Baking Up a Festive Season by Danica

UNION COLLEGE

ISSUE 92.10 | 12/06/2017

Unlike your grades, they are meant to go downhill fast | PC: breckenridge.com

'TIS THE SKI-SON

YOU HEARD IT HERE LAST A

s I sat in my room pondering what I would write about for a Christmasthemed article, I glanced up at my desk. The little whiteboard that I use for various reminders currently has one of my absolute favorite messages written on it. “Only 8 days until ski season.” You know that cliche people use that compares someone who’s excited to a kid waking up on Christmas morning? That’s definitely how I feel looking up at that whiteboard. There’s no better way to spend a day than on a ski slope, free from rules and regulations and the hassles of life. There isn’t a more dynamic or fun way to spend your time. It’s a blast with friends and family because you get to spend time talking on every chairlift and you get to either learn or help someone else get better on every run.

It’s also a great sport to take part in by yourself because you get the chance to meet new people and have free roam of the mountain to hone your skills (though I would not recommend taking on difficult terrain without being at least visible to others). Skiing can be enjoyed in the spring sun in a t-shirt and jeans or in the negative temperatures of mid-winter while layered with every piece of clothing you own. And whether you’re a first timer, experienced, young, old, athletic, out of shape, blind or even paraplegic, there are people and places that will help you learn how to ski. There seems to be a stigma around skiing that it’s only for the rich. And, with ticket prices upwards of $100 at the ticket window, skiing certainly seems out of reach to anyone with a tight budget (read: college students). Fortunately, there are ways to ski for a lot less than the big resorts would probably want you to pay. [ continued on page 2 ]

[ W H AT ' S I N S I DE] NEW STORE | page 07 |

FA N TA S T ICA L I L LU S T R AT ION S | page 10 |

CHRISTMAS FIRE | page 13 |

HUMANS

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Gabriel Flechas Assistant Editor James Clague Copy Editor Jonathan Deemer Social Media Editor Chloe Blackburn Layout Editors Maegan Luckiesh Katie Buxton Photographers Esther Pervis (lead) Kayla Potts Sally Becker

NEWS

News Editor Danica Eylenstein Campus News Kayla Miller Local News Caroline Guchu World News Jesse Shoghi

HUMANS

Humans Editor Ria Carriger Memento Artem Cameron Cizek Collegiate Culture Amanda McCarter People & Travel Melissa Ratter HOUC Mike Ayala Freelance Bry Galloway

OPINION

Opinion Editor Maxwell Bromme Sports Opinion Tyler Dean Religious Opinion Kasondra Reel Global Opinion Wesley Rodriguez-Diep

SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook /ClocktowerASB Snapchat @asbunioncollege Read Online clocktower.ucollege.edu Read the Print issuu.com/clocktowerASB

SKIING First, I would advise you to never purchase anything on the mountain. You can purchase lift tickets from a wide variety of sources (such as King Soopers in Colorado or on Liftopia. com) for huge discounts. Rental skis at small, in-town shops cost a fraction of what slopeside rentals cost. And finally, pack your own lunch (trust me, you’ll drop at least $10 if you don’t).

[ continued from page 1 ]

HOUC HU M A NS OF U N ION COL L EGE

Second, the more you ski, the more you can save. Every resort has its own version of a season pass and some offer multi-day packages.

“ You'll be dreaming

of snow before long.

“

These will save you money in the long run and allow you to enjoy shorter ski days without feeling like you’ve thrown away your money. Additionally, discounts are available for those who rent skis for consecutive days or even for the whole season. Third, always find a way to carpool. It saves you money, allows you to hang out with your friends for longer and removes the hassle of meeting up. If you’re going alone, there are ridesharing apps and certain mountains offer some sort of van service. So, if you get the chance to ski this holiday season or any wintry season for that matter, I would strongly encourage you to give it a try (or even snowboarding, I won’t judge). You’ll have a blast, see some incredible views and even burn some calories along the way. I’d be willing to bet you’ll be dreaming of snow before long. Tyler Dean is a junior studying business administration.

HOUC is compiled by Mike Ayala.

o me, Christmas is one of my "T favorite holidays because of my family and the traditions that we have. Each Christmas, my cousins and I get together and raise money so that we can all pick out our gifts through a world vision catalog instead of exchanging gifts the traditional way. Another tradition when I’m with my family is that when someone gets a fire engine ornament in their stocking, it means that it’s their turn to share a memory they have of my father who passed away when I was six years old. My mother also loves Christmas, as we put up our tree the day after Thanksgiving. So, to me, Christmas traditions are dear to my heart. I mean there’s nothing like seeing my youngest siblings open presents with a facial expression of pure joy and wonder. In addition to traditions and awesome gifts, the church service during Christmas is also special to me because It reminds me that the entire reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus and his willingness to come to earth and sacrifice his life for us. To me, that is the real reason for the season. Destaney Bohlender is a sophomore studying pre-nursing.

EDITORIAL

IT'S TIME FOR CHRISTMAS MUSIC W

e’ve made it guys. Through sleepless nights, early mornings, skipped meals, and a never-ending pile of responsibilities our semester is finally almost complete. That means it's time for the holidays! For me, the holidays begin when I can first see my breath outside. It feels like a sign given to me by the universe that it's time to begin listening to Christmas music and getting in the festive mood. I see nothing wrong with this event even taking place on a brisk August morning. A sign is a sign! Many people furiously disagree with this belief. I have many friends who believe you shouldn't even consider listening to Christmas music

until the week after Thanksgiving. In their mind's I'm some kind of heretic. I’m commonly asked "how can you listen to Christmas music when not all of the holidays in between have passed? It's an abomination!" To this, I simply respond, why should the joys of the Christmas be limited to such a short time span? There are 52 weeks in a year and people want to limit the joy of Christmas music to only 5 of them. In my mind, the childhood nostalgia brought by the soothing harmonies of Christmas music is something we should be able to savor for more than just a couple times during the year. Additionally, I see Christmas and Thanksgiving as one big holiday. One must push aside the consumerism that corporations have thrust on the season and instead, focus on the

spirit of generosity and thankfulness the holidays were created for. These themes go hand in hand and thus should be celebrated as one unified time of joy and happiness. If they’re one holiday, then listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving is wholly appropriate. This season, pull your friends and loved ones close, tell them how thankful you are for them, and share the joy of those nostalgic Christmas carols and tunes. From our team at The Clocktower to you, Have a Very Merry Christmas.

Gabriel Flechas is a junior studying business & engineering.

CHANGING CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS B

y a show of hands, who's exhausted? Luckily for all of you who are with me on that, Christmas break is coming.

You know, I didn’t always associate Christmas with sleeping in and catching up on some much-needed free time. It used to be that lil’ James would get up right at the stroke of 4:30 in the morning and wait anxiously for his parents to wake up. These days, that 4:30 is pm. Forget about waiting to open presents, the last time the Christmas tree was really, truly full underneath was probably when I was still in the single digits. These days it is far easier to ask for gas money, gift cards, or a deposit into my account (saving the excessive

effort involved in depositing cash, or activating an Amazon gift card online) instead of explaining why I have a spreadsheet comparing the different types of Gore-Tex and why, “yes, you DO need to reference it before buying me a new coat.”

forward to. I can finally appreciate getting socks for Christmas, I sleep as late as, or later than, my parents (so no more anxiety-filled hours leading up to opening presents), and not having deadlines to manage for nearly a month.

What’s more, beyond simply losing what Christmas used to mean to me, growing older has meant more rigorous responsibilities.

Perhaps you're enjoying some new traditions (or dreading new obligations) that were picked up after coming to Union, or maybe you pine for the days of yore when presents were physical items and Santa was a real person. Either way, tell us about your Christmas at cltower@gmail. com and we might publish your story.

Anybody else planning to spend four days in a car this break? Oh boy, you know that part's my favorite. . . Still, some things haven’t changed since the good-old-days of Christmas past. I still look forward to spending time with my friends, the snowcapped Colorado mountains, seeing family that rarely visits and eating (copious amounts of) great food. Plus, there are some new things to look

This is your friendly neighborhood assistant editor, wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

James Clague is a Junior studying computer science.

EDITORIAL

BAKING UP A FESTIVE SEASON A

nother semester is finally drawing to a close and I don’t know about you, but I’ve been mentally checked out for some time now. At this point, there’s no sweeter word to me than “home”. Christmas break is a chance to recharge, replenish and redirect my focus, for at least a short while.

My family is big on baking. I’ve been rolling cookie dough and reading recipes for as long as I can remember. I started as a taste tester, of course, and gradually gained more and more responsibility over the years. At this point, my mom expects fresh baked goods in the house whenever I’m home, and I don’t protest. I’ve taken over our annual baking traditions and, honestly, it’s become cathartic.

When I think about Christmas, I think of family and friends—I think of decorating for the holidays and driving around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. I look forward to seeing my younger siblings’ faces light up when they open their gifts. But my favorite holiday tradition is baking.

Flour, sprinkles and colored icing are sprawled over the kitchen table. The countertops are piled high with cooling racks of dozens and dozens

Icing sugar cookies and decorating gingerbread men is my creative outlet. There’s nowhere else I’d rather spend my holiday than in the kitchen perfecting new recipes.

of holiday cookies. I bake for several continuous days. For some, this probably doesn’t sound relaxing, let alone enjoyable, but for me, it’s exactly what I need to come back refreshed and ready for another semester. As we close out the year, I encourage you to take some time to wind down post-finals week. Make time to do the things you enjoy this break. Whether it's baking cookies or taking naps, recharge for next semester and come back ready to tackle a new year.

Danica Elyenstein is a senior studying communication.

SKETCHY CHRISTMAS LYRICS C

hristmas music is one of my favorite parts of the season because it has such power to set the proper holiday mood. When I hear the classic tunes, my mind wanders to memories of last minute holiday shopping, the smell of fresh pines needles, red-and-green-covered everything and eating scrumptious food with my family. When I was younger, I took lyrics for granted and let the notes carry me into the Christmas spirit. As time has passed, however, I’ve seen the light: there can be some seriously dark lyrics hiding among the bouncy, innocent tunes! Case in point: “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

Humor me for a second, and imagine you are about to listen to this song for the first time. The first words you hear are, “You better watch out, you better not cry.” At this point, you’re confused because the music is pretty lightweight, but the words want to make you believe you’re in a horror film or at least a suspense movie! Your confusion turns to shock when you hear, “I’m telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town.” What!? This song is about Santa? You thought Santa was supposed to make you smile and bring you gifts, not scare you into submission! You shrug because it’s really not that big of a deal. I mean come on, it’s a song! But soon after, intertwined with the melodious notes, you hear, “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake.” Now

this is just creepy. Santa’s been watching you the whole year to make sure you’ve been “good” enough for his visit. And not only is this an invasion of privacy, it’s gifts by works! Ridiculous! The song ends, and of course, you know none of it’s real, but you can’t believe that the radio stations are polluting minds with this questionable image of Santa. Even “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” is better than this! Luckily, you’re not to the point of such hopeless fanaticism that you’d write an article about it, and you tolerate the song for the reaminder of the season. I’d much rather dream of a white Christmas.

Maxwell Bromme is a sophomore studying business administration & international relations.

NEWS

Samaritan’s Purse (founded 1970) has been running Operation Christmas Child for 24 years | PC: Kayla Potts

BOXING UP THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT A

s the holidays approach, many students look forward to the glimmering lights, the falling snow and the presents wrapped under the tree. For some students, thoughts of Christmas began before December even started. On November 16, Union College Campus Ministries collected their final donations for Operation Christmas Child, a project run by non-profit organization Samaritan’s Purse. Sally Becker, a sophomore social work major and organizer of the project on Union’s campus, describes the operation: “What they [volunteers] do with Operation Christmas Child is put together boxes with toys, hygiene items, clothing that are distributed to children in war-torn or povertystricken countries. Along with the boxes, as long as the country allows it, Samaritan’s Purse give the kids Bible studies.” Last year, Union collected 160 boxes and $70 in monetary

donations were also given. Sally explains, “The $70 we got goes to the cost of sending the boxes, that way Samaritan’s Purse doesn’t have to pay that for themselves.” Each box costs approximately $9 to ship so any contribution is helpful. Sally’s goal was to hopefully collect even more, but she describes the essence of the entire operation by stating, “My goal is more than 160, but each box goes to a kid so even if we got only five boxes that’d be great.” After dropping off all of the donations on November 17, the final count of boxes from Union was 166. Pastor Rich Carlson, Union’s chaplain, describes the impact OCC has: “I experienced the distribution of OCC boxes and to see the joy on those children's faces reinforced for me the value of supporting such a worthy project. Union students always rise to the opportunities given them to make a difference in someone else's life. I was so blessed to watch the boxes piling up outside my office and to see the joy our students experienced as they gave to someone in need.”

If you missed the deadline to donate or would like to contribute in other ways, there are still opportunities. Becker explains, “You can make a donation anytime to Samaritan’s Purse and...Operation Christmas Child. A monetary donation would help with the fees of getting into countries and the cost of sending the boxes. The ultimate way to help though is through prayer. I think we don’t value giving as much as we should and praying is the most you can do. Pray for the kids who get a Bible study. It’s very simple, but it’s straight to the point and shows who God is, and then they can take the Bible studies home. So, it’s not just the kids, it’s the families and communities that are receiving [the studies] as well. Praying for that process is so vital.” For more information on how to contribute, visit www. samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/ operation-christmas-child/

Kayla Miller is a junior studying nursing.

NEWS

A SEASON OF GIFT GIVING C

hristmas is just around the corner! While it’s nice to have a break after a long and stressful year, Christmas itself has some stressors of its own. One that’s undoubtedly on many minds is what gifts to give friends and family (or yourself). Every year, thousands of new potential gifts are released on the market, but figuring out which are actually worthy of being wrapped under the Christmas tree can be tough. Here are some recently released products that could make great gifts. First on the list is one that I personally use and love, and as one of the most inexpensive on this list–I cannot recommend it enough. For those searching for a way to slim down your wallet or something new and stylish that won’t break the bank, Vault Skin's new Chelsea wallets make an affordable and useful gift. For those who primarily use cards to make payments, the wallet holds 8 cards and includes a clever pull-toreveal system that makes the cards easy to access. In case you do end up with some spare cash, there is a paper bills portion that lets you store cash while maintaining the slim shape. The Chelsea wallet is available in a variety of colors for $25 on Amazon. Perhaps you know of a family member with a tendency to drop test their phone—face down. Maybe you’re thinking of getting them a new case for their shiny new iPhone X. However, you don’t want to give them just any plastic phone case that could be picked up at the local 7-11. Something more stylish is definitely required! Look no further than the beautiful and expertly-crafted cases from Carved. Made and based in Elkhart, Illinois, Carved cases will be sure to stand out. Since their designs

Keep the dank away during closed-windows-season with an essential oil diffuser | PC: Kayle Potts

all incorporate different types of wood and other natural elements into the back of the cases and include a rubber bumper, your phone will stay safe. While some can be on the pricier side, stylish options are available for less than $25 on their website, carved.com. Fitness trackers, although popular, have yet to slim down to a more “put it on and forget” size and weight. Fortunately, there’s something that packs all of the necessary fitness tracking technology into something much smaller and easier to wear: the Motiv Ring. With prices similar to other highend fitness trackers, the Motiv Ring packs a heart-rate monitor, motion and sleep tracking and notifications all into an inconspicuous grey ring. Don’t worry about getting it wet, since it’s also water resistant up to 165 feet. Currently compatible with iOS devices, but an Android version is in the works, the Motiv can be picked up for $199 from Motiv’s website, www.mymotiv.com. Finally, to keep warm through the winter months, how about a nice, steaming cup of hot coffee or apple

cider for the walk across campus or the commute to work. Unfortunately, keeping a hot drink hot in the frigid temperatures is difficult and mugs eventually fall victim to the cold. The intelligent Ember Ceramic mug from Ember keeps your mug at the temperature of your choosing for hours on end! Running on batteries, the mug can last for hours, and when it finally calls it quits, you can merely set it down on its coaster to charge it up for your next drink or refill. Ember is currently selling their $80 mug on their webpage, and has apps available for iOS and Android. To wrap it up (pun intended), hopefully some of these gift ideas have sparked your interest. However, slim wallets, phone cases, fitness trackers and thermoses probably won’t be the perfect gift for every person on your list this holiday season, so if you’re in need of some other great ideas, take a look at Amazon’s holiday gift guide. There’s always something out there for everyone!

Jesse Shoghi is a junior studying computing.

NEWS

NEW STORE FOR EASIER CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

he semester is coming to an end, which means the holidays are quickly approaching. Finding time to go shopping, let alone a place close and convenient, is difficult. But fear not! Home and Closet is a new vintage and consignment shop located right across the street on Prescott Avenue. The quaint and comfortable store opened its doors about a month and a half ago and the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Clinton Collins has owned Home and Closet for the past five years. Originally located on the corner of 33rd and B street, they moved to their current location on Prescott Ave. a few doors down from Adventist Book Center. “I love the College View area and all it has to offer,” said Collins. “There’s a wide variety of shops here as well as the college.” Collins was inspired to provide a source of quality, well-made furniture and unique clothing, which

led to the origin of Home and Closet. “Six different people can have the same piece of furniture from bigger stores,” says Collins. “Whereas from here, not many people can say that they all have the same thing.” Since Home and Closet offers a diverse range of original products including clothes, vinyl records, jewelry, furniture, candles and other home goods, there’s something for everyone. Home and Closet is also a consignment shop, meaning that a large majority of their clothes are bought second hand. “Home and Closet is the perfect store for college students who are looking to decorate their dorm, or add a personalized clothing to their style.” comments junior social work major Taylor Young. “The items are reasonably priced for anyone who’s trying to stay on a budget.” Since Home and Closet has different deals every day of the week, it’s a great and affordable place to go Christmas shopping for friends and family. To help you save some money,

every day of the week has something going on that’ll make shopping more affordable. Mondays through Fridays from 4 pm to 6 pm there’s a “happy hour” where all clothing is 15% off and every Sunday furniture and home goods are 10% off. “The location for the store is really convenient and their products are different too,” comments senior communication major Wendy Lawson. “I like the wide variety of vinyl records. This is a good store to get gifts for people that have different a variety of styles.” Home and Closet can be found on their Facebook page @ HomeandCloset, Instagram @ homeandclosetvintage, as well as their website homeandclosetvintage. com. When you’re done shopping for last minute gifts, don’t forget to stop by The Mill across the street for a warm drink and the rest of the little shops in the area to help cross off the rest of your list!

Caroline Guchu is a junior studying communication.

THE MERRY WRAP UP OF SENATE I

’m happy to tell you all the great things that Senate has done so far this school year.

First, all the districts are represented in the Senate. With the approval of last year's Senate, I added two new committees—the academic committee and the athletic committee. I’m delighted to inform you, if you haven’t heard already, that there will be a varsity soccer team next fall. We've also passed a bill on making sure that there will be indoor soccer in the gym once a week, year round. It’s something that

will automatically happen every year like late night basketball. We've also passed a bill for extended dinner hours with restaurant catering service. If you miss supper because of an intramural game or a lab, you can rely on that service. We’re hopeful that it will become a reality very soon. Prescott Hall is the only dorm that doesn’t have a TV room. This will change with another bill that we passed. Finally, a petition signed by all your senators will support the project of building a kitchen in Prescott Hall. Your senate will work on having the 49ers field have guaranteed weekly

hours to allow students to play sports such as football, soccer and softball outside of intramural season. As a sports fan, this is something I'd like to see happen. The Senate will also organize an open house next semester. I’m looking forward to being the chairman of the Senate next semester and to keep ensuring that we serve you the best we can. Merry Christmas!

Jean Christian Toure is a junior studying computing.

HUMANS

THE FANTASTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF KAY NIELSEN MEMENTO ARTEM “‘W ill you give me your youngest daughter? If you will, I’ll make you as rich as you are now poor,’ said the Bear.”

Sound like the beginning of a warm and cozy story to spend the holidays reading? Well, this excerpt is from one of the great fairy tale books of the 20th century—East of the Sun and West of the Moon.

Sound like a familiar concept? Well, this is a common theme used in movies and television today. For example, the Disney (oh, the irony) 2013 film Frozen casts Elsa as the misunderstood Snow Queen with enchanting and dark powers. This demonstrates how Nielsen was ahead of his time with his

This brilliant collection of 15 tales was compiled by the folklorists Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe during their travels across Norway. However, the book itself contains more than Scandinavian fairy tales. Rather, it also contains beautiful illustrations by the Danish illustrator Kay Nielsen.

In fact it’s what cased him, in 1941, to be let go from Disney before Fantasia was released. Noel Daniel, the editor of Taschen’s reprint of the book, states, “He was able to plumb the darker aspects of human imagination, with the way he used lines, created bodies that were both menacing and sweet.”

Each figure seems to hold a different symbolism of winter. The young woman, being the side of winter that is beauty and elegance, contrasting the bear which could be the side of strength and endurance. However, each need each other in a way or else the scene wouldn’t work. It’s scenes like this that shows Nielsen’s mastery of engaging the viewer. He, in all his illustrations, captures a menacingly elegant portrayal of reality. Such as the stark figure of a knight trudging through the snow or the gruesomely powerful personification of the North Wind. Each illustrated character provides an element of uneasiness, yet attractiveness that draws the viewer into the scene of the story.

Winter is a common theme found the stories of East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Nielsen, a Dane, was no stranger to the cold of winter, which empowered him to create a beautiful series of watercolor and pen-and-ink drawings. In these illustrations, he doesn’t sugarcoat the dark realities of winter. This raw and not so “happily-everafter” approach in these illustrations were not new to Nielsen. It’s what consumed his artistic career.

by him. I find myself drawn to the scene ‘She Held Tight to the White Bear’. There’s something about the desolate landscape of winter with the young girl on a journey atop the polar bear that’s almost hypnotic.

Interested in curling up this season and discovering the worlds Nielsen crafted within East of the Sun and West of the Moon? Or maybe gifting the book to a lover of fairytales? ‘She Held Tight to the White Bear’ | PC: East of the Sun and West of the Moon (1914)

illustrations and not even Disney was excluded from adopting themes he was pioneered. Nielsen’s diverse host of complicated and multifaceted figures allow for people to emotionally engage with them. It seems anyone could have the potential of having a favorite character or scene illustrated

Taschen, an art book publishing company, recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of the books publishment by reprinting it. In it you will be pulled into the stories through the high-quality prints of Nielsen’s illustrations coupled with the amazing tales of Scandinavian adventures. All that’s left is a roaring fire and a cup of hot cocoa. Cameron Cizek is a junior studying computing.

HUMANS

CAMPUS CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS “Every year as we set up the Christmas Tree we have Its A Wonderful Life playing in the background.” -Christianna Nesmith is from Georgia and is studying pre-nursing. “Not exactly a tradition, since our family doesn’t really have any, but Dad likes to threaten a 15% Dadtax on any candy we would get.” -Autumn Mott is from Massachusetts and is studying communications. “We try to make Christmas more about spending time together than gift giving. This year we are trying to take a trip together because my sister is getting married and I’m in college. We just want a lot of family bonding during the holidays. Oh, and we put the Christmas Tree up as soon as it snows.” -Nicholas Lawrence is from Ohio and is studying social science education. “I’m from Jamaica, and every Christmas Eve we have something called the Grand Market. You go out, buy stuff, eat out, and enjoy the Christmas lights and music in the streets with family and friends.” -Evie Lumsden is from Jamaica and is studying international relations. “The one thing that always stays the same is my sister and I always make sure we’re together. It is to the point of when I think of her, I think of Christmas. We watch all of the Harry Potter movies, we get decked out in all our Hogwarts House outfits and then yell at the TV in bad British accents.”

“Every Christmas my parents would buy my siblings and me a new pair of fuzzy pajamas wrapped in pretty paper to open on Christmas Eve. Then we’d change into our new pjs and watch a classic Christmas movie, eat popcorn balls, and drink hot cocoa.”

“My family always does Secret Santa because there’s so many of us; it’s just easier. We always try to guess or figure out who has us before the nighttime. During the holidays, we always watch: While You Were Sleeping and White Christmas."

-Maddie Temple is from North Dakota and is studying English.

-Nic Morrison is from Minnesota and is studying business administration and graphic design.

“My sister and I would sleep under the Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve with the lights on and wake up early to open stockings while waiting for everybody to wake up and open presents.”

“I didn’t celebrate Christmas growing up, so I’m going to steal my boyfriend’s. His family has a tradition of saving up ornaments for each child in the family and when that person gets married, they inherit all the ornaments that were saved up their whole lives.”

-Esteban Clendenon is from Idaho and is studying social work. “On New Years we would just have a super family day. We would spend all day with each other, watch movies, and then have a huge meal at night and invite some friends over.” -Roy Obregon is from Kansas and is studying business administration.

-Tiffany Sohm is from California and is studying elementary education. Issac Lindsay-Borja is from California and is studying nursing. “Food is big for my family! We make sure everyone is in charge of at least one dish! I love having everybody in the kitchen at the same time and sometimes having to fight for a spot on the stove, or a baking dish. It’s crazy chaos, but that’s when we seem to make the best memories!”

“Every year my family eats brunch at my parent’s house. We make a special smoothie we labeled our “orange drink” which we only drink on Christmas. We eat a special dried fruit casserole which takes two days to prepare. We then open presents and head over to my grandma’s house where we eat her famous green pepper jelly with cream cheese and sit around the fireplace singing songs.”

“We always make cinnamon rolls for breakfast because we always have Christmas-Breakfast instead of Christmas-Dinner.”

-Sara Allman is from Nebraska and is studying general studies.

-Natasha McWilliamsNasser is from California and is studying communications.

-Ricky Amimo is from Kenya and is studying in the physician’s assistant program.

-Gabrielle Nappi is from Mississippi and is studying English.

Campus Christmas Traditions compiled by Melissa Ratter, a senior studying language arts education.

HUMANS

A MERRY LINCOLN CHRISTMAS he holiday season can be one of the most enjoyable times of the year and each town has their own way of celebrating.

Lincoln is no exception, and offers many fun winter activities to help you get into the festive spirit. Here are just a few of the numerous popular activities that are perfect for a student budget. Railyard Ice Rink: If you’re looking for a more physically engaging activity during the cold weather, the Railyard Ice Rink may be right for you. Located in the Haymarket district, this seasonal outdoor ice rink is a Lincoln favorite. Admission is free and skate rentals are $9.00 for those aged 12 and up. The Public Market and other Railyard businesses also offer hot drinks, snacks and sit down meals near the ice rink. Hours for the Railyard Ice Rink can be found at www.canopyst.com/ railyard/ice-rink Neighborhood Lights: Sometimes, the simple things can be the best things. Jesse Tasche, a senior English language arts education major, recommends going from Sheridan Blvd to

Twinkle twinkle little train | PC: Kayla Potts

downtown Lincoln. “It’s amazing to just take a quiet evening and cruise the street,” Tasche said. The streets always have houses that are strung up with lights that create a very festive atmosphere. A relaxing drive or a walk through these neighborhoods are likely to get you into the Christmas spirit. Nativity Model: Another activity suggested by Jesse Tasche is visiting the Cristo Rey Parish on J and Randolph streets. Each year, a large and extremely detailed model of the nativity setup is constructed over the course of a week. At over 28 feet long, it displays the birth of Jesus and other scenes of His life.

“

This model of the nativity is likely something you'll never forget.

“

Admission is free, but donations are collected to help those in need in Kenya. Last years donations went towards the Hope and Faith Home for Special Children, an orphanage for children in Kenya who are abandoned and handicapped. This model of the nativity is likely something you will never forget. Starry Nights Christmas Tree Festival: Put on by Lincoln’s People’s City Mission, the Starry Nights Christmas Tree Festival features 26 unique, designerdecorated Christmas trees that can be bid on, as well as wreaths and homemade treats that can be purchased. Singers and dancers provide entertainment along with several “creation stations” where you can make ornaments

Merry Christmas! | PC: Kayla Potts

and gingerbread trees. Elizabeth Bearden, a senior secondary English education major, highly recommends checking this event out. “It was tons of fun,” Bearden said. “I’m going to go again this year.” This year, the event will take place during the last weekend of November and tickets are available at the door for $5.00 each. The times for each day can be found at www.pinnaclebankarena.com/ events/detail/starry-nightschristmas-tree-festival-4 A Christmas Carol: Nebraska Wesleyan University has a tradition of performing “A Christmas Carol” based on Charles Dickens’s novel of the same name each December. The classic Christmas tale that tells the story of the cold-hearted miser, Scrooge, as he’s visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. The production makes for a perfect evening filled with carols and good cheer. Tickets are $7.50 for students and seniors and $10.00 for adults. Dates and times can be found at www.nebrwesleyan.edu/ theatre-tickets/current-season/ christmas-carol

Amanda McCarter is a junior studying biomedical science.

HUMANS

ALUMNUS'S THOUGHTS ON SPIRITUAL GIFTS

couldn’t give.

hat did I just do?

The question ran over and over again in my mind, eyes searching my hands for an answer they

“What did I just do?” I repeated aloud, hoping my friend who just hopped up beside me might provide an acceptable excuse. “Yeah, I don’t know. I feel strange about it too,” she confessed. We cast a glance back toward the missions booth where we had, just moments before, signed our names on an application form to teach English in the Micronesian Islands. It was as if I had no control of my hand. It just…happened. And, like any Christian should do after a strange experience, I prayed about it. I asked God for a sign. If this is what He wanted me to do, He’d give me a sign. That sign came the next day. I loathe teaching with a passion. Effective teachers exercise wisdom, patience, leadership and discipline at a level I cannot begin to comprehend. Effective teachers also know how to adjust their messages to their audience. My one-week teaching experience in Sabah taught me that I lack the aforementioned skills. Through this experience, God taught me that effective teaching is a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12: 7-11), a spiritual gift not bestowed upon me. My bruised ego sought comfort in my spiritual gift of journalistic writing. That’s what I’d been called to do. Hence, the least likely thing I thought I’d do after graduation was teach. “I’m not an English major; I’m not even good at teaching!” frequented my prayers. “And I don’t know how to tell people about the

Bible. And me navigating around Asia on my own? God, you and I both know I don’t have the street smarts for that. There are better people out there. Why me?” God answered. Sign after sign was granted me. Long story made short, I submitting another application to work as a student ambassador at Hong Kong Adventist Academy. Despite missing numerous deadlines and unaffordable airfare, everything worked out, and on August 10, 2017, my feet touched island ground. But, these last six months have shown that God qualifies the unqualified (1 Corinthians 1: 18-31).

“

God put me here for a reason.

“

God’s people have a tendency of rejecting such divine calls. Some of our most renowned Biblical heroes have fallen into this mindset. Moses is a prime example. God heard Moses’ pleas and allowed him to work alongside his brother Aaron. Moses didn’t face his call alone. Of course, neither did Ellen White. During her first attempt at walking with God, Ellen would always shirk the responsibility of praying in public. God didn’t give up on her. Ellen offered all the same excuses as Moses. Encouragement from her cousin Hazen Foss and a dream of innocents’ blood on her clothes pushed her to accept the call, a call she answered with her soon-to-behusband James White.1 God doesn’t call people to do things on their own. He gives them a human partner. But,

more importantly, He equips us with His Holy Spirit. The reassurance of God’s Holy Spirit was all I had to cling to on my journey to Hong Kong. And, within 24 hours, God provided two additional student ambassadors who would later become my “family”. While my family has been beneficial, there are moments when I fall back into the pit of despair. One of them is when I’m selected to speak for morning and evening worship and to lead the prayer service. In these moments, it’s essential to remember that the body of Christ has many parts (1 Corinthians 12:12). I may not be the best public speaker or the most bubbly girl on campus, but God put me here for a reason, just as He guided each of you to where you are today. During a leadership retreat, a colleague kindly wrote to me, “Keep working for God. I see your dedication in a quiet but effective way.” Being a leader—a teacher—doesn’t mean I need charisma and public speaking abilities. Being a teacher can come through being a friend or being a positive influence.Being that resident assistant who will offer to pray with someone before a test. Being that roommate who will watch a movie with a friend after a hard day. Being a leader for God means making Christlike a cardinal trait, a trait so pervasive it influences every word, every action, every movement, every thought. Total and utter surrender. God qualifies the unqualified. You don’t have to be good at what you do. Just do it— prayerfully and happily—for Jesus. 1

Life Sketches, 17-53

Stefani Leeper is a student ambassador at Hong Kong Adventist College.

COACH'S CORNER

THANK YOU FOR BEING LATE! COACH'S CORNER o what might I say to help stressed college students squeeze just a little more efficiency out of their 24 hours as we hurdle to the end of another semester and start thinking about the next? I’ve spent much of the last 40 years analyzing how I can get the most out of every day. I have over 20 time management books in my library and files packed with articles. I have planners, calendars, reminders throughout the day, and when the end of the day comes, I'm still frustrated! I gotta get more done! I hear this same mantra from students as well.

“

Have I pushed Christ out of the center of my life?

“

But wait a minute, as I push for more productivity I hear a quiet voice in the background. Ok, Lord, what's that you're saying? From Luke 10:41, 42 comes Christ's gentle reminder to Martha, “but one thing is needful.” Rather than her lavish banquet she was preparing, a simple, quiet talk on heavenly things would’ve been more preferential. Okay Lord, that's nice, but I have three tests today, a research paper

due tomorrow, homework—plus I work in 10 minutes. Help! When God created us back in Eden, each was given 24 hours in a day. Equal treatment for all with no discrimination. No student has more minutes than another. Charles Shedd, in his book Time for all Things, suggests that truly effective time management doesn’t result from getting God to help us. Rather, our lives assume maximum worth when we “turn our wills over to Him and ask that we might be of assistance to His purposes.” Does all of our time belong to Him? Hmm . . . Does management of time for the Christian college student become management of God's time? When our schedule is maxed out, when studies pile up, when we come to the end of the day totally exhausted . . . how often do we stop to ask God if we're doing what He wants us to do? When the merrygo-round of college flings me off, I might ask “have I pushed Christ out of the center of my life?” So here is my one tidbit of wisdom from all this—settling the question of whether what you are doing is what God wants you to be doing could be the greatest single key to your management of your frantic college life. No wonder Union College places such importance to finding your calling—God's calling. So what's with the title of this article? No, I haven't forgotten . . . in the book Thank You for Being Late, Thomas Friedman offers a fresh insight in our crazy world. Being a journalist with multiple meetings each day with people,

“ I had fun

eavesdropping on the couple at the next table.

“

he often heard frantic people apologize to him for being late. He chose to handle their multitude of excuses with a smile and said—“no problem, thanks for being late!” People would look at him with wrinkled foreheads. “What did you say?” The author would say, “I had a few minutes for myself to just sit and think. I had fun eavesdropping on the couple at the next table, and people-watching in the lobby was outrageous!” He chose to use those few minutes for something positive, which he rarely found the time to do. So try it! The next time you make an appointment under the Clocktower, and the person arrives late, thank them. When was the last time you watched those crafty little red squirrels getting ready for winter? In our fast-paced lives, we must find time to enjoy the few moments of unscheduled time. The Teaching Learning Center is Union’s support center for your college success. Please stop in if or when you have a need.

Jonathan Shields is an academic coach in the Teaching Learning Center.

HUMANS

THE GREAT CHRISTMAS FIRE hristmas songs often have lines about warm gentle fires, metaphorically warming the listener with memories of cozy nostalgia.

Sounds perfect to someone listening in Nebraska who has to walk to classes when the wind outside is howling and blowing snow all around. However, this is not the case of the fires that have warmed Union throughout the years. If you read any of the written histories on Union College, inevitably there will be a chapter on the fires that have beset this campus in the last 126 years. The one in the most recent records started in Old South Hall (the building fondly sung of in ‘Slinga da Ink”) Old South Hall had been recently replaced with New South Hall (what we now know as Culver Hall/The Ortner Center etc.) which was built as close as possible to Old South Hall and the Old Administration Building. The new building was a men's dorm and was intended to be the new residence by the beginning of the 1953 Fall semester. However, it wasn’t finished on time, and they had to wait to move in mid-semester.

“Back to new South Hall once more” PC: The Heritage Room, John W. Fulk Collection

By December, student workers set to work on dismantling the old building. Electricity had been turned off and the college hoped to use it as a means to provide student labor for the winter, using money from salvaged lumber to pay student wages. With the arrival of Christmas vacation, the new dormitory was nearly empty with only a few students staying behind. A Christmas vespers had been planned for the students who remained. The night watch man (that’s an old school term for security guard) was in the course of doing his rounds for the evening and found nothing out of place. Shortly before the beginning of the Christmas vespers, the community of College View came to life as fire sirens rumbled through the streets. People went out to see what was happening and saw the Old South Hall roaring with fire. No one was immediately worried about New South Hall, for it was said to be “fully fireproof”. The students and neighboring community members turned out to watch Old South Hall burn as five fire engines arrived from Lincoln. However, the intense heat began to cause damage to the New South Hall. It caused windows closest to it to drop out of their frames, opening newly built rooms to the flames, devouring everything in their path. Firemen fought to contain the blaze and keep it from damaging more of the rooms. However, strong Nebraska wind caused great embers to float away from the blaze and towards the gymnasium and the houses in the southeast part of College View. After an hour, the fire was out or under control enough that cleanup could begin on New South Hall.

“

It was a sad place . . .to come back to after break.

“

Plywood was purchased from a lumberyard in the middle of the night to cover up windows on the first floor dining hall and kitchen to keep the plumbing from freezing. The kitchen was unharmed, but the furniture and ceiling were completely destroyed, and 25 dorm rooms had been severely damaged, 6 were burned completely. It was a sad place for the young men to come back to after break. The Home Missionary Department (now Personal Ministries) collected clothing, books, bedding and window treatments to replace what the young men had lost. When I first heard of the “Christmas Fire of ‘53”, I resonated with it. This Thanksgiving marked the 6th anniversary of my own home burning down while I was home on school break from academy. I can empathize with how some of these young men might have felt coming back to what, to them, felt like home, and seeing everything they owned destroyed. But they could appreciate what I appreciate most this time of year— that the people who we love were not in that blaze and instead warm our hearts around tamer fires for another Christmas season.

Bry Galloway is a junior studying history.

OPINION

HECTIC HOLIDAYS THE GLOBAL CITIZEN s the holiday season rolls around, everyone is excited to take a break from it all. Whether it's three weeks off from school with no responsibilities (praise God!) or just the few days around Christmas and New Years, many people look forward to spending time with family and friends. Here in America, we’re blessed to be an incredibly diverse nation in everything from ethnicity to religion. Americans from all around the world have their own celebrations and reasons behind them. The holidays are a perfect time to explore just how many different festivities are celebrated in this country. Christmas is by far the most celebrated holiday in the United States. The practice of giving gifts comes from the story of the wise men visiting the baby Jesus and giving Him gifts fit for a king. While it may be a religious holiday,

many non-believers still celebrate Christmas as a day of family, friends and gift-giving. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating one of the greatest miracles in the history of Judaism. The Jews were under the rule of the Syrian king Antiochus. He desecrated their temple and tried to force the Jews to worship the Greek gods. A small group of Jews called the Maccabees rebelled and, after three years, recaptured Jerusalem. The temple had been destroyed and so the Jews went about repairing it. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough oil unsoiled by the Syrians to last more than a day in the Menorah lamp, which is a symbol of God’s presence. But miraculously, the lamp burned for eight days while they prepared untainted oil. Hanukkah is celebrated today by lighting a candle every day for eight days. Kwanzaa is a celebration of African culture and heritage throughout the world. It was

“

The variety [of holidays] is beautiful.

“

founded in 1966 and is celebrated from December 26 to January 1. Each of the candles on the Kinara stand represents one of the Seven Principles by which African people are urged to live. Many of the decorations and colors have meanings, including family, unity, prosperity and kindness. There are many other nationalities that celebrate different holidays before and during our traditional holiday season. The variety is so beautiful. All these holidays encourage camaraderie, celebrate history and are great avenues to understanding people who have different beliefs. Growing up, many of us were only exposed to Christmas. When I was little, I really believed that everyone celebrates Christmas! But now that I’ve met people from different backgrounds, I see just how diverse the holiday season is. It’s wonderful to be able to say “Happy Holidays” and understand all the happiness this season brings to so many people. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/religion/ judaism/hanukkah.shtml http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/ index.shtml

A candle is lit each night of Hanukkah | PC: biblefunforkids.com

Wesley Rodriguez-Diep is a sophomore studying international relations.

OPINION

CHRIST-MYTHS: DEBUNKED HARDLY WORTHY t’s almost that time of year again: The consumers’ holiday. The time of year when churches are once again full of people. The time of year when lights are strung and the giddy holiday tunes float above the commotion of last minute shopping. The line “and it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered” is repeated in households, movies, and books in remembrance of the story of the Christ.

Three mathematicians | PC: fineartamerica.com

This season is a reminder of the day that changed the world. Though it’s common belief that Jesus’s birth took place in Bethlehem on December 25 thousands of years ago, this idea doesn't make a lot of sense. We know that the birth of Jesus took place around the time of the census, which is believed to have occurred during the mildest part of the fall so that travelers didn’t have to journey to their hometowns during the cold winter or blistering hot summer. “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their

flocks by night”. Jesus’s birth couldn’t have been during the winter; the shepherds wouldn’t be tending their flocks in the fields in the cold. Look around you at this time of the year. What reason is there to be in a field? Everything is dead. There is nothing for sheep to feed on. During the winter, the sheep would be cozy in their stables and the shepherds would be warm in their homes. The wise men were astronomers, mathematicians, engineers and generally smart and knowledgeable men. In the traditional nativity, a trio of wise men is present, usually bearing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Though the magi came bearing three gifts we are aware of, the Bible doesn’t specify exactly how many magi there were. There could have been any number of magi above two, though the number probably wasn’t over ten because of logistical challenges such as travel time and resources presented by a trip of that length. Growing up, I believed that the wise men came and visited Mary, Joseph and infant Jesus in the lowly stable the night of his birth. But both Matthew and Mark state that after Jesus was born, the wise men appeared before King Herod in Jerusalem (which isn’t more than a 6 mile trek to Bethlehem that can be completed in a day). The threat of a new King infuriated the jealous Herod, so he interrogated the wise men and found out as much about the star, and what it meant about the Child, as he could from the oblivious, yet willingly honest magi. He instructed them to return to him after their Bethlehem visit to inform him of what they found.

When the magi didn’t return, Herod ordered that all the male children two years and younger be murdered. He had a good amount of knowledge from what the men had told him to approximate Jesus’s age. He wasn’t acting

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Every part of Jesus's birth story is extraordinary.

“

unintelligibly. The fact that Herod ordered the murder of baby boys in such a large age range implies that the magi visited Jesus several months or more after he was born. Jesus is also referred to as a young child by both Matthew and Mark, after the wise men are referenced in the Bible. Every part of Jesus’s birth story is extraordinary. He truly is the reason for the season because of his decision to embrace humanity and the price he paid for each one of us. We like to think we know what happened at His birth, the popular story includes a lot of misconceptions. Though the story we know and believe might not be perfectly correct, Jesus honors the faith that we put in what we do believe. The details aren’t as important as it is to recognize the option of eternal life that he gave us. That gift is no myth.

Kasondra Reel is a senior studying nursing.

MISC. CORNER

BOW

DONNER

W O

O W

STAR

BLITZEN

W O

GOLD

ADVENT

W O

SNOW

NATIVITY

ANGEL

DANCER

LIGHTS

BAUBLES

MYRRH

GARLAND

ELVES

PRANCER

JOLLY

PRESENTS

CANDY

REINDEER

SANTA

RUDOLPH

COMET

MANAGER

SLEIGH

MISTLETOE

JESUS

WRAPPING

SUDOKU 9 4 8 5 7

7 5 9

7 8

7 2

JINGLE

BETHLEHEM

CUPID

CHOCOLATE

GIFTS

CHRISTMAS

VIXEN

ORNAMENTS

FLURRY

PEPPERMINT

FROSTY

WONDERLAND

DASHER

FRANKINCENSE

UPCOMING MAJOR EVENTs! December 6

School Wide Christmas Party

December 25

Christmas

December 7-8

Dead Days

January 1

New Years

December 9

ASB Movie Night

January 7

Campus Re-opens

December 11-13

Final Exams

January 9

Classes Begin

December 22

Campus Closes

January 15

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The Clocktower encourages reader feedback and strives to maintain accuracy. If you have comments, please email us at cltower@gmail.com. The Clocktower, established in 1927 and sponsored by the Associated Student Body of Union College, is published weekly during the fall and spring semesters.

7 8

WORD BANK

http://www.puzzles.ca/sudoku_puzzles/sudoku_medium_355.html

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.