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The Clocktower

Acrofest 2022 wrapped up

A long awaited return

The brisk, chilly fall wind gave a classic Nebraska welcome to the buses filled with students from universities, colleges, and academies from all over the country. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, Acrofest finally made its long-awaited return, this time hosted by your friendly neighborhood college.

Those familiar with Acrofest were excited as if the Olympics came to Union College! From Thursday, November 10 to Saturday, November 12, gymnasts from around the country came together at the Speedway Sports Complex for intensives and classes, primarily focused on acro-gymnastics, culminating in a spectacular final performance on Saturday night. Ticket sales for the event soared in anticipation!

“I feel excited and ready to mingle,” said freshman Andrews University student Matthew upon arrival. So is Aby from Thunderbird Adventist Academy. “This

is my first Acrofest,” she said. “I don’t really know what to expect, but I know we got this!”

Outsiders weren’t the only ones excited about the event. Students and faculty from Union College quickly grabbed their free tickets to the grand finale, eager for a chance to watch the home team show off and interact with others. Bekah Fingerson agrees.

“I like Acrofest because it builds community,

it’s nice to connect with other colleges as well!” said Fingerson, showing off her ticket to the show.

However, not everyone shared in the excitement. With the influx of visitors, many Union students had to deal with a few more roommates than usual. “Chaotic!” said nursing student

“1,090 days have passed since the last Acrofest in 2019 and many people were excited for the annual event to happen again.”

and

Fortune Ogulere is a freshman English major from Mbaise, Nigeria.

Rebeka Nishimwe, describing the disruption caused by the wave of new occupants in her dorm. Yet, despite the inconveniences, Union students graciously and patiently welcomed and shared their space with the guests. While no doubt a stressful and busy weekend, the return of Acrofest was a long-awaited sign of a return to normalcy for gymnastic teams after COVID. Students and staff alike mingled and enjoyed the return and reconnect of the gymnastics community at no doubt one of their biggest and most loved events of the year. UC Gymnaires

With the conclusion of Acrofest, things are winding down slowly. The festival ended with a grand finale on Saturday, Nov. 12 which went on from 7 p.m. past 9. During the finale, schools were able to perform the results of their hard work for the audience of students, parents and faculty. The show started with a light acrobatic show by Madison Academy which received a massive hand applause. It included performances from Southern Adventist Academy and University, Andrews University, Sunnydale Academy and more. The grand finale was Union College performing a spectacular acro gymnastic and dance routine, which

©Shelby Jongema

It was fun while it lasted

prompted many other school participants and viewers to join the performers onstage.

Many people had positive opinions about the Acrofest event. Coach Eric Pardo from Collegedale Academy said, “It’s an awesome experience for the kids to be here and learn from all the clinicians. It’s awesome how Union College was able to host this year’s Acrofest; we are very excited to come here, even though we drove from Tennessee. We are having a great time and appreciate this opportunity to learn from people who know what they are doing and expand our skills. Last year’s Acrofest was postponed, so we didn’t have one, and then it was virtual, but this year is better as the kids get to have a more direct … experience.”

1,090 days have passed since the last Acrofest in 2019 and many people were excited for the annual event to happen again.

“[This year’s Acrofest] is fantastic,” Pardo continued. “It’s very well organized and Coach Rick Schwarz has done a great job of getting the clinicians in here, getting through the rotations and giving valuable skills to these kids.”

Pardo also spoke about the well-being of some of the teams and described how each school has their own program and how this affects the performance of each school’s team. This could be seen during the finale as each school performed at a different skill level.

Next year, Acrofest 2023 will be held at Andrews University.

Study tours leaving the U.S. in spring 2023

Go learn outside the classroom

Have you ever wanted to study your British literature class in the libraries of London instead of in your dorm room? Perhaps you have fantasized about spending time snorkeling in Central America during class. Or for our campus lovebirds, maybe you would love to take your special other out to an English coffee shop on your days off from classes instead of the Mill. Such daydreams are not impossible. Two international study tours leave the plains of Nebraska this spring after classes are let out for incredible adventures overseas. These tours will be led by professors including Seth Pierce, Lori Peckham, Bruce Forbes and Benjamin Tyner.

The U.K. tour is religion and history focused with an additional option to travel to Scotland. Participants will earn six credits in religion and history, which can apply to their general education requirements, and visit iconic places like Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Bodleian Library, Oxford and more.While the U.K. trip is very historical in visiting libraries and castles, students opting for the Central American tour have the chance to be more active and adventurous with backpacking, cliff jumping and more. This tour has an exciting itinerary including traveling to Monte Verde, a national park where they will zipline through the “cloud forest.”

Robert Tengker is sophomore nursing major from Redlands, Calif.

The group will explore the jungle, snorkel in Panama, go rafting and caving and more. Students will be able to take six credits worth of courses in photography, literature and science, also fulfilling general education requirements.

Lori Peckham, a communication professor, is excited for the opportunities these trips will bring students. “We’re going to have some real adventures,” she said. “I am looking forward to traveling with students and looking at how they see the world differently as a result of being in a new place. We will do travel journals, and that’s the focus of travel literature, as so many people wrote about going to other places … the British would go to India, or Africa or Egypt…. When we get outside of our normal environment, [where] everything looks familiar, … our eyes are opened and we get more creative.”

If you are interested in traveling internationally in these study tours, be sure to contact the respective departments facilitating them soon. Even if they are already filled, like the U.K. tour, there is always a chance that you may be able to squeeze in if someone backs out. Regardless of which tour you join, there is learning, experiences and more waiting across the seas.

Dustin Sauder explains the purpose behind Campus Safety emails

An interview with the Campus Safety Director on K-9 training and active shooter information

Students across campus recently received emails from Campus Safety Director Dustin Sauder regarding two events: K-9 training and active shooter information. While some students may have been alarmed about some of this, I reached out to Sauder for more information to help better inform the students on the purpose of those emails.

ON THE RADAR

THURS. 11/17/22

CPR Skills Session | IRR Classroom #223 12:30 p.m.

Women’s and Men’s Basketball vs. Ozark Thunderdome, 4 p.m.

FRI. 11/18/22

Have a great Thanksgiving Break!

SAT. 11/19/22

Metz is a sophomore theology major from Lincon, Neb.

The Well Young Adult Sabbath School | College View Church, 9:45 a.m.

DATES

OF INTEREST:

Classes resume Nov. 28.

The Clocktower will resume publication on Dec. 7.

White water rafting ©Lori Peckham

Charles

The K-9 training is something the Lincoln Police Department has done at Union for many years. Sauder said, “Most of the K-9s that visit our campus are trained to detect drugs. The training on campus is a great opportunity to give the K-9s and their handlers practice.” He also noted that the K-9s have always been respectful of students in classes and not disrupting them.

Sauder also sent out an email regarding general active shooter information. This email was primarily aimed at detailing the three steps of what to do if you’re in an active shooter situation: run, hide and fight. Sauder revealed that the email was in response to the abnormally high presence of these events appearing in the media recently, and it’s something that he plans on sending out consistently as a reminder to students.

“I think it’s important to remind students to report things that make them feel uncomfortable,” said Sauder. “Whether it is a person’s actions that make them uncomfortable or an event that happened, it needs to be reported for action to be taken to resolve it. The word “reported” can sound intimidating and can cause someone to decide not to mention something because they don’t think it is that big of a deal. If it makes someone uncomfortable it is worth having a conversation about with someone they trust. If anyone needs a place to go or a person to speak with about anything at all,

Campus Safety is always willing to help.”

Campus Safety has a 24/7 service line available at (402) 486-2911.

Sneaker superiority

Which shoe brand is the best for you?

Shoes are a crucial part of any outfit. They can make or break your entire look. The shoes you choose say a lot about your personality and taste. If you’ve ever attended a school where you were required to wear a uniform, shoes were often the only way to express yourself. Choosing what type of shoes to wear often boils down to the brand. Are you looking to prioritize comfort or style, or would you rather look for a brand offering a bit of both?

Arguably the most recognizable shoe brand is Nike. They’re often seen as must-have shoes. In my experience, Nike is always an excellent choice for style. You simply can’t go wrong with a pair of Jordans or Air Forces. However, they aren’t the best for comfort, especially when you first buy them. For the first several times you wear them, they can be incredibly difficult to walk in without creasing the leather. Now creasing is normal, but you should let it happen naturally. However, after a while, you’ll get used to wearing them, and it’ll be like wearing any other shoes.

Police dog ©Unsplash

Andrew Schwartz is a senior business administration major from Lincoln, Neb.

Another stylish brand seen everywhere is Vans. Personally, this is one of my favorites. I skateboard, so my go-to’s are shoes made for skateboarding. As far as style is concerned, these are phenomenal. There are so many different colors and options to choose from. High tops are great if you dress more masculine, and low tops if you dress more feminine, but either style can look great with whatever you choose to wear. As far as comfort is concerned, they feel terrible when you first start to wear them. The majority of Vans are made of leather on the inside, so blistering is common. However, as with any other shoe, your feet will adjust over time, and the blistering will stop.

Now, if you’re looking for comfortable shoes, Converse is the way to go. They are easiest to walk in, and they break in the quickest. They are known for their high tops, but low tops are also a great option. Converse’s platforms are very popular as well, so if you’re in the market for some good platforms, then Converse is a very stylish option. I’ve also noticed with wornout Converse, you don’t necessarily have to throw them out. Worn-out Converse make great work shoes. If you don’t want to risk messing up your newer, nicer shoes, then wear the worn-out Converse. However, that is the con in Converse. They wear out faster than other shoes.

Every brand has its pros and cons, so you have several options to consider. Ask yourself, “Which brand suits my feet and my style best?” You’ll do great at finding which is best for you.

Evan Majors is a sophomore English major from Lincoln, Neb.

Who’s joining in?

Beard or clean shaven

Amovement that started a mere 19 years ago has become a global phenomenon: No-Shave November.

There are many issues that grow with the decision not to shave. First, you have those who think they can actually grow something on their face. Then, there are those that have something there but continue to let it grow without trimming it. Regardless, you’ve got to keep it razorsharp. Keep those lines sharp, whether it is around your chin, jaw, cheek, or lips! A slight fade on the cheek and the neck and a clean-cut chin and lips are also acceptable. What is not acceptable is a constant neck beard, overgrowth on the lips for mustaches, and undefined cheek lines on beards.

Now, granted, that is just the trimming, which is allowed during No-shave November. There is a clear difference between shaving and trimming. Shaving is cutting hair down to the skin, also known as

Converse ©Joseph Lee

a clean shave. On the other hand, trimming is the shortening of hair to make it conform to a specific length. Whether cutting it with scissors or buzzing it with a razor, it is all up to the “beard”-holder.

Within the realms of trimming and shaving, there will always be exceptions. First, of course, are those that aren’t educated in the process of homemade things; additionally, those in the process transitioning from one style to another. That is simply a stage we need to respect and return to when the process of homemade products is complete. The absolute exceptions are those that do competitions. They deserve the utmost respect because they know the ins and outs of all self-grown features. They have oils, brushes, combs, shampoos, razors, and trimmers; the list keeps going. I can’t express the respect I have for those who have the patience to grow a beard.

Union has its own variety of facial hair wearers, including the legendary Andrew Saunders of the IRR program. His beard is so iconic that it draws attention to itself — not only the length (as I said, patience) but also his bright red hair just makes it pop. That nice shimmer doesn’t come naturally. It comes with love, care, respect, and of course, a whole lot of hair.

Will you stand up to the challenge and not shave for a month? Or maybe challenge someone that you know to do it instead. Either way, eventually, it will grow on you!

Gabriel Sanders is a sophomore English major from Apopka, Fla.

Nebraska election results

Governors, minimum wage, and more

The midterm election was held on Tuesday, November 8. Republicans won all three congressional districts and the office of Governor. GOP candidate Jim Pillen won the gubernatorial election with 59.9% of the vote, beating his Democratic opponent state senator Carol Blood. He will take office on January 5, 2023.

Republican Rep. Don Bacon won reelection for the 2nd congressional district against his Democratic challenger, State Sen. Tony Vargas. After gaining 51.9% of the vote, Bacon will be serving his fourth term in Congress.

Republicans won the other two congressional districts, 1 and 3, with incumbents Mike Flood and Adrian Smith retaining office. Republicans also dominated in other races with Republican Mike Hilgers elected to serve as Attorney General, beating his opponent Larry Bolinger running with the Legal Marijuana Now party. Mike Foley was elected as Nebraska Auditor against L. Leroy Lopez,

Andrew Saunders ©Joseph Lee

also running with the Legal Marijuana Now party. Republican incumbent John Murante held his office of Treasurer against Libertarian Katrina Tomsen and Secretary of State Bob Evnen ran for re-election unopposed and maintained his office.

The state voted to pass two initiatives and an amendment. Initiative No. 432, requires that voters must present valid photo identification in order to vote and passed with 66% of the vote. Initiative No. 433 will raise Nebraska’s minimum wage and passed with 58% of the vote. The initiative will raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2026 by yearly $1.50 increments and will go into effect on January 1, 2023. Nebraska Amendment 1, the Authorize Local Governments to Develop Commercial Air Travel Service Amendment, passed with 79% of the vote. It amended the state constitution to authorize cities and counties that have an airport to spend taxpayer revenue on developing commercial air travel.

Twenty-four of 49 seats in the Nebraska State Senate were up for election. Nebraska has a unicameral legislature, meaning there is only one chamber, unlike most states that have a House of Representative and Senate mirroring the federal system. Formally, the Nebraska Unicameral is nonpartisan, but most members affiliate with either the Democratic or Republican party. Before

the election, Republicans held 32 seats and Democrats had 17. The political makeup of the Legislature is important because 33 votes are needed to overturn a filibuster, a technique used by Democrats to block an abortion trigger law in April.

As of Nov. 11, it is unclear if Democrats hold onto the 17 seats needed to block initiatives with filibusters. The race in Omaha’s District 20 between John Fredrickson, a Democrat and Stu Dornan, a Republican is still undeclared. Absentee ballots counted in Douglas county on Friday placed Fredrickson ahead of Dornan by 69 votes. There are still 204 provisional ballots to be counted, but these typically favor Democrats. The race in Lincoln’s District 26 between Democrat George Dungan and Republican Russ Barger also remains too close to call. Dungan currently holds a small lead of 61 votes.

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

The

of blue light glasses

Whether we like it or not, it is impossible to escape electronic screens in the modern age. Between communicating online, school work, lectures and general digital leisure – screen time hours can accumulate particularly quickly. Unfortunately, many complaints arise from excessive digital use.

A must-have product or gimmick?

dubious claims

Voting ©Reef Peckham

Everything from headaches, eyestrain and insomnia have commonly been attributed to exposure to blue light, a sort of wavelength that electronic screens can emit. To combat these symptoms, lenses that filter out this sort of light were created. Here enter blue light glasses. With lofty marketing claims and mixed scientific evidence, it begs the question of whether or not these products deserve the investment of consumers.

to create convincing marketing campaigns. The observed damage usually occurs at 3 microwatts or greater, while screens rarely emit more than 1 microwatt.

There is no doubt that blue light can negatively impact sleep and sources like Harvard Health Publishing and many others substantiate this conclusion. Therefore, avoiding electronics a couple of hours before bed or wearing blue light blocking glasses in the evening could potentially help some insomniacs. Yet it is much harder to find a causative relationship between artificial blue light and issues like eyestrain, headaches or eye damage.

A recent trial published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology concluded that blue-blocking lenses did not impact symptoms of eyestrain with computer use. Additionally, there is no substantial evidence that these glasses can protect from macular degeneration, which is damage to the retina that is a common cause of vision loss. The American Macular Degeneration Foundation states that research on blue light emitted from electronic devices is inconclusive and contradictory. Studies have verified that blue light can cause damage at high intensities, but these results are taken out of context and extrapolated

None of this is to say that blue light cannot be harmful to the average person. The sun also emits blue light, but this type is different from the light emitted by electronics and is directly linked to being a risk factor for macular degeneration and other ocular diseases like cataracts. The AMDF recommends wearing UV 400 blocking eyewear as a protective measure against sunlight frequently, even if it is overcast. While there is nothing wrong with wearing blue light blocking eyewear and some might even find it beneficial for improving sleep, it may not be worth the cost for the majority of people. It may be wiser to invest in UV protected sunglasses and simply limit electronic use in the evening.

Nicole Hardt is a sophomore biomedical science major from Apopka, Fla.

©Reef Peckham

“A recent trial published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology concluded that blueblocking lenses did not impact symptoms of eyestrain with computer use.”

Prof. Peckham’s glasses

Holiday events this season

Zoo lights and more!

The count down begins for Thanksgiving break. We all deserve it and congratulations for almost being done with your fall semester! That’s a huge accomplishment and I’m very proud of you.

Here are a few fun events to enjoy with friends and family this season. If you are looking for some festive Christmas themed events near you, the Lincoln Children’s Zoo “Zoo Lights” is coming around the corner. The Zoo is transformed into the largest light display in the Midwest. Some things that will be displayed are a 40 ft Christmas tree, over 30 lit animal silhouettes, train rides, 60 ft light tunnel and so much more fun. The Zoo lights will start November 25th through December 30th from 5:309:00pm and they are closed on Christmas and Christmas Eve. Tickets will not be available at the gate during the event if it is sold out, so the zoo highly recommends that you purchase your tickets in advance.

Another fun event that’s coming up is on November 23rd. The Shadow Lake Towne Center is holding their annual tree lighting and holiday parade in the center of the mall from 6pm through 7pm. This year they are brining a new 35 foot LED lit tree with over 30,000 lights. You definitely do not want to miss this! Mark your calendars everyone for these amazing events that are to come.

Ashira Campbell is a sophomore communication major from Denver, Colo.

Lincoln Park Zoo

©Phil Parcellano

The opinions expressed are the opinions of the writers and are not to be construed as the opinions of the editors, Student Association, Union College or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.