96.5 by The Clocktower

The Clocktower October 13, 2021 Issue 5, Volume 96

Cultural differences between Austria and America Initial impressions

he weeks really fly by. Mostly due to naps as I adjust to the eight hour time difference and the 6 a.m. breakfast schedule. To say the least, there have been a lot of things to get used to. The culture, although heavily influenced by America and still Adventist, is very different. I am not completely out of my element here as they do have haystacks on Sabbaths. Here are some of the biggest culture shocks I experienced this week and some other thoughts about Austria. The people are very accomplished I don’t want to generalize this to all of Europe but it is definitely true for the school. Pretty much everyone at the school is “accomplished.” Accomplished like in Pride and Prejudice: “must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, all the modern languages, to deserve the word.” Everyone here is able to do all those things. Okay, well, maybe not drawing or dancing, but they play Fußball wonderfully well. The students and teachers all play instruments, and many people speak four languages fluently! Politebutnotwarm(atfirst) So far the Germans and Austrians that

©Sierra Lastine

I have met are polite and nice but not particularly warm. The culture is more reserved. Sometimes it makes it difficult to read people. My Argentinian, Chilean and Italian friends are warmer, louder and have big personalities. However, as I have gotten to know more Germans and Austrians better, I have found them quite friendly and even warm. There just seems to be a larger barrier when first getting to know them. Overall, from my initial impression, I would call it an introverted culture. Being an introvert myself, I’m okay with that. Recycling Recycling is very important. I was told this by several Europeans before coming, but I

TURN THE PAGE

The official

UNION COLLEGE

newspaper

Pop Culture

Outlook

5 Technology 6

Sports

7 Adventist News Explore Nebraska 8

Comedy

Politics

Editorial

Lincoln News

2 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

NEWS Editor Maria Kercher Adventist News Sophia Jaquez Lincoln News TJ Pittneger Technology Charles Metz

ENTERTAINMENT Editor Annika Cambigue Sports Evan Majors Pop Culture Anneliese Jacobs Lincoln Spotlight Kelina Rodgers Comedy Caleb Schaber

LIFESTYLE Editor Lacey Stecker Outlook Hannah Olin Politics Aubrey Benton Travel Sierra Lastine

don’t think I fully understood it then. The trash is extremely organized. Paper, plastic cardboard, glass, compost and one small random bin. Also, the cafeteria uses glass dishes, which, as you might imagine, is more work. I have dish duty on Mondays. It reminds me of the few weeks I worked at camp. Here, though, there are a lot more dishes. It surprises me how little trash I produce when I’m conscious of it and the trash can is small. BePünktlich(punctual) I come across this word more than any other in conversation. I think Germans and Austrians just really enjoy saying it. Even to casual events and activities in your free time it is important to be on time, and by that I mean a few minutes early. The Latin American students and I struggle to adapt to their standards. I think this has earned us a bit of a reputation. They certainly don’t neglect to comment on our arrival times. I am really working on it though. Everything is smaller The streets are smaller. The cars are smaller. The washing machines are smaller. The shower is much smaller. (If I were any bigger it would be a problem.) This is a relatively small difference, but I found it surprising anyways. When I commented on it my friends told me America was so extra and that we have everything big for no reason. There are many other differences I could write about, such as everything being closed on Sundays, how everyone follows the rules and the fact that everyone goes to bed early, and I’m sure I’ll only discover more as time goes on.

Sierra Lastine is a junior English and foreign language major from Grand Junction, Colo.

Oreo releases Pokémon-themed cookies Some things never die

magine this: two franchises known for being the best in their business come together to create a product so popular that even a small piece of this product is selling for hundreds among collectors. I’m sure this isn’t the first time it has happened. In case you missed it, Nintendo and Nabisco collaborated to create Pokémonthemed seasonal Oreos to celebrate Pokémon’s 25th anniversary. The cookies in this collaboration feature 16 different Pokémon, stamped into the traditional cookie. Oreo announced the collaboration by releasing a video in the style of the Pokémon show but created only with Oreos. The advertisement ended with the reveal of the new cookie featuring Pikachu, one of the most commonly known Pokémon. This QR code will transport you to the video. The Pokémon franchise has created sensations over and over again. Countless games for all types of consoles continue to rank high among popular games. In the early 2000s, collecting Pokémon cards was the craze, and stores could not keep them in stock. In 2014, the “Pikachu Outbreak!” took the internet with photos and videos of hundreds of fans dressed in Pikachu costumes. In 2016, “Pokémon Go” was released and became a worldwide sensation, bringing in thousands of people to the fandom. The game,

now six years old, is still very active, even here at Union. Now, in 2021, the Pokémon x Oreo collab has reawakened the slumbering fandom. Following the theme of the Pokémon franchise, Oreo made one of the cookies very rare, modeled after Mew, a psychic mythical Pokémon. Mew was one of the last Pokémon created in Generation I. Lore states that Mew contains DNA from every single Pokémon, which allows Mew to learn any attack or move. Literally the Mary Sue of Pokémon, Mew holds the position of supreme species and the sightings equivalent to a unicorn. These qualities, among others, got Mew voted as the most popular Pokémon in the first four generations. That theme continues with the cookies. The ultra-rare Mew cookie is selling on eBay for thousands. Even Mew cookies that are cracked can fetch over $100. Now the question stands: What would you do for a Mew Oreo?

Annelise Jacobs is a sophomore communication major from Peru, Maine.

Fall is the superior season And here’s why ...

isclaimer: I am unashamedly obsessed with all things fall. Call me a basic white girl, but as soon as there is the slightest hint of crisp air or changing leaves, I cannot help myself. However, it is not just my undying love of tiny pumpkins, UGG boots and sweaters that fuel my devotion to this season. I have actual, legitimate and thought through reasons why I believe the autumnal season is better than all the others. And, no, I was not under the influence of PSL when I wrote this. The weather Fall is the perfect amount of crisp and chilly to warrant a hoodie or sweater, but not enough to need a bulky coat. Seriously, what other season can you comfortably be outside without getting too hot or too cold? And don’t say spring. We don’t have spring in the Midwest. The colors The autumn color palette is by far more aesthetically pleasing than any other season. Spring is bright and kind of clashy, winter is white/gray with those crazy Christmas colors red and green, and summer is, well, I don’t know, but you get the point. Fall colors are soft and beautiful in every way. The food Fall flavors are hands down the best of any other season. In fact, I think it may be the only season that has distinct flavors associated with it. Apple and pumpkin everything is absolutely everywhere. You can practically

smell cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves the minute you walk out the door, and I am so here for it! The crunch The most satisfying part of fall is hearing that “crunch” under your feet as you walk. Those crisp crunchy leaves are just one of those magical sounds of the season. The soup Okay, this one may sound weird, but I honestly get so excited when it gets cold outside so that I have an excuse to curl up with a big, warm bowl of soup (and a TON of bread, of course!). Why don’t I just eat soup in the summer? Because only weirdos do that. The orchards and “patches” Who doesn’t love romping through pumpkin patches and apple orchards, drinking apple cider and getting lost in corn mazes? You don’t get to do that any other time of year. So, now that I have convinced you, go put on your comfiest hoodie, grab a PSL and crunch your way along to the nearest pumpkin patch and enjoy the fall season in all its glory!

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

Apple’s all-new iPhone 13 is out Should I upgrade?

n Sept. 24, Apple released the next generation of one of the world’s most popular smartphones. Available in a stunning array of colors, the iPhone 13 has everybody talking about whether they will upgrade to the latest handset. The iPhone 13, unlike previous upgrades, doesn’t offer dramatic changes. There are slight changes that improve usability and dependability. Below are changes from the iPhone 12: New chip The A15 Bionic chip powers the iPhone 13 series, which is slightly faster than the iPhone 12’s A14 chip. Battery life increased. As popular as the iPhone 12 was, the battery life was disappointing. The new model promises longer battery life to keep you going all day long. Camera improvements The size of the camera bump has changed, and now the lenses are arranged diagonally, allowing for a substantial upgrade. Also, Cinematic mode will now help you auto-focus during movie recording. Smaller notch Apple decreased the size of their notch without compromising on the face camera or Face ID. 120 Hz displays on Pro models The Pro models now have higher refresh rates on the displays. More storage iPhones now start at 128 GB instead of 64 GB – and the price has not increased. So, should you upgrade? If you have an iPhone X or earlier, you may want a new phone, as these models will slow down with new upgrades. If you have an 11 and don’t mind a slightly lower quality camera and the absence of 5G, then you should be fine. For those with a 12, there’s no reason to upgrade unless you need battery life increase

or desire the best camera. The A14 is still a powerful chip, so your phone should remain fast. If you do choose to get a new phone, here are some tips: Don’t buy a 12 Due to the storage increase, it’s not worth buying one when you can get a 13 for slightly more, plus all the extra benefits. Usually it’s a good idea to buy the one year old iPhone, but not this time. Looking for mid-to-low-range? Go 11. If you’re ok with a few limitations, the 11 is still a dependable phone. And the price has gone down considerably. Want something entry level? SE 2nd gen. The SE may look oldfashioned but provides plenty of power. Also, it still has Touch ID – appropriate considering mask mandates. It’s best for those coming from cheaper Androids who don’t want to plop a lot of money down until they decide. Ready to go all-out? The 13 looks like it will be an awesome upgrade and could be worth it for you. I can’t wait to try the iPhone 13 in person. iPhones are known for unparalleled ease of use, and the hardware can’t be beat. Ultimately, it will be awesome to see how it competes with last year’s model.

Charles Metz is a freshman theology major from Center, N.D.

The struggle of being a Patriots fan in 2021 My condolences if you are a Patriots and/or Tom Brady fan

’m probably going to get some backlash for this one …

If you’re unlike me, you keep up with football. Truthfully, I’m writing this article solely for the purpose of angering any New Englanders reading this. On Sunday, Oct. 3, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers narrowly defeated the New England Patriots 19-17. Now, to any non-football fan, this just sounds like any old football game. However, you do not need to know about football to know who Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady is, and rightfully so. Brady has carved out a legendary career for himself, claiming seven Super Bowl victories, despite some controversies over the years – *cough* deflategate *cough*. Six of those seven wins were with the New England Patriots, and the seventh was with Tampa Bay this past year. This is where things will potentially become volatile. On one side, you have the Tom Brady fanboys stuck in the past claiming, “Tom Brady’s still a Patriot!” These same people will wear half-Patriots, halfBuccaneers jerseys in support of their favorite quarterback. On the other hand, you have the hardcore Patriots fans who think of Tom Brady as a traitor. This became even more apparent when Tom Brady showed his former team what they were missing out on. Both

these groups have their justifications, but it’s no less divisive amongst the fanbase. Personally, I don’t care much for Tom Brady, but I have a lot of friends from New England, and as a Green Bay Packers fan, I try to never miss an opportunity to make fun of the Patriots for losing their biggest player. Say what you will about Green Bay, but we still have Aaron Rodgers and his awful new hairstyle. Of course, none of this takes away from the division I mentioned earlier. Seeing a fanbase so divided is actually very entertaining! Only time will tell where fans’ true loyalties lie, either with Tom Brady himself or with the New England Patriots.

Evan Majors is a freshman business administration major from Winston Salem, N.C.

Touring the churches: New Creation More churches to choose from than you previously thought

ollege View Church has created a positive worship environment for generations of Union College students. While having a church located so near may make it the obvious choice for some, there actually are six other Adventist churches in Lincoln, each with their own unique worship styles, events, services and communities. So whether you’re church hunting, searching for a way to get involved or just love exploring, let’s see what’s out there. New Creation Church is located on the outskirts of town about fifteen minutes away from Union College. It is a budding community with a growing congregation of about 100 members and expansion plans already in the works. This church harbors a warm, casual atmosphere with a tight-knit but welcoming community of diverse members. Immediately upon entering the doors, you will be greeted by Mike Mennard, head pastor of the church, as he hands out bulletins to incoming churchgoers. He welcomes you in with a smile, offering a bulletin and directing you to the lobby area where a plethora of refreshments and coffee sits at the ready. Sabbath School begins at 10 am, with several classes to choose from, including Aslan’s on the Move - looking at the gospel through the works of C.S Lewis and In His Word - an in depth study in prophetic Bible books. The worship service begins at 11:15 in the Sanctuary, which features seating such as chairs, pews … and sofas! One of the cool features of this church is their praise band, which plays lively, contemporary music. Every Wednesday, a free class open to anyone is held to train worship leaders to lead on stage on Sundays. After the music is prayer time, and a microphone passed from member to member so they can vocalize their prayer

requests for others to pray for throughout the week. After prayer the service moves on to the message, usually spoken by Pastor Mennard and various other members of the congregation. Sermons are generally short and sweet and Pastor Mennard is definitely a dynamic and humorous speaker. The service ends with a couple more announcements about exciting events throughout the week. Some of those include Coffee on Friday’s and Super C.O.W on Wednesdays. New Creation is a great church to visit and very inclusive. They often have things going on and are always happy to see new faces. If you wish to visit, you can find more information at newcreation. adventistchurch.org.

Sophia Jaquez is a sophomore theology major from Lincoln, Neb.

Fall thrills

The perfect way to kick off spooky season

t is officially my favorite time of year. October has started, and fall is slowly beginning to come with it. Whether you are most excited for sweater weather or fall events, this season has a lot to offer. One fall staple is pumpkin patches, and there are many scattered all over Nebraska – so many, in fact, that it may seem difficult to choose which ones to visit. Since autumn happens to be my favorite time of year, I have spent my time at Union searching for the best ones. The top one that I have found happens to be right here in Lincoln. Roca Berry Farm is just 20 minutes south of campus, which makes it very convenient. It started as a small pumpkin patch in 1980 and has now grown into a full fall festival attraction. While they do offer an expansive

pumpkin patch where you can pick out the perfect one to take home and carve, there are several other activities as well. There is a low ropes course, an 80-foot slide, a hayride, lifesized games, farm animals and more. I also can’t forget to mention their Nebraska fall staple—a corn maze! If you need a break in between all these endeavors, there are plenty of seating areas and food options scattered around the property. Fall is my favorite season mostly due to Halloween being a large part of it. If you are anything like me and are looking for more of a thrill than the daytime fall festival, Roca Scary Farm has you covered. At night, the entire property transforms into a spooky experience. There are four different attractions: a haunted hayride, a haunted manor, a house of illusion and a Psycho Path. All of these have live actors ready to jump out at you at any moment and scenes that are sure to give you a scare. I have been to many Halloween experiences, and this one is worth going to, as it is one of the best I have been to for the price. The daytime fall festival is open all seven days of the week, but weekend tickets are a bit more expensive. Day tickets on the weekend are $14.95 plus tax. The scary farm, or nighttime experience, is only open on weekend nights. These tickets are $24.50 plus tax, but like I said, it’s worth the extra money if you are looking for a way to kick off the spooky season.

Kelina Rodgers is a senior business administration major from Apopka, Fla.

Small town shenanigans

“Fun” things to do around Lincoln, Nebraska

s the weeks go by and you’re all getting more comfortable with your schedules, many of you may be looking for things to do outside of school. There are students here at Union from all over the country, so coming to the empty fields and flat horizons of Nebraska may be quite jarring for some of you. Luckily you have me, a homegrown Nebraskan native, to tell you about a couple of the fun activities you can do here in Lincoln. Cruising down O Street Many of you may have gotten to Union by driving here, so why not relive the excitement of that road trip by driving some more! If you take any of the main roads north, you’ll eventually run into O Street. O Street is the longest straight street in America and offers the people of Lincoln the fun nighttime activity of just driving down it. Driving in a straight line and wasting your gas? What’s not to love! This is also where you can run into a whole slew of interesting people. From high school kids who just got their first car and want to race everything with a pulse, to dudes in their thirties who think not having a muffler will finally land them a girlfriend, you can truly meet some fascinating people on O Street. Exploring downtown After your exciting drive down O Street, you might feel a craving for some good food or maybe some ice cream. If this is

©Joseph Lee

the case, you can always head downtown to the Haymarket. This is a fantastic area of town where you can do exciting things such as driving around for hours trying to find a parking spot, getting lost due to the inconsistent pattern of one-way and two-way streets, trying to spot the only other sober people downtown on a Saturday night or photobombing all the amateur photoshoots that happen in that one alleyway with the lights. Whatever it may be, you are guaranteed to find something interesting to do in downtown Lincoln. I can’t promise it will be fun, but it will be interesting. I hope this guide of possible activities to do in Lincoln has helped you in some way. Lincoln may be in the middle of nowhere, and there may be cornfields less than 30 minutes away in every direction, but there are plenty of places to go and things to do here to take your mind off that fact.

Caleb Schaber is a freshman communication major from Lincoln, Neb.

Nebraska finalizes redistricting plan Legislators reach a compromise

ebraska’s Legislature finalized new boundaries for districts on Sept. 30 after a special session. The importance of the legislative process is heightened because Nebraska is one of the only two states in the nation that splits their Electoral College votes based on the popular vote. This led to one of Nebraska’s three electoral votes cast for Biden in the 2020 election. Redistricting takes place every ten years based on data from the Decennial Census. Boundaries must be redrawn to ensure every electoral district has an equal population. In a majority of states, the state legislature is in control of the redistricting process. This is an

important time for both political parties, as the new boundaries can affect election results for the next ten years. Gerrymandering is shaping districts to give a political advantage to a certain party or group. Most elections in the United States are based on a winner-take-all system, where if a majority of a district votes for a candidate, all votes for the opposition are ignored. By drawing the district boundaries correctly, a majority voting bloc can be split up and lose representation. Nebraska has three congressional districts. District #2 is the smallest and contains Omaha. Lincoln is in the slightly larger District #1, while District #3 covers three-fourths of mostly rural Nebraska. Republicans’ first redistricting plan, Legislation Bill 1, was met with harsh criticism from Democrats. The proposal would divide Douglas County, a metropolitan area of Omaha that contains over a quarter of Nebraska’s population. This change would have made a democrat winning a congressional seat or an electoral vote in District #2 nearly impossible. Legislation Bill 1 was blocked by a filibuster. Although Republicans hold a majority of seats in the Legislature, they did not have the number needed to end the filibuster. A two-week special session started on Sept. 13, and legislators reached a compromise. The new map will keep Douglas County whole but adds some right-leaning suburbs and rural areas. The new boundaries will make elections harder for Democrats, but District #2 remains competitive and important for both parties in upcoming elections.

Aubrey Benton is a sophomore international relations major from Smithsburg, Md.

EDITORIAL

Student Senate A look at this year’s Student Senate team

his year, I have the pleasure of being the Vice President of our Student Association (SA) again. Essentially, this means I get to work with the Student Senate for the year. The Student Senate works with SA to function as the main student government for Union College. The primary goal of this group is to represent the student body and enact change on campus where it is needed. This is accomplished through bills that senators write, conversations with administrations and town hall meetings. The Student Senate team this year is filled with ambitious representatives that are eager to help voice your issues and make our campus a better place. Here is a look at the senators this year and which district they represent: Prescott: 2nd & 3rd Floors: Andrew Schwartz – Andrew.Schwartz@ucollege.edu 4th & 5th Floors: Nathaniel Chaij – Nathaniel. Chaij@ucollege.edu 6th & 7th Floors/RA Representative: Gabriel Correa – Gabriel.Correabublitz@ucollege.edu Culver Halls: Women: Nelda Atuti – Nelda.Atuti@ucollege. edu Men: Nathan Wood – Nathan.Wood@ ucollege.edu Rees: 1st Floor/RA Representative: Alexis Castro – Alexis.Castro@ucollege.edu 2nd Floor East & West: Salissa Tonkin – Salissa.Tonkin@ucollege.edu 3rd Floor East & West: Tyler Okemwa – Tyler.Okemwa@ucollege.edu 4th Floor East & West: Danyelle Nesmith – Danyelle.Nesmith@ucollege.edu Village: Daniel Gonzalez – Daniel.Gonzalez@ ucollege.edu Kevin Jeune – Kevin.Jeune@ucollege.edu Student Diversity Representative: Mayah Evans – Mayah.Evans@ucollege. edu

As the Student Senate begins to meet biweekly, we would love to hear from you. I included each senator’s contact information, so do not hesitate to reach out to the one that represents your district. If you come across an issue on campus that you would like to see changed, go talk to your senator! They would love to hear your ideas and help make Union a more inclusive place for all students. If you happen to run into another senator that represents a different district, still feel free to talk with them, share your concerns or brainstorm ideas for improvement. The Student Senate is a team that is in place to work for the student body as a whole, and the best way for us to accomplish that is to hear what you want to see happen this year. This year’s team is incredible, and they are already working hard. So, reach out to us, and help us make Union an even better place!

Kelina Rodgers is a senior business administration major from Apopka, Fla.

COVID-19 timeline

The history of COVID-19 in Nebraska

n Nebraska alone, there have been over 2,000 deaths related to COVID-19 and a total of 270,000 cases. The COVID-19 pandemic lasted much longer than anyone expected. Many people thought that COVID-19 would not last this long nor directly affect them. At this moment, Lincoln is at a severe level of cases. We are currently in the orange on the case scale. The vaccine is available and as of May this year, more than 38% of Nebraska has been vaccinated. Recently, Lincoln’s mask mandate has been extended from the end of September to the end of October. The mask mandate has had several extensions under the Directed Health Measure. The first case of COVID-19 in Nebraska was recorded on March 6, 2020 after the CDC had found cases in the United States in January. After preparing for COVID-19’s impact, Nebraska closed schools in the same county where the first positive case was found

11 on March 9. Not long after, other facilities closed down. From March 27 to March 30, the first four people died due to COVID-19 in Nebraska. December 10 marked the most people to die in Nebraska in one day, reaching 47 COVID-19 deaths. After Lincoln received the vaccine, our local government laid out a plan to vaccinate our populace, starting with the most vital workers like nurses, first responders and doctors. Next they vaccinated the elderly due to the higher risk the elderly and those with weakened immune systems have. Finally, the vaccine was released to the public. COVID-19 has changed a lot. It has done much damage, taken lives and ruined plans. The good news is that much has come from the season in the form of new hobbies and deeper connections between people. COVID-19 may still be constraining, but humanity has a tendency to find a way through.

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

UNION NEWS THURS. 10.14.21 uGather @ 10:35 a.m., CVC Bouldering Cave Event @ 6:00 p.m., Bouldering Cave FRI. 10.15.21 Fall Break Family Worship @ 7:30 p.m., CVC SUN. 10.17.21 Movie Night @ 6:00 p.m., Student Center TUES. 10.19.21 Warrior volleyball vs Peru State JV @ 6:00 p.m., Thunderdome

The Clocktower instagram: @uc.clocktower

UNION COLLEGE

3 5

1 7

7 8 3 2 2

3 5 6

4 5 9 7

1 6

4 9

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 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.