone brings a baby (either human, canine or feline) that will attract attention.
8. Weird Uncle: “The moon landing was faked!”
10. Update your family on Gen Z technology protocol. You can educate your family on how to use emojis correctly in serious texting conversations. (No, the crying emoji is not appropriate for expressing grief)
11. Find less controversial debate topicslike how people prefer their haystacks (Remind yourself it’s not a salvation issue and make sure to remember the love of Jesus).
Aubrey Benton is a sophomore international relations major from Smithsburg, Md.
10 ways to save Christmas
9. Me: “You believe in the moon?!?”
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5. Give yourself the challenge to compliment everyone at the table at least once (as long as you are sincere and noncondescending, who can be upset with a compliment?)
Something significant Forshee-Sweeney explained was the difference between a service and an accommodation. A service, she shared, is something the college provides to everyone – like tutoring, lifecoaching, etc. However, an accommodation is provided for students who qualify under the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act). Accommodations can be permanent (in the case of a chronic condition) or temporary (like a brokenForshee-Sweeneyarm).
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Learning for everyone
shared that a common misconception is that those who use
accommodations get special treatment. This is not the case. Instead, accessing accommodations is actually about providing equal access. This brings us to a common thread in “disability culture”: it’s not about the individual, it’s about the environment. The ultimate goal is to create a universally designed environment. One issue prevalent on campus is the “COVID-19 fog” many are reporting after contracting the illness. It can be difficult to readjust to campus life and classes after being sick and in quarantine for two weeks or more.
Overall, she urges anyone interested in accommodations or disability culture to feel free to meet with her.
Forshee-Sweeney emphasized the importance of understanding diversity within disability culture. She feels it’s important to involve students with disabilities in conversations about campus policies.
Charles Metz is a freshman theology major from Center, N.D.
Forshee-Sweeney encourages those struggling with getting back into their routine to come see her to discuss possible options that may be available.
A closer look at disability services W hen I first heard the phrase ‘disability services,’ it brought to my mind many assumptions which I found out were totally wrong after sitting down with Debbie Forshee-Sweeney in the Student Success Center. ForsheeSweeney is Union’s director of Disability Information and Access (also referred to as the TLC). Our discussion revolved around how her department works with students here on campus.Disability Information and Access provides a variety of services to students on campus. This includes various types of learning technology, personal academic college coaching and (coming soon) a sensory room.
What would Jesus do? Christmas break with Jesus M any people ask themselves the question, “What would Jesus do?” when trying to make big life decisions. I, however, aim to answer the question in the context of Christmas break. This is what Jesus would do if He were to join you on your break during the holiday season. In Luke 7, Jesus was harshly accused of being a glutton and a drunkard by His critics for His enjoyment of food and drink. We know that this was merely Him enjoying some of the pleasures God had given us, so I feel like it is safe to say that He would be a big fan of all the festive foods available during the holiday season. Knowing his exploits with wine, Jesus most likely wouldn’t need any cocoa mix to make a mean cup of hot chocolate. Additionally, all it would take is five Chritsmas cookies and two candy canes, and He could feed the whole campus with some delicious holiday treats. Jesus would also be a fantastic snowboarding partner. You can rest assured that no matter how treacherous that path He takes you down, it will always end up where you are meant to be; so long as you actually follow Him, that is. Jesus would no doubt be a skilled snowboarder as well. Given His past occupation as a carpenter, I’m sure He is proficient in carving. There is also, of course, the tradition Caleb Schaber is a freshman communication major from Lincoln, Neb.
7 of gift giving, at which Jesus is excellent.
Traditionally, He doles out gifts in the form of spiritual strengths rather than toys, but who can really blame Him? His birthday was usurped by a big fat man in a red coat who gives out toys and coal based on an arbitrary system of naughty and nice. I, for one, would much rather accept a floating flame above my head from the Son of Man than a poorly built toy train from some old hermit who lives in the barren Christmastundra.break is a wonderful time of year to connect with family and friends alike. Whether you spend it at home or go out adventuring, don’t forget who the season is really meant to be celebrating. So, get on out there, and enjoy the joyous adventures that Christmas brings!
The movies In my humble opinion . . .
Hannah Olin is a junior history education major from Princeton, Ill.
ne of the best parts about the holiday season is cozying up in a warm blanket with a hot drink, some cookies and procrastinating on homework and studying for finals with a good old Christmas movie marathon! Whether you are compiling your list of movies to watch when you get home or just wanting to escape the rush of finals with some holiday cheer, here are a few of my all-time favorite Christmas movies for your viewing pleasure. A Charlie Brown Christmas This is by far one of my absolute favorite Christmas movies! It is simple, sweet and heartwarming. Besides being cute and very funny (If you watch it, really pay attention. It is actually hilarious!), it is one of the few movies that reveals the true meaning of Christmas; the birth of Jesus. And, as Linus says, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
The Muppet Christmas Carol Okay, I know this one sounds kind of out there. But it is great! It is a funny spin on the classic Christmas tale, with all your favorite muppet characters such as Kermit, Miss Piggy and more. Trust me, you will love it!
I couldn’t write a list about the best Christmas movies without including this timeless film. I know it is old and in black and white, but there is a reason it has remained one of the most beloved Christmas movies out there. It is a beautiful story of love, life and remembering that we all really do have a wonderful life. Now, I know I have probably left out a ton of other really great Christmas movies. There is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, White Christmas and so many more. Nevertheless, I could not include them all. No matter which ones you choose, I hope you enjoy watching some of your own favorite festive films this season!
O
Christmasbest
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This is a classic Christmas movie that is both charming and heartwarming. While I do recommend watching the original 1947 version, I personally like the more recent one
The Santa Clause This is another classic Christmas movie! The cast, especially Tim Allen, is hilarious. However, I do not recommend The Santa Clause 2 or 3. In my opinion, they should have just stopped with the first. Once you have something good, sometimes it is best to just leave it at that. It’s a Wonderful Life
made in 1994 better. It is really well made with a great cast. A perfect movie to get you in the holiday spirit!
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What the athletes have in store for this year
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t’s that time of year again. There are many things to look forward to this holiday season, especially in the sports world. Here is a rundown of sports games you can enjoy over Christmas: Christmas Eve Unfortunately, there is no NBA or college basketball on Christmas Eve, so the one event to look out for on this day is football’s Hawai’i Bowl. The Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors will be facing off against the Memphis Tigers this year. Christmas Day Now this is the day when things get interesting. If you’re into professional football, you have your choice of a couple games to watch – the Browns and the Packers or the Colts and the Cardinals. But, if you prefer college football, you can watch the Camellia Bowl where Ball State will play Georgia State.
Holiday sports season
If you’re more of a basketball person, the NBA has five games happening on Christmas Day: Atlanta Hawks versus New York Knicks, Boston Celtics versus Milwaukee Bucks,
Evan Majors is a freshman business administration major from Winston Salem, N.C. Golden State Warriors versus Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets versus Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks versus Utah Jazz. If you’re looking for something to watch over the holidays and you’re into sports, there is plenty to watch, so enjoy your holiday season!
‘Tis the season N ow that Thanksgiving is out of the way, it is officially Christmas season. Lights are being strung, Christmas trees are being decorated, the cold windy weather is brewing and motivation to finish these last two weeks of the semester is waning. With finals looming, a festive study break is the best way to stay sane. Here are some of the best Christmas events across Nebraska that might convince you to leave the library.
This ballet is a Christmas classic. So much so, in fact, that my family still goes nearly every year. While I admit that might be a bit much, it is definitely something you should attend at least once. For those who haven’t yet had the honor of seeing this performance, it will be playing at the Lied Center For Performing Arts right here in Lincoln on Dec. 18 and 19. Tickets range from roughly $90$110, depending on how close to the action you want to be. If you haven’t left for break by that time, I highly recommend splurging in the name of Christmas.
Omaha Holiday Lights Festival
10Christmas across Nebraska
The Nutcracker Ballet
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a highquality light show (aside from Union’s, of course). This festival is located in the Old Market district of Omaha, which is handsdown the coolest part of the city any time of the year. There will be over a million lights on display, covering six blocks in total. The lights were put up Nov. 22, and will be on exhibit to spread Christmas cheer until Jan. 3. There are plenty of great restaurants and coffee shops in the district as well, so this could be a great opportunity to explore Omaha. Santa’s Workshop This event is a bit more of a drive, but if your finals week is looking light and you have some time on your hands, Cody Park will have one of the largest Christmas displays this year. Located in North Platte, it is worth the three-hour drive. The displays and lights are up every night, but the weekends are when the fun happens. Every Friday through Sunday until Dec. 24, there will also be hayrack rides, marshmallow roasting pits, a carousel and other rides. Whether you decide to visit one of these local festivities or not, I hope that you find time to celebrate Christmas with your friends before heading off for break. Kelina Rodgers is a senior business administration major from Apopka, Fla.
Lessons learned from a senior
T his is my fourth year here at Union College. And I’ve learned a lot. A LOT. I’ve learned statistics, every little nook and cranny of accounting and business … you name it. But I’ve also learned tools for success in college and life, and I’d like to share some of them with you. These tools should help you in your personal and professional lives. Get a job in your area of study. When it comes to academic success, you need to study and study a lot. However, I believe that working during college is very important. Working will give you a sense of accomplishment. It is also a good way to see if your degree is something you truly want to pursue. So, while you are in college, try to get jobs related to your field of study so you can see if you like doing that kind of work every day. I have also noticed that by working in my field of study, I have learned even more about my degree and it has helped me in my studies. If you can’t get a job in your field, still try to get a job and build on your work skills so you can be employable when you graduate college.
Jordan Judge is a senior business administration major from Lincoln, Neb.
Many academic programs here on campus bring in people from the workforce. Take advantage of those opportunities and meet with these professionals. See if you can meet with them separately at a different
EDITORIAL
Tips for success in college
Take advantage of study groups. When it comes to college, there are many hard classes. It can be overwhelming, but if your class has a tutor or the teacher is available, take advantage of that, and go meet with them. Study groups are good because you can discuss what you are learning and hear from other students on areas in which you are struggling. Sometimes, an area that you don’t understand may be well understood by someone else. Meeting with them can help you learn the material. Network with people in the workforce.
I hope these tips and tools will help you as you continue on with your college career into your professional career.
time to discuss questions that you have about the field. Many people who come to speak to academic programs are more than willing to meet with students. Don’t miss those opportunities. It always pays to know someone in the workforce. They can be a reference for you, or maybe they’ll even hire you. Do HeartScan. This is my first year doing HeartScan, and it has been awesome. Find someone on campus whom you trust and ask to meet with them several times a semester. It can be beneficial to be able to discuss personal issues with someone else.
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Now,otherwise.Iconsider myself a new traveler. I’m from the United States and have visited 40 states. Out of those 40, I’ve lived in six. I went with my family to Canada for two weeks in June 2018. I took a month-long group trip with my classmates to India in January 2020. In August 2021, I took my very first solo trip to Mexico for a week, and I am currently planning my next trip. Hopefully I’ll visit many more countries, with the ultimate goal of visiting every single country before I die. What I think sets my international trips apart from many other travelers like me is that I tend to stray away from all the tourist hotspots. I like to see what the locals enjoy. In India, I didn’t visit the Taj Mahal. I spent the majority of my time in the countryside, in villages interacting with the locals. I felt as if I got a better understanding of Indian culture and way of life by doing so. I also went to Goa, which, oddly enough, not very many American tourists visit, and I saw centuriesold Portuguese churches. While in Goa, I went parasailing for the first time, even though I’m afraid of heights, but by overcoming this fear, I got to experience something not many get to experience.Probably the boldest move I’ve made yet was travelling alone to Mexico City. Now, some of you reading might think I’m crazy, going out of the country all alone and staying at a total stranger’s house. My own family had this exact reaction when I told them, with many of them encouraging me not to go. Of course, me being me, I brushed it off and went anyway. As it turned out, this was one of the best experiences of my life. I got to go to the top of a skyscraper for the first time, I tried new dishes that I’d never even heard of and I saw historical wonders not many people see or even learn about. If I’d listened to my family, I would’ve missed out on all that. Now by no means am I telling you you should just totally ignore the opinions of those around you, but you should also trust your own judgements and abilities. The point I’m trying to make with all this is that one of the best educations you could possibly receive is travel. You can experience things you may have never experienced before and may never experience again. You can experience a culture and way of life that’s totally different from your own. Your worldview will be widened and you will look at life and society through a new lens, causing you to have realizations you may never have otherwise. I’ll end with a quote from the legendary Anthony Bourdain: “If you’re 22, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from then – wherever you go.”
EDITORIAL
12Travel is the educationgreatest
Evan Majors is a freshman business administration major from Winston Salem, N.C.
The best travel experiences are the ones that change your life I ’m sure we all like to travel every now and then, but I’m sure some people may have a fear of traveling or stepping out of their comfort zone. If you’re one of those people, I’m writing this article to convince you
What do you call an obnoxious reindeer?
Christmas Jokes
Answer: Frosted Flakes What type of motorcycles does Santa like to Answer:ride? A Holly Davidson
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Answer: The ghost of Christmas passed. What do you call a broke Santa?
Why is it getting harder to buy Advent Answer:calendars?Their days are numbered. How do you know when Santa is around?
Answer: You can always sense his presents. How did Scrooge win the football game?
Answer: Rude-olph What did the stamp say to the Christmas Answer:card? Stick with me and we’ll go places.
Answer: Saint Nickel-less What is every parents favorite Christmas Answer:Carol? Silent Night What do snowmen eat for breakfast?
14 1. Follow our instagram (uc.clocktower)! 2, Find a smaller verson of this snowflake hidden somwhere in this issue. 3. Take a picture of the hidden snowflake and DM it to Clocktower’s instagram. The first ten winners will take home a gift card. GIVEAWAYIT’STIME!
15 UNION NEWS THURS. 12.09.21 uGather @ 10:35 a.m., CVC WED. 12.08.21 Christmas Party for everyone @ 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Clocktower WRITE?WANNA Contact us on social media or email us at clocktower@ucollege.edu for more information about Clocktower positions and editorial opportunities for the 2021-2022 school year. FRI. 12.10.21 Family worship @ 7:30 p.m., CVC SAT. 12.11.21 Christmas homeshow @ 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Thunderdome HAVE A GOOD BREAK! SEE YOU IN JANUARY!
16 the official COLLEGEUNION newspaper The Clocktower 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. 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. 8 5 9 4 8 3 6 4 1 6 2 8 4 1 2 7 6 8 1 2 4 5 9 3 1 8 3 5 https://www.puzzles.ca/sudoku/instagram:@uc.clocktower