Volume 6. Issue 2. Winter 2015.
WHEELS UP
Inaugural Aviation Cohort Prepares for Future
GLOBALLY MINDED, GLOBALLY HEARTED Multifaceted Friendships Despite Multicultural Differences
THE QUARTET OF THE VULNERABLE Reimagining Outreach to Society's Most Defenseless People
AMONG THE GIANTS A Weekend in Sequoia National Park PURSUIT | 1
FEATURES
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Cover photo by Lauren Koski
CONTENTS CONTENTS Relationships
6 Looking Up and In God's Revelation Through a Telescope 9 Globally Minded, Globally Hearted Multifaceted Friendship Despite Multicultural Differences
14 Dear CBU Advice on Friendships, Values and Character 16 Wheels Up First Aviation Cohort Prepares for Future 22 'FOMO' Made Me Do It Understanding the 'Fear Of Missing Out'
Lifestyle
24 We Need to Talk About ... The Quartet of the Vulnerable Reimagining Outreach to Four Marginalized People Groups 28 Surrender Your Purpose Your Plans vs. God's Intentions
Arts
31 Out With the New, In With the Old Lack of Originality in Hollywood Alludes to a Dying Art Form 34 Fall Music Reviews Disclosure, Ryan Adams, CHVRCHES and Deerhunter 36 Sculpting a Life Artist Julianna Anderson
Travel
39 Among the Giants A Weekend in Sequoia National Park 46 Wander Well 8 Tips and Tricks for Smart Travel
Trends
48 Hacks & Knacks Little Known Facts at CBU 50 The Cost of Living Authentic Does the Hipster Culture Promote or Hinder Community? 52 Scrap the Habit The Fight Against Food Waste PURSUIT | 3
PURSUIT
staff
Lauren Koski Editor-in-Chief
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Kara Lamphere Managing Editor
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Jared Overstreet Photo Editor
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Caleb Bol Design Editor
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Brooke Biddle Relationships Editor
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Courtney Coleman Arts & Trends Editor
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Hannah Burnett Lifestyle & Travel Editor
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Mariss Eanes Assistant Photo Editor
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Krysta Hawkins Assistant Editor
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Raine Paul Graduate Assistant
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Jim Veneman Photojournalism Consultant
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Sonya Singh Writing Coach
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Dr. Michael Chute Adviser
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Contributing Writers: Giovanna Berrocal, Iona Brannon, Randy Plavajka, Natilee Ruiz, Lauren Shelburne, Makenna Sones Contributing Designers: Allison Cordova, Ashley Lopez, Lisa Orona Contributing Photographers: Meagan Bourne, Lauren Shelburne, Daren Stevens 4 | PURSUIT
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In pursuit of
Character
'For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. For in this way, there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.' 2 Peter 1:5-11
I
will be praying for you.” The words burst from my mouth in habitual fashion. I smile at my friend reassuringly. Yes, I will pray. But I don’t pray; I forget. Later, I am scrolling through social media and see the clichéd, “I am sending positive thoughts your way.” I scoff. How can positive thoughts help? But if I am only saying that I will pray and not acting on it, maybe all I really am doing is “sending good thoughts.” What a “positive” and cheeky thing. How terrifying to reflect upon my actions and find that it is all just positive thought and not solid character. Are we conscious of our character when we are sprinkling prayer around like magic dust or arguing against the color of a coffee cup? When we are shrinking from that same homeless man by the Target doors or preparing vicious Christmas dinner remarks for our relatives back home. Maybe the holiday season brings about a character that flows from our Christmas sweaters and double-stuffed wallets into the hearts around us, but maybe it also charms us into selfishly reeling with angst.
For me, a check in character is something that must be routine. Without this check, I am “so nearsighted that I am blind.” Like saying I will pray for someone and never doing it, this check will be no good unless I act. I choose to check and act because I have a hope that compels me to do so — hope that comes from a God who broke into this dark world and reached out his hand. This God arrived on earth as a baby 2,000 years ago at a time that would eventually be called Christmas. This baby, Jesus the Christ, is not simply hope for eternal life, but he is the way to eternal life because this baby would grow up to defeat death. The Pursuit staff is grateful to have the opportunity not only to share campus stories that are challenging, but that are also reflecting the hope of Jesus. Peer inside the cockpit of a CBU Cessna 172 and let us introduce you to a few of CBU’s pioneer-pilots — let your perspective change as you step off the ground and into midair. Allow yourself to be centered on
God’s own eternally steadfast character magnificently displayed “among the giants” of Sequoia National Park. Discover the inviting synthesis of American and Chinese culture located in a neighboring apartment — occupy a seat at the table and learn something new. Personally struggle over the different slants of social service and social action. Next time you go to Target, look into the eyes of the shivering stranger standing outside the door and help him. This winter, no matter what you celebrate, I hope you will choose virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love, but most of all, I pray — and sincerely do — that you will experience hope and life through Jesus Christ. In pursuit of him,
Lauren Koski Editor-in-Chief LaurenAnn.Koski@calbaptist.edu PURSUIT | 5
RELATIONSHIPS
LOOKING UP AND IN Written by Hannah Burnett
God's Revelation Through a Telescope
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bove the lengthy equation on the whiteboard and just below where the ceiling meets the office wall is a series of snapshots. The blue, green and white swirl of earth is the photo on the left. On the right, are the planets of the Milky Way that elementary students frequently recite. Finally, on the third wall, a broad picture taken by the Hubble Space Telescope captures the collection of countless colorful oblong dots that astronomers recognize as the entire universe — at least as far as current technology will allow them to see. The office of Dr. Kyle Stewart, assistant professor of physics at California Baptist University, is where students are free to decipher physics equations or deliberate
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the intricacies of physics and astronomy. Stewart’s sub-field of study is one of the broadest aspects of astronomy — galaxy formation. His study of galaxy formation began during his graduate degree and continued into his post-doctoral program at the Jet Propulsion Lab, managed by the California Institute of Technology for NASA. Stewart and his collaborators have worked to develop a model for how galaxies are formed based on computer simulations. Their model has recently been confirmed by peers in the scientific community. The process Stewart and his collaborators go through to hypothesize galaxy formation is something he equates to sitting in a car manufacturer warehouse. Left photo by Meagan Bourne Right photo by Jared Overstreet
While conducting the manufacturing process, they observe pictures of what cars look like in different stages of assembly but still need to hypothesize about the logistics of the assembly process. Since the speed of light is a fixed, finite number, astronomers are able to take the current state of a galaxy and see what galaxies may have been like at certain stages of formation. Stewart and his collaborators did this by using super computers at JPL to run simulations of how a galaxy might have come into being. Although Stewart’s research has hinged on objective numbers, he says it never fails to connect him to his faith. “Even though the sun sets every day
of your life, every once in a while it makes you stop and reflect,” Stewart says. Stewart says when he first started teaching at CBU he was, for the first time, able to blend his love for science and God together. The things he encounters at work, which often put him in awe of the complexity of design, were not welcome topics of discussion among colleagues. Stewart said some people think there is some sort of special taboo in place within the scientific community to not discuss matters of faith, when really, it is common not to talk about personal faith in any American workplace. “You practically develop multiplepersonality syndrome. When I’m at work, ➤
Left: Wrightwood, California provides large, open skies for gazing into the stars. Leaving the shutter of a camera open for 30 minutes shows the way the stars trail around the earth during the night. Right: Jordan Riley, junior film major, gazes into the night sky above the front lawn of California Baptist University during an astronomy lab class with Dr. Kyle Stewart.
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I’m a scientist, and then when I go home, I get to be a Christian,” Stewart says. A perception that religion and science are incompatible has been mainstreamed. However, according to a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center, Americans who regularly attend church are less likely than the general public to see an incompatibility between science and religion. While 73 percent of non-religious Americans see a culture war between lab coats and crosses, only about 50 percent of Americans who regularly attend church services see any sort of conflict in reconciling science with the worldview their faith helps color. Stewart says in his experience, any sort of controversy is not found in the actual scientific process, but in its worldview interpretation – whether that is Christian, Buddhist or naturalist. Evan Schneider, sophomore criminal justice major, says the astronomy lab in which he is enrolled, instructed by Stewart,
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has helped him learn about the universe and the correlation between astronomy and his Christian beliefs. “While people say science is completely different for the Bible, I would say science is from the Bible,” Schneider says. “It comes from there because God created everything and he also created the concept of scientific thought.” As a whole, Stewart says American culture is seeing conflicting worldviews, not conflicting science. “It’s nice for students to hear, ‘You don’t have to give up science to be a Christian; you don’t have to give up Christianity to be a scientist,’” Stewart says. “If you look at it with the right worldview it’s perfectly compatible.” As a student sheepishly knocks on the half-open office door and peers inside holding a large textbook, Stewart parts with one final thought about the relationship between science and faith: “We are not in as much conflict as you think.” ◆
‘Even though the sun sets every day of your life, every once in a while it makes you stop and reflect.’ Dr. Kyle Stewart, assistant professor of physics
Dr. Kyle Stewart, assistant professor of physics, teaches his students about how scientists track sun spots.
Photo by Lauren Koski
RELATIONSHIPS
Written by Natilee Ruiz
Photos by Lauren Koski
Multifaceted Friendships Despite Multicultural Differences PURSUIT | 9
Although Wendy Ya (left), first year graduate student, has moved out of the apartment since her undergraduate graduation, she still visits Kendall McFarland (right) and Katelyn Meitler (back right), senior nursing majors, and Sandra Su, junior nursing major, nearly every day because of the friendship created among the women despite their cultural differences.
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bust l i ng apa r t ment houses studious women, laughter and smiles. Although they all come from different backgrounds, there is an inseparable bond created with these fellow nursing students, roommates and, above all, friends. Kendall McFarland and Katelyn Meitler, senior nursing majors, and Sandra Su, junior nursing major, live together in Global Village, the international housing apartments located in the Colony Apartments at California Baptist University. McFarland and Meitler both chose to live in Global Village to develop relationships with international students on a deeper level by sharing an apartment with them. “We both want to go around the world and practice medicine and use it as a means to share the gospel,” McFarland says. “We thought, since we can’t go around the world 10 | PURSUIT
while we’re at school, we might as well bring the world to us.” Now in her second year at CBU, Su moved to California from China to pursue her studies. After coming to the United States, her first American college experience was in Indiana at Purdue University. Her experience there was not what she had originally expected. With the help of her close friends and roommates, transferring to CBU has given Su a more positive outlook on America. “When I was in China I always heard ‘Americans are friendly,’ but when I was in Indiana, no one wanted to talk to international students,” Su says. “After I came here, (my roommates) really helped out. I feel like they care about me. It was really different from my first year in America.” The three friends have experienced many cultural differences within their living space, but they have embraced and
accepted all of them together. Sharing their cultures became an integral part of their relationship. While helping Su adapt to American culture and food, the favor was returned as McFarland and Meitler had Chinese culture shared with them. Once a semester, the roommates venture down to Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour where a loud and upbeat environment allows them to let loose and enjoy one another’s company. Over appetizers and ice cream, Meitler and McFarland share both the English and Chinese version of “Down By The Banks” with Su and their former roommate Wendy Ya, CBU alumna, who still visits every day. Chinese markets, Chinese New Year and traditional Chinese dinners in the apartment are all ways in which this apartment incorporates international cultures. When Chinese food is made in the ➤
RELATIONSHIPS
‘We thought, since we can’t go around the world while we’re at school, we might as well bring the world to us.’ Kendall McFarland, senior nursing major
Katelyn Meitler, senior nursing major, listens closely as Wendy Ya, first year graduate student, tries to find the correct English word for what she is trying to say. Communication between the two friends becomes multifaceted, including hand gestures, as they attempt to overcome the Chinese to English barrier. PURSUIT | 11
apartment, the roommates eat family style with large plates of food placed in the middle of the table where they serve one another, creating a fun and friendly environment in their home. Food is a staple in their relationship. Whether it is family-style dinners at home or enjoying the loud, “All-American” environment of Farrell’s, most of the roommates' time is spent together in a welcoming community. “I think food is the best cultural-shared experience," McFarland says. “No matter where you are, it’s the best way to share a culture.” For Su, Ya, McFarland and Meitler, to spend quality time includes a meal or chat with their school books open, compared to 12 | PURSUIT
many students on campus talking for long periods of time over coffee in order to get to know someone. “Chinese culture doesn’t talk as much as we would as it’s more about shared experiences,” McFarland says. “A lot of things that would normally cause us to be like ‘Oh, we’re so close’ didn’t necessarily happen the same way because of the difference in culture. However, we still have shared a lot of life together and enjoy each other.” Cultural barriers have not separated the friendships formed within a small CBU apartment. Sharing experiences together has brought these roommates closer, cultural differences are shared and memories are made. ◆
Roommates Sandra Su, junior nursing major, and Katelyn Meitler, senior nursing major, study together nearly every night. Spending time with each other, even time with their books, is a key way the two have formed friendships even through cultural differences.
RELATIONSHIPS
窶連fter I came here, these two really helped me out. I feel like they really care about me.'
In celebration of her birthday, Wendy Ya, first year graduate student, thanks her friend Kendall McFarland, senior nursing major, with a kiss. The two have been close friends since they lived together in the Global Village last year.
Sandra Su, junior nursing major PURSUIT | 13
re wisdom wit h Written by Giovan na Berrocal e in their college career, they sha anc adv sity ver Uni tist Bap nia As students at Califor s, values and cha racter. m, giv ing adv ice on friendship students in the yea r behind the
ng to fail “Learn how to apolog ize. You’re goi d to be nee you people, you’re going to mess up and mess up.” humble and able to say sorry when you
“Be vulnerable with the person you Sean Ollet junior architecture major
are close to.”
Danielle Ramirez sophomore nursing major
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Photos by Mariss Eanes
RELATIONSHIPS
be there in “Invest in people who are going to to grow apart. the future in all aspects of life. It’s OK t’s OK.” There are stages of friendships and tha Aubree Vlahos ble major senior psycholog y & sociology dou
with others “Our relationship with our God and ld we not start is going to continue forever — why wou that now?” Joe Gemignani master of applied mathematics the student and graduate assistant for International Center
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WHEELS UP
Inaugural Aviation Cohort Prepares for Future Written by Brooke Biddle Photos by Lauren Koski
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RELATIONSHIPS
R
iverside tower, Cessna 944CB (niner four four Charlie bravo), holding short of runway 27 at Charlie (taxiway C), ready for takeoff, south departure,” says Hannah Guajardo, junior aviation flight major at California Baptist University. This is a typical tower call heard from one of CBU’s Cessna 172s after taxiing down to the end of the runway at Riverside Municipal Airport to head to Lake Matthews for practice maneuvers. Aviation has a language of its own. Guajardo and fellow students Daniel Urban, senior aviation management major, Philip Marlin, junior aviation management major, and Lacey Schimming, junior aviation flight major, will be among the first CBU aviation cohort set to graduate in 2016. “This first group of students decided to change history by placing their trust in these brand-new aviation science programs and becoming the first cohort of aviation science majors at CBU,” says Dr. C. Daniel Prather, professor and chair of the Aviation Science department.
The Department of Aviation Science, established in July 2012, has expanded since beginning with only three aircraft, four part-time flight instructors and 17 students. It now boasts 11 aircraft, eight full-time flight instructors and 71 students. Only 11 of those students, however, have been present since the inception of the program as part of the original aviation cohort. “We have developed strong relationships with these students and watching them ‘leave the nest’ as they graduate will mean that these historymakers will no longer be with us at CBU,” Prather says. “Yet, preparing them for the challenges of the aviation industry and equipping them to make an eternal difference in the industry for Christ is why they arrived here in the first place.” A passion for aviation pushes these students to accomplish their goals. “I fell in love with aviation my first day of flight instruction,” Urban says. Shallow breaths gave away his nervous excitement on his first flight as Urban pulled back on the yoke and the Cessna 172 aircraft left the ground, soaring into
Left: George Atilano (left), sophomore aviation flight major, Howard Dang (center) and Laura Walker, junior aviation flight majors, walk CBU’s Cessna 150 out to the “hotbox” where, for competition purposes, the pilots prepare to start their engines with the rest of their heat.
the sky. Urban never expected to become a pilot, but as he nears graduation from the aviation management program, he hears in the back of his head the ever-present encouragement of his mother who told Urban since he was a child that one day he would be a pilot. Urban’s mother earned her private pilot’s license many years ago as a servicewoman for the United States. After graduating, Urban will also use aviation for more than the thrill of adventure, but for a life of service. Urban currently has a contract with the Marines and, once commissioned, will attend their flight school after basic training. “I want to serve my country and make my family proud,” Urban says. “The Marines is a brotherhood of which I want to be a part. Doing aviation for them, I would be supporting the troops on the ground.” For Urban, the Marines is a way to use aviation as a form of service. However, there are several other avenues to use aviation to impact the lives of others, one way being ➤
Above: A look inside the cockpit of a Cessna 172. With her left hand on the yolk and her right hand on the throttle, Hannah Guajardo, junior aviation flight major, prepares for a “power-off” landing practice at Brackett Field Airport in La Verne, California. PURSUIT | 17
missionary aviation. For Marlin, childhood days spent in his grandfather’s shed making model airplanes and hearing war stories first sparked his interest in flying. His grandfather was an aircraft mechanic in World War II, so Marlin grew up with an instilled interest in aviation. This interest soon grew into a reality and passion to use aviation as a vehicle for service, specifically for missionary aviation. “Flying in support of missionaries and being part of the church-planting process globally is an aspect that is very technical, yet crucial,” Marlin says. So often, travel by car, boat or other means is not easily accessible in certain parts of the world. “As you get into remote parts of the world, aviation is the fastest, most efficient way in; it speeds the process of getting the
gospel to the nations,” Marlin says. While they could potentially be delivering Bibles to the islands of Indonesia, students will also use their talents here in the United States. “Not everyone in the aviation industry will be a Christian,” Guajardo says. “Once you fly for an airline, you’re going to be flying with a new pilot every single time and you will encounter people who do not know God. I can use those times to try to expose his greatness and share examples of where he has fully shaped me as a pilot, guiding me through every step of my career.” Post-graduation, Guajardo says she will most likely pursue flight instruction to build up flight hours. She will then work at a regional airline such as JetBlue, Skywest or Express Jet; her ultimate dream being to fly for FedEx. “The Aviation Department has
taught me not only how to fly, but to spread my wings,” Guajardo says. “They have provided me with such an amazing opportunity to learn and to progress in my aviation career.” Aviation supplies students with a multifaceted array of aspirations and opportunities. Schimming currently plans to use her passion to fly private jets for corporate business individuals. Her driven and passionate nature pushed her to be the first student in CBU’s program to get a private pilot’s license. Schimming always had a fascination with airplanes but it was not until reading an article about CBU starting an aviation program that she seriously considered it for the first time. “(I thought) I could actually be a pilot and that is where I am supposed to be,” ➤
Philip Marlin, junior aviation dispatch major, assists his fellow pilots in moving a plane into the hotbox and then stands nearby for any more help they may need. 18 | PURSUIT
RELATIONSHIPS
Lacey Schimming, junior aviation flight major, checks to see if she has enough fuel for her night VFR cross country flight. This “night flight” helped Schimming fulfill Federal Aviation Administration hours to earn her Multi-Engine Commercial Rating.
Hannah Guajardo, junior aviation flight major, conducts her final pre-flight checks before her practice flight for the Region 2 SAFECON competition in La Verne, California. PURSUIT | 19
Left to right: Chris Blair, senior aviation flight major; George Atilano, sophomore aviation flight major; Philip Marlin, junior aviation dispatch major; Townsend Kaneversky, sophomore aviation management major, and Aaron White, CBU flight instructor and flight team coach, join together for a “Lance Up!� before breaking away into different teams for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association Region 2 Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) competition at Brackett Field Airport in La Verne, California.
Below the wing of a CBU Cessna 172 more pilots for the CBU aviation program pull Cessnas out to their hotboxes and conduct final pre-flight checks. On Nov. 4, CBU competed against other aviation programs across the west in the Region 2 SAFECON competition in La Verne, California. 20 | PURSUIT
RELATIONSHIPS
Hannah Guajardo (right), junior aviation flight major, jumps from the CBU Cessna 172 and prepares to move the plane into the hotbox with the rest of her heat. Daniel Urban (below), senior aviation management major, fills a CBU Cessna 172 with fuel during the Region 2 SAFECON competition in La Verne, California.
Schimming says. Dedication and perseverance are two words many would use to describe the journey in the aviation program. “Aviation is something you have to be passionate about; it is so much hard work,” Schimming says. “You have to put in a lot of time and really be dedicated to it. You have to be self-motivated to be up to standard. Everyday I see people in aviation working so hard for what they love.” These students are not aspiring pilots — they are pilots. “I am a pilot already; I am just working toward a bigger goal,” Schimming says. By graduation, Schimming will have received the following certifications, among others: private pilot’s license, instrument
rating, multi-engine rating, commercial license and flight instructor certificate. To many aviation majors, the most challenging part about flying is preparing for the check-ride: a test with the Flight Administrator examiner that tests Federal Aviation Association standards. “It’s incredibly stressful when it’s check-ride time. I don’t sleep; I can barely eat because I’m so nervous and you are literally studying until the very last minute,” Guajardo says. “But when you have worked so incredibly hard to earn a new rating and you go to your check-ride and your examiner hands you your new pilot certificate, it finally feels like all your hard work has paid off.”
Pre-flight check. The engine sounds. The plane takes off. It then soars and cuts through the air. Suddenly, perspective is changed and broadened. With all the details that go into flying an aircraft, sometimes the most important part is the most basic. Schimming says it is as simple as “ just flying the airplane.” A feeling of infinite awe envelops the moment and it becomes clear that aviation is not simply about flying planes, but about using this passion to be propelled into the future to make a positive impact. Between working for the U.S. Marines, missions, airlines and private corporations, this aviation cohort is an unstoppable force taking flight into the vast expansion of their lives. ◆ PURSUIT | 21
'FOMO'
made me do it
The 'Fear Of Missing Out' is invading the lives of Millennials — late-night Taco Bell trips are frequent, homework is not turned in on time and the 'fear' in FOMO is becoming a close friend. Written by Krysta Hawkins
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s you sit in front of the laptop screen, the ever-looming paper remains blank. The blinking cursor sits on the document and reminds you that the essay is not going to write itself. The assignment is due at midnight. You estimate the time required to finish the work, look at the clock and begin strategizing. At that moment, your roommate appears and asks if you want to go to InN-Out. “Everyone’s going,” she says. Suddenly, your attention is redirected to your chaos-filled desk — books and papers are scattered everywhere. Pushing aside papers, notes and snack wrappers, you find your phone. It has been silenced and you now see the light flicker with notifications of friends tempting you to ditch the paper and join them. This feeling has become so pervasive that in 2013, the Oxford English Dictionary
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added an entry for FOMO — the fear of missing out. Oxford defines FOMO as “the feeling of anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere.” Students at California Baptist University, and other universities across the country, combat FOMO on a daily basis. Students face a constant tug-of-war between dedicating time to studying and spending time with friends. Throughout one's college career, FOMO is sure to come into play at least once, if not once a week or day. Finding a balance is key and understanding the stages of FOMO is one way to find this equilibrium.
Stage 1: Complete Confidence You tell your friends “no” and choose to stay in because you are swamped with homework or other responsibilities. Stand firm in your decision and know you made the right choice. “College comes with sacrifice and if that means putting an event or fun with your friends off for your school work, you have to be responsible enough to make that decision,” says Lelonie Smith, junior psychology major. At this moment you feel conflicted. Should you go spend time with your friends or should you be responsible and start your paper? Everyone is going and you do not want to be left out of the loop — welcome to a classic case of FOMO.
Illustration by Allison Cordova
RELATIONSHIPS
Stage 2: Second Guessing You already made your decision to stay in and have told your friend you will pass on tonight’s outing. Suddenly, you start second guessing yourself and wondering if you made the wrong decision. “Freshmen experience FOMO because we want to engage and make new friends,” says Anthony Cardenas, freshman biology major. “Nobody wants to be the kid that stays indoors all day.” With so many campus events, extracurricular activities and last-minute plans with friends, time management is vital for CBU students. During their four short years at CBU, students will need to master time management in order to be successful.
Stage 4: Giving In You are fully dressed and ready to go. You get in the car. You and your friends are blasting music pulling away from campus; there is no turning back. Your feeling of guilt fades and you realize you needed this time to escape. “It’s OK to say yes because, as college students, we put all of our energy into school, anxiety builds up and you have to level yourself out and do other things,” says Nataly Sanchez, freshman business administration major.
Stage 3: In Between Now is when the inner-battle begins. Halfway out the door, you are convincing yourself you deserve a night out. You find yourself thinking about all the statuses, tweets and pictures you’re going to see. According to the Pew Research Center, 52 percent of online adults use two or more social media websites. Generation Y is consistently more connected than ever. “If your friends come back and they’re talking about how much fun they had, you can ignore them, but, since we have social media, it’s right there in your face,” says Devante Fields, freshman business administration major. Social media enhances FOMO as individuals are always connected to what others are doing. Rarely does anyone participate in an exciting event without posting a photo, video, status or tweet about it. In today's world, when individuals take a "rain check" on an outing, social media shows them how much fun they missed.
FOMO continues to influence CBU students today. However, maybe this fear of missing out is not something that must be battled, but rather something to be embraced. Effectively managing time and completing homework early in the week can allow students more flexibility with their weekend hours. Rather than having a frantic, homework-swamped Sunday night, a little bit of planning and study time early in the week can eliminate the need to say “no” during the weekend. ◆
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LIFESTYLE d we nee
to
Talk .. about.
Reimagining Outreach to Society's Most Defenseless People
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M
en in crisply ironed suits ponder their wristwatches to avoid eye contact, millennials feverishly texting do not even notice and mothers pull their little-ones closer as they pass – the diversity of his begrudging audience. They sneer. They apologize. They grow frightened. They pretend not to see. He hears the click-clack of high-heeled shoes. He looks painfully into the woman's polished countenance. She glances down at the man and takes in the blistered face and unwashed clothing. She anxiously grabs at the golden cross hanging from her neck, twisting the chain between her painted nails. Her naive eyes rotate to the ground. He exhales heavily and listens to her click-clack away down the pavement. It is that awkward, pressing moment when sitting at our feet, standing outside our car window or gazing at us through somber photos are society’s most marginalized. We walk away. Drowning somewhere between ‘The Bible tells us to give to anyone who asks’, ‘Do not give them money or they will spend it on drugs’ and ‘I'm too busy and far away to help them’ is the church. In his book, "Justice," Nicholas
Wolterstorff coined the term “The Quartet of the Vulnerable” to describe society’s four most defenseless people — the widow, the orphan, the sojourner and the poor. Like a helpless man on the pavement, the Quartet can be found all around us both in the United States and far across the globe. The Quartet has grown through the years as the suffering of humanity has evolved into an even more diverse evil. Since Adam Goodwin, junior biomedical engineering major at California Baptist University, began serving the homeless community of Riverside two years ago, he says there is never a chance to fully experience how love and relationships can change hearts when someone is only committed to a once-a-week idea of service. Goodwin says he has now adopted a lifestyle of a “reckless ‘yes,’” reaching further than a one-time connection. When asked to help anyone, he has committed to saying ‘yes’ and doing all that he can — even if it is not always enjoyable. “It is not glamorous,” Goodwin says. “(But) some of the most beautiful and valuable things I am going to come away (with) from my experience at CBU is through saying ‘yes’ to those difficult, nonglamorous things.” Through sitting on the cold, grimy ground in downtown Riverside and dipping into the relationships with his friends in the homeless community, Goodwin has been challenged in his conversation with the Quartet as he discovers the difficulty of
finding what he has in common with them. Goodwin says that is when he presses on, even if it takes months to get past that stage of the conversation. Kaycee Cannon, senior international health major and president of the International Justice Mission at CBU, agrees that serving the Quartet can and should be difficult in order to make a difference. “When you are actually looking to seek justice locally you tend to get involved with people’s lives and that can get really, really messy,” Cannon says. A messy lifestyle of service is something with which Cannon is not unfamiliar. Cannon’s father and mother have been foster parents for the majority of her life. Sharing her home and family with foster children was a sacrifice that Cannon says was difficult to make during her childhood and, at times, left her with bitter thoughts. As she grew older, Cannon says the “messy” part of serving foster children helped her understand the reasoning better. It is not messy because of the logistics, it is messy because the foster family must walk with them through their past, present and future struggles. “Every individual that comes through our doors needs love so complete that we are willing to sacrifice for them instead of ostracizing them because of what they have been through,” Cannon says. Brian Zunigha, director of Discipleship Ministries at CBU, says serving the Quartet and attempting to diagnose the Quartet's ➤
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problems is the wrong approach. “(Saying), ‘I know how to fix all your problems. I know what your problems are. I know the heart issue but I have never talked to you,’ — that’s a problem,” Zunigha says. In the summer of 2015, Zunigha and his family adopted two boys from Ethiopia and are living the burden-bearing, relationship-building lifestyle with their sons. It is not always easy, but it was a decision he says was not made out of guilt, but out of a desire to utilize the space they had in their lives for these little ones. A mentality of problem-solving is a societal approach that some believe is hindering biblical outreach. Dr. Amy Stumpf, professor of society and religion, says this mentality must shift into a lifestyle of helping to bear the burdens of those around us. Further than the attitudinal and societal dilemmas that Stumpf says are present, she also says the level of generosity expressed by those who claim to follow Jesus is staggering in relation to the mercy displayed by the work they believe Jesus did on the cross. “What is surprising to me is not that non-Christians can be kind. What surprises me is that someone who has understood and experienced the generosity of God would ever be stingy — that is what I do not understand — with their time, money, love and affection and priorities. How could that be?” Stumpf says. Pondering the Syrian refugee crisis
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in Europe and a recent Samaritan’s Purse video released from its work in Lesbos, an island off the coast of Turkey, Cannon says she has felt pummeled by the situation’s details and by the lack of reactions of her Christian, non-Christian, politically left- and right-leaning acquaintances. “It doesn’t matter if your political views fall over here,” Cannon says, gesturing her hands to the right and to the left. “You are telling them that you don’t care and you are telling them that you matter more than they matter.” IJM focuses on prayer as the top resource in serving the Quartet – specifically for combating worldwide human-trafficking. Cannon says prayer is one of the main protocols for the CBU club in training its members to work both in the U.S. and overseas. In Matthew Chapter 9, gazing at the harassed crowds that surrounded his ministry, Jesus commands his disciples to pray that God would provide workers for his kingdom. In Chapter 10, the disciples are sent out to do that very work. “You see action following prayer,” Zunigha says. “I would hope that the people who are burdened with this are deeply involved in prayer and out of that, you see action. There is a sovereign God who loves people more than (we) could ever love them.” This God who loves his creation illustrates his incomparable affection for them throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament he chooses Israel — at the time, a nation thought of as scum — to be set apart for his glory. Stumpf says God shows that he is
different than the gods of other nations by the way he continues to grant mercy to Israel and by the high moral standards he held for them. These standards included the specific, practical ways they served the widow, the orphan, the sojourner and the poor. In doing so, they glorified God. “Glory means to enhance his reputation,” Stumpf says. “So when we are dealing with the poor, the widows, the orphans, the prisoners — how do I enhance God’s reputation for the world? And they would say, ‘What kind of god is that?’” While Zunigha says he has seen growth in the compassion that the Generation Y has for the Quartet, he also says there are deeper questions that need to be considered when deciding how to help the Quartet without harming them further. “What can I do in my community?” Zunigha challenges. “What can I do globally to try to address some of these issues systemically? How can I invest time and resources into that instead of how can I throw change out the window at the next exit? "You can do both, but know that to really help people it’s going to take more than just your spare change.” As the broken, bleeding and helpless man lying on the pavement watches the young woman walk away, his heart is heavy with rejection. Those who walk the streets have failed him once again, but one man is coming who will heal him, set him on his feet and command him to live. “And who is my neighbor?” This is what a lawyer questioned of Jesus in Luke Chapter 10. Jesus led his answer through a story like this one — the good Samaritan — a story of hopelessness, pain and restoration. It is a story that verified the worth of each individual — no matter his or her position or identification — as given by the Son of Man himself. ◆
LIFESTYLE
How CBU Serves the Quartet Office of Spiritual Life (OSL)
Colleges and Schools at CBU
Contact: 951-343-5015
Check with your specific college to find service opportunities that will allow you to use your degree to serve the Quartet. Colleges such as the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering offer various outlets of service related to engineering. If your specific college or school does not offer any opportunities, speak with them about ways you can use your degree to serve.
Mobilization Serve across the nation and around the world. Applications are located at calbaptist.edu/go and are due Oct. 10 every year.
Operation Christmas Child Each November provides an opportunity to pack a shoebox filled with toys, hygiene products, candy and the gospel to orphaned or impoverished children around the world.
Compassion Ministries Children and Family Outreach Urban Excursion
International Justice Mission Contact: Kaycee Cannon KayceeLouise.Cannon@calbaptist.edu Gain knowledge about modern slavery and be inspired to serve no matter where you are located around the globe.
Serve in local cities during weekend service projects. Applications are available at the beginning of each semester in OSL. *Contact OSL for more information on other opportunities not regularly scheduled, such as volunteering to help women at Riverside Life Services.
Homeless Ministry Connections Contact: Amy Nugent AmyElizabethNugent@gmail.com Feed, wash feet, gift shoes and pray for the homeless community of Riverside through the GUMBO Program, Hot Meals Program, Sole Exchange and Prayer Night.
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surrender your
PURPOSE
Your Plans vs. God's Intentions
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LIFESTYLE Written by Kara Lamphere
M
y heart races as I await the response. It has been one week since I applied for this job. Did I present myself well on paper? Will I be able to translate that verbally in an interview? What if I don’t get a call back? I have been preparing for this vocation for three and a half years and I am afraid that if I do not get this position, all my preparation will be for naught — not to mention the thousands of dollars I have accrued in out-of-pocket payments and accumulating loans. If I get the job, is taking it the right decision or is there something else out there? In the realm of job and internship hunting, the fear of the unknown or of failing to fulfill your purpose can be crippling. Morgan Teruel, counselor in the Career Center at California Baptist University, has experienced the discouragement that comes when a person fails to land a job, both as a former CBU student and in the professional world after graduation. When Teruel was a sophomore, she applied for, but did not receive, a student leadership position. “Looking back, I saw in my personal life and in my walk with the Lord that was not a position I was ready for because I still had development to do personally and spiritually,” Teruel says. Although this was difficult to face at the time, Teruel says she decided to let go of the disappointment. She knew there was something else out there and could prepare for the next opportunity that would come her way. Personal preparation is something Mike Bishop, director of the CBU Career Center, sees as the starting point before entering the professional world. When he was a student at California State University, Fullerton, Bishop
developed what he calls a “road map.” This map is a list of personal goals — goals of integrity, goals of excellence and spiritual goals that he still abides by today. These goals encompass who he wants to be as a person and how to keep God at the center of his life. Bishop encourages students to create their own road map as they embark into the professional world. He encourages students to have a serious conversation with themselves and dig deeper into what they really want in life and if God is going to be included. “Once they come to that place, students can then look and say, ‘OK, I see the doors God is opening and I feel good about walking through one of those doors,’” Bishop says. Once students become confident in their relationship with God, Bishop says the next step is to make a plan. Kevin Wu, senior exercise science major, is preparing to apply for multiple doctorate of physical therapy schools in Southern California. Wu's plan is to continue volunteering and building his resume if a doctorate program opportunity does not work out in his immediate future. “It helps to know God is sovereign over
my life and loves me more than I do,” Wu says. “I can trust in his plans.” Meghan Hawkes, senior keyboard accompanying major, knows her goal as a collaborative pianist is a competitive field not many schools offer. "There is always going to be somebody better than you — that is not the point," Hawkes says. "The point is to be a good steward with what (God) has given you." When fear comes into play, Bishop says he is not sure if fear is the problem, or rather, confidence. “This university gives you the education, it gives you the character, it gives you the integrity, it gives you the spiritual ➤
'The point is to be a good steward with what (God) has given you.' Meghan Hawkes, senior keyboard accompanying major
Gabrielle Green (left), senior theatre major, performs as Eve in the theater production "The Apple Tree" and aspires to someday work on Broadway. Meghan Hawkes(right), senior keyboard accompanying major, has the ambition to build up a program for future accompanists. Left photo by Jared Overstreet Right photo by Kara Lamphere
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piece,” Bishop says. “Living God’s will is just making sure you’ve totally surrendered to him as a person.” Asiele David, senior health care administration major, says she believes her career path is ultimately God’s choice because it matches the way he created her and she has to be obedient to God’s will. “God has his part to do, but I have mine to do as well,” David says. “I am a firm believer that God will not do by miracle what I’m supposed to do by obedience.” Gabrielle Green, senior theatre major, says it can be difficult for anyone to surrender to God’s plan. However, her God-given passion for theatre trumps her fears of this secular industry. “I try to remember that God gives us certain passions for a reason and that even if I’m not meant to be a Broadway star, there is a reason that he has led me to cultivate my passions (at CBU),” Green says. “I hope that even when I’m challenged in what can be a bitter industry that I’m able to let God’s love and his truth shine through me in the way that I act — as an actor, a director and as a human being.” How can students feel at peace in the midst of the unknown path to their purpose? Bishop quotes Philippians 4:4-7, which talks about anxiety and the peace of God. “What a promise,” Bishop says. “‘The peace of God will guard your heart and mind.’ Are you kidding me? He’s going to guard my heart and mind and take away my anxiety and anxiousness and promise me peace? (That is) pretty good. All you have to do is do it.” A new email pops into my inbox; it’s from my potential employer. He would like to move forward with my application. I’ve planned, I’ve prepared, I’ve done everything I possibly could except the most important thing: surrender. I am given a tangible peace that surpasses my understanding and I know with confidence that God is guarding my heart and mind. What a promise, indeed. ◆
Wu measures Taguinod’s body fat percentage multiple times to achieve the most accurate reading. 30 | PURSUIT
Photo by Kara Lamphere
ARTS
OUT WITH THE NEW, IN WITH THE OLD Lack of Originality in Hollywood Alludes to a Dying Art Form
Written by Courtney Coleman
T
he best childhood memories are those associated with something fun, something entertaining and something that facilitates bonding. For Generation Y, films and television create a strong sense of nostalgia and Hollywood is well aware of it. With the number of film remakes that have been released, it is possible that young people cannot let go of the stories and tales that made their childhood so great. Now with newer versions of older stories, the newer generations can also take part, and in the process, film-production companies secure audiences to bring in Illustration by Caleb Bol
business for years to come. It seems like a win-win, but as Hollywood’s pockets fill with cash, film starts to look less like an art form and more like easy money. “We are just regurgitating film after film,” says Christian Buchholz, California Baptist University film studies alumnus. “(Hollywood is) just following the money. I don’t mind that they are running with tons of old ideas, I just get tired that there is no originality. ... It is just getting to a point where the average movie-goer is going to get tired as well.” Nearly every film lined up for the remainder of 2015 is a remake or part of a franchise that was already previously part of a successful TV series or best-selling
book, not to mention the slew of sequels lined up. “Spectre,” the fourth of the 007 films starring Daniel Craig, premiered in November; yet another version of Peter Pan — creatively titled “Pan” — premiered in October; and even the Peanut characters have made a comeback with an updated animation in “The Peanuts Movie," which also came out in November. Jonathan Nyquist, adjunct professor for the College of Architecture Visual Arts and Design, uses “Edge of Tomorrow,” a 2014 film starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, as an example. According to a review by Robert Ebert, “The movie has an organic intelligence and a sense that it, too, exists outside ➤ PURSUIT | 31
of linear time.” Unfortunately, the film did not do extremely well in the box office because of the lack of a fan base, making what could have otherwise been an excellent film, subpar in comparison to the remake franchise films with an already established fan base. “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” the latest installment in the Michael Bay franchise that will not die, also premiered in 2014. In its Robert Ebert review it was compared to a biblical verse in Corinthians reading, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: But when I became a man, I put away childish things.” His review, in short, stated that the Transformers fandom should never have gone beyond childhood. In comparison, "Edge of Tomorrow" received a 7.9 out of 10 rating on the Internet Movie Database, while “Transformers” scored a rating of 5.8. Despite audiences’ agreeing that “Transformers” was a film cheesier than Swiss, grossed at $100,189,501 in the box office altogether, while “Transformers” made nearly that much on opening night. The word “art” may, unfortunately,
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soon fade from Hollywood vernacular, which is a sad transition for viewers who actually appreciate cinema as an expression of creativity. Viewers are developing less of an interest in stories that are original. Audiences like what is comfortable and will settle on poor production value simply for the sake of nostalgia or to keep up with what is trending. The newest “Star Wars” film, set to premier Dec. 17, is produced by Walt Disney Pictures and is directed by J.J. Abrams. The well-known director is becoming the king of sequels and remakes as the producer of a number of “Mission Impossible” remakes and the latest renditions of “Star Trek.” In addition, he has been announced as the producer for a “Cloverfield” sequel. Some “Star Wars” fans are excited about the upcoming “Star Wars: The Force
Awakens,” while some fans are upset that George Lucas will not be the director. Whatever opinion fans have, not a single Hollywood know-it-all doubts that the film will break box office records. “I was a bit skeptical about the new one coming out, but after seeing the second trailer, I have 'a new hope' for it,” Nyquist says. “It brings back memories, something from my childhood that I grew up with, something familiar that is getting new life.” Nyquist also makes a good point that bringing back original cast members is a bonus. There may still be hope that the sequels, the remakes and the cliché films will phase out, giving true artists a chance to be put back on the map, but then again, audiences, for the time being, seem to be more drawn to their childhood memories and fan films. ◆
ARTS
‘Hollywood is just following the money. I don’t mind that they are running with tons of old ideas, I just get tired that there is no originality.’ Christian Buchholz, CBU film studies alumnus
Franchise vs. Originality These films that came out during October show box office number comparisons between franchise/re-make films and true story films that were released at the same time.
Pan
Goosebumps
vs.
vs.
The Walk
Bridge of Spies
$31,860,941 Metacritic score: 36/100
$10,044,817 Metacritic score: 70/100
$56,761,492 Metacritic score: 59/100
$45,531,900 Metacritic: 81/100
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension $13,554,743 Metacritic score: 32/100 vs.
Suffragette
$274,590 Metacritic score: 67/100
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FALL MUSIC
REVIEWS Written by Randy Plavajka
Disclosure ‘Caracal’ PMR Records and Island Records
E
nglish electronic music sibling duo, better known as Disclosure, has picked up right where they left off on their first album with the sophomore release of “Caracal” — a collection of catchy tunes ready for any house-party playlist. The star-studded list of featured artists, including The Weeknd, Sam Smith and Lorde, complements with duo’s lyricism and production on the album. The work throws no sidewinders at the audience as Guy and Howard Lawrence’s musical style reigns supreme throughout, yielding a straightforward approach to the sound they became known for two years ago with songs such as “Latch” on their debut album, “Settle.” Although much of the electronicpop genre has been influenced and, in turn, emulated Disclosure’s cues in recent months, the pair has not strayed from what they know best — producing attentiongrabbing hooks and rhythms. One of the album’s premier tracks coincidentally features the familiar face and sound of Sam Smith, also known for his feature on “Latch.” This new track, “Omen,” relies on layered vocals on top of a nostalgic hook that calls to mind club hits of the ’90s. As hi-hat, drums and bass pulse in the background of each track, it is important to note that this album is not entirely electronic, nor should it be classified as a collection of the new pop tracks so prevalent on mainstream radio. Lorde’s “Magnets” combines
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Disclosure’s style with the stripped-down vocal profile established in her solo work. The mixing of a multiplicity of voices with the Lawrence brothers’ signature sound produces a record that is uniquely Disclosure’s, but is simultaneously able to stand alone under each singer’s solo discography. The synthetic pop composition clocks in at just over 52 minutes for the standard edition, with extended deluxe editions of “Caracal” available on iTunes and Spotify. “Caracal” has a wide range of
playability, meaning the setting does not dictate how good the record is, so long as the songs are blasting from headphones or speakers. With “Nocturnal,” a collaboration between the electronic music-producing duo and the Weeknd, Disclosure delivers a track that creates a hybrid masterpiece between both artists. The R&B vocalist’s distinct voice meshes well with a bass-filled background track that is equal parts Disclosure and Weeknd.
ARTS
Ryan Adams ‘1989'
PAX AM
S
inger, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Adams recently set his sights on a feat often attempted in the music industry: to recompose and cover an entire album. The product of this dedication is Adams’ version of Taylor Swift’s best-selling, “1989.” The two albums share few similarities other than their title. Ryan Adams has the remarkable ability to take any song, from any genre, and
CHVRCHES ‘Every Open Eye'
create a song with threadbare emotion and sincerity. Adams’ rendition of “Style” captures this ability perfectly, as he takes inspiration from Swift’s lyrics and Bruce Springsteen’s signature guitar sound to create a song and album that, in some regards, is better than the original. The “1989” cover by Adams gives a fresh perspective of a chart-topping album that is definitely worth a listen.
Virgin and Glassnote Records
R
eleasing the second album in a musical catalog that is sure to grow, CHVRCHES blessed their fandom with “Every Open Eye” after a two year wait from their debut album’s release. Irish electronic pop trio, CHVRCHES, has been busy this past year closing off months of touring to produce their followup to “The Bones of What You Believe,” which put their name on alternative music charts.
Deerhunter ‘Fading Frontier'
The first single from the album, “Leave a Trace,” resonated the same feelings from its most-known songs, “The Mother We Share” and “Recover,” which are highlighted by a bright synthesizer and lead singer Lauren Mayberry’s energetic vocals. As a whole, the follow-up should be just as successful as the debut, meriting acclaim and awards for the special chemistry the trio has captured in their signature sound and production.
4AD
T
he four piece indie-rockers from Atlanta have delivered one of the most ambient, lo-fidelity works of art with their seventh studio album, “Fading Frontier.” The work as a whole is a complex jam session, yet nonchalant and almost aloof in its approach to providing a variety of songs to a genre that has seen so much recent growth. Frontier emulates a feeling of rolling
down a grass hill in slow motion, though it should not be classified as montage music. Lead single, “Snakeskin,” emits a funkinspired vibe with groovy guitar riffs and accompanying beats. The long-anticipated indie album lives up to expectations and continues Deerhunter’s reputation of creating high quality, lo-fi tunes to a genre needing the creativity given in “Fading Frontier.” ◆
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ARTIST JULIANNA ANDERSON
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Photos by Lauren Shelburne
ARTS Written by Lauren Shelburne
M
usic lulled in the studio as Julianna Anderson, senior visual arts major at California Baptist University, meticulously traced the curves of her sculpture. These lines have been carved into the clay time after time until completion and each edge was smoothed. Anderson has honed her craft through the visual arts program at CBU, despite the obstacles in her path. The environment Anderson thrives in at CBU is different than the one in which she grew up. As a young girl, Anderson’s dad left her family. When Anderson and her mother’s relationship became rocky, she saved money, fixed an old car and moved to Irvine with her sister to enroll in community college at age 17. After her mother was fired from her job, Anderson and her siblings became concerned and intervened in their mother’s life. To their dismay, they learned that doctors had diagnosed her in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. At that point in her life, Anderson says
she needed a new plan. Having attended Riverside Christian School most of her life, she applied to CBU, which was just across the street. Anderson says she prayed to God for guidance and accepted that her future was in his hands. Soon after, Anderson received her acceptance call from CBU. She says she was unsure about the decision at first, but is now thankful for the choice she made. “I didn’t realize how much I craved that Christian environment,” Anderson says. “I had felt so stuck in my life that being surrounded by such God-loving students and professors, and getting an education, made me feel like I was finally starting to achieve something and get out of the pit I felt stuck in.” Anderson’s mother had encouraged her at a young age to express herself through painting. Any pent-up frustration was released as Anderson discovered her best form of self-expression through art. “Art of any form can be a useful tool to not just escape reality but to confront personal demons and overcome them,” Anderson says. “It is very therapeutic.” At CBU, Anderson does not limit
herself to one art form. Some days she uses power tools to carve her wildest inspirations and the next day she enjoys calming watercolors. She appreciates the many different forms art can take and the lack of boundaries. She continues to experiment with different styles and concepts today as she did as a child. “It is the satisfaction of observing something, having an idea and creating something from that idea that gives importance and sentiment to art,” Anderson says. “Whatever you love most, whether it is good or bad, it will become a part of who you are. “Day-to-day life embraces what you love the most. For me, that is art — in all different forms — even if it is just appreciating someone else’s art.” This past summer, Anderson ventured to Los Angeles with Kristi Lippire, ➤ Use any QR code scanner to see accompanying video
Julianna Anderson, senior visual arts major, remains focused as she carefully makes each stitch on a photograph for her embroidery senior project. PURSUIT | 37
assistant professor of visual art, and four other artists as part of an internship to see a glimpse of her artistic future. The internship allowed her to work with the Fellows of Contemporary Art at a gallery in Chinatown. “Not every student can be trusted on an independent professor’s project,” Lippire says. “But Julie is a student that I trust and have gotten to work with closely over the years as Art Club president.” Anderson has persevered and proved herself as a successful artist despite her circumstances. Her boyfriend Parker Jackson, senior criminal justice major at California State University, Fullerton, sees the monumental obstacles she has successfully overcome. Jackson says her sincere artwork shows viewers a window into her life through its simple, yet meaningful, message. “Her childhood has given her a passion and appreciation for so many of the little things in life that the majority of us seem to easily ignore,” Jackson says. “In her artwork, she not only finds a method of escape from life’s current struggles but also a method of expressing her past struggles.” Art is not only a creative outlet for Anderson but an emotional one that has developed throughout her journey as an artist. Her control over her art creates peace in her life. Anderson continues to guide her paintbrushes across the canvas, painting a story — her story. ◆ Anderson says her embroidery and soldering have been some of her favorite projects. She has found old photographs at garage sales and embroidered over them. Layers of solder were added to craft the metallic bird. 38 | PURSUIT
'Her childhood has given her a passion and appreciation for so many of the little things in life that the majority of us seem to easily ignore.' Parker Jackson, senior criminal justice major, California State University, Fullerton
TRAVEL
AMONG THE
GIANTS A W E E K E N D I N S E Q U O I A N A T I O N A L PA R K Written by Courtney Coleman Photos by Jared Overstreet PURSUIT | 39
F
ive friends, one car, four cameras and one destination: Sequoia National Park. For broke college students, seeking out adventure is often placed at the bottom of the priority list — somewhere below tuition costs, bills, homework and long naps. Far too often during our 20s, when we should be taking advantage of our Use any QR code scanner to see accompanying video
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young, resilient bodies, we are stressing over making it through college. It does not always have to be that way, though. Thanks to McDonald’s, carpooling and cheap motels, it is possible for college students strapped for both time and cash to branch off and see what the world has to offer. Our journey began at 5 a.m. on a Saturday with a group of diverse
personalities and creative artists, ready to have fun and document the journey through a lens. The four-hour drive flew by as we laughed at silly pictures we took along the way and took videos of our constant car ride sing-alongs. Finally arriving at our hotel, The Red Roof Inn, located off Interstate 5 in Tulare, California, we quickly checked
TRAVEL in, dropped off our bags and then got back on the road. Sequoia National Park was an hour drive from our hotel, mostly up winding roads carved into the mountainside. On our way, Spotify and Pandora abandoned us as we lost radio signal, so the "Prince of Egypt" soundtrack provided a dramatic anthem as we entered the forest of giants.
Although hilarious, Hans Zimmer’s powerful composition was perfectly fitting for the sites of the park. As we spotted our first Sequoia, “The Burning Bush” came on, filling the car with the sound of trumpets, drum rolls and string instruments. The symphony said exactly what we were all thinking: The trees are a marvel. Gorgeous red bark dressed the thick tree
trunks that resembled the feet of dinosaurs, and they contrasted the vibrant green vines and shrubbery. The smell of cool, fresh earth filled the car. Our first stop was Round Meadow. A short one mile hike around the quiet meadow had us feeling like guests in the home of the regal and towering sequoia trees. While there, we met Maria Calafat, ➤
Moro Rock, facing east and looking over the Sequoias and their changing branches. PURSUIT | 41
‘(It's) a seemingly never-ending climb up steep stairs that led to the mountain’s peak where a breathtaking view awaited us, literally.‘ a French woman currently residing in Los Angeles, who was visiting Sequoia National Park for the third time. Her friends’ children beckoned us to chase a chipmunk with them. A vacationer from San Francisco, Erin Martin, shared information about what she referred to as the geological timescale of the trees. Round Meadow is an example of the specific conditions needed for the Sequoia trees to grow. The trees are said to only be 4,000 years old. The previous climate was too dry for the trees to grow. Now, Sequoias
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create a perimeter around the meadow where the soil is too moist for the giants to root themselves. Often trees will fall and allow the perfect habit for a variety of fungi to grow in the meadow. Our final stop for Saturday was a hike up Moro Rock, a seemingly neverending climb up steep stairs that led to the mountain’s peak where a breathtaking view awaited us, literally. At the top we met a group of four rock climbers packing up for the day. The climbers, who are all graduates of the SUNY Potsdam Wilderness Education ➤
Left Page: Above: New Yorkers Gene Gaffney, Kelly Glascott, Ashley Tranelo and Nick Waselesla finish their nine-hour climb up the face of Moro Rock. Right Page: Top Left: Round Meadow features massive Sequoias that grow in a circle around a meadow of soil saturated with run-off water. Top Right: General Sherman is the pinnacle of the national park’s points of interest and has the largest width of any tree known to man. Bottom: Peak of Moro Rock, overlooking the entrance of Sequoia National Park.
TRAVEL
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The experience is always worth it when the destination is awe-inspiring and the company is good.
Having just scaled the face, the climbers discussed the difficulty of what had been accomplished.
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While walking Big Trees Trail, visitors (above) may feel minuscule in comparison to the tall red bark. Experienced climbers can always be identified by the equipment they carry. Big Trees Meadow gives a great vantage point of the gargantuan trees.
program in New York, work as adventure guides and use the off-season to travel to wilderness locations. The group commented on the quietness and the secludedness of the park. The climbers asked if we would like to join them — a gesture typical of the climbing community. Although we had to take a rain check on the climbing, we decided to continue exploring the next morning by indulging in a hearty International House of Pancakes breakfast and visit to the famous Tunnel Log and General Sherman — the world’s
largest tree known to man. Our weekend may have been brief, but the experience is always worth it when the destination is awe-inspiring and the company is good. Split five ways, the cost of gas was manageable and at $40 per night, a cheap motel hardly breaks the bank. The journey does not stop once the destination is reached, either. Part of the adventure is the people you meet, the laughs you never knew you needed, and living life simply in the great outdoors. ◆ PURSUIT | 45
8 TIPS AND TRICKS TO INSPIRE SMART TRAVEL
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Written by Hannah Burnett
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ravel is an opportunity get outside the mundane and enter into another's everyday. On the way, a little bit of planning can prevent a frantic race through the airport, a blank stare at a public transit map or inappropriate attire in a foreign country. Here are some tips and tricks to “wander well.”
Illustration by Ashley Lopez
Stay classy. Be a tourist and purchase souvenirs to take home, but also be classy and bring a few small gifts to give to those you meet or with whom you stay. Small candles, tea and candies will not take up much space in your suitcase and travel well. What fun American trinkets and culture can you share with others?
Talk to strangers. Go out of your way to make connections with locals. Ask them about their favorite spots around town. Who knows the area better than them? Whether it’s an unknown deli or unanticipated handmade soap shop, be open to new suggestions other than the typical tourist locations.
Travel like the locals. Renting a car is not an option, costly or simply inconvenient. Get to know the public transit systems where you are going and pay attention to how locals get around. Sometimes walking and biking are the best way to take in your destination.
Pack light, smell good. Buy what you can at your destination to avoid overpacking. Shampoo and conditioner are great things to buy after you land. Bringing a small packet of laundry detergent can minimize the amount of clothing you need to pack.
Expect the unexpected. Things do go missing. If you end up playing Where’s Waldo with your checked bag, carry a photocopy of your passport in a different piece of luggage just in case. It will mean less time at the American embassy and more time scoping out spots for dinner.
Listen Up. As enticing as it seems to retreat into your own little world while sitting in a plastic airport terminal chair, resist the urge to use noise-canceling headphones. It is better to hear your flight’s gate has changed than perfectly hear those harmonies.
Leave the second pair of heels at home. Save room in your luggage and ditch the backup fancy outfit you’ve packed in case you get invited to tea with the Queen. Instead, go for versatility. Men can bring a hat or beanie to keep any simple outfit stylish or cover greasy traveler cowlicks. Women should bring a scarf that can be used as an easy accessory, improvised blanket or head/shoulder covering in conservative cultures.
Become best friends with Google. Explore the Web before exploring your destination. Make an over-ambitious list for each day with the best foods to try, statues worthy of weird selfies and must-experience activities at your destination. With each new day, pick and choose the things from your list you want to experience. It is better to have too much to do than not enough. ◆
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TRENDS
Hacks & Knacks Little-Known Facts at CBU
Written by Makenna Sones
You can learn many secret hacks after attending CBU for a few years. Many can save you money and time, while others are for your personal convenience and safety. Here are just a few for you to use.
1. Want to hit the treadmill and
lift weights during the day, but absolutely hate the crowds? The best times to pump iron at the Recreation Center are 6-8 a.m., 1-3 p.m., and after 9 p.m.
2. Cali-Vegetarian meals at El
Monte Grill are rewarded with FREE guacamole in place of meat. Just request it!
3. At Chick-fil-A, ask for extra crispy chicken on your chicken sandwiches or nuggets if you want to add a little crunch to your lunch. If you want to get really creative, order chicken nuggets, pour your favorite sauce in the box and shake it up — boneless chicken wings customized for your enjoyment!
4. COMMUTERS: You don't have to
go home to shower and rush back in time for your next class. The Recreation Center locker rooms have showers and towels for you to use.
Valentin Mendez, senior political science and philosophy double major, enjoys the CaliVegetarian bowl at El Monte Grill. This bowl substitutes guacamole for meat. 48 | PURSUIT
Photos by Jared Overstreet
7. Tired of getting the same old
flavors in your Mochalada at Wanda’s Café? Just ask for their flavor selection that includes vanilla and seasonal flavors and have them mix in your favorites.
8. The New and Old James
Building has many small areas with tables and comfortable chairs to study quietly. Go try it and enjoy STUDYING IN PEACE, away from noise.
9. Craving a Subway sandwich?
Take your CBU CARD to the Subway in Lancer Plaza and get a discount on your meal.
10. Lost your planner? Pick up a
new one at University Card Services across the hall from Wanda’s and Chick-fil-A. ◆ Jazmyn Jordan, sophomore pre-nursing major, finds a nook on one of the floors of the James Building to study for her up coming test in microbiology.
5. Download the new PUBLIC
SAFETY APP, LiveSafe CBU | Safety Services, to your phone and increase safety when on campus. The app lets you report suspicious activity, ask for an escort, make an emergency call that alerts Public Safety and view a campus map.
6. If you want to have an off-
campus adventure but do not have a car on campus or do not want to waste your gas, take the Riverside Transit Agency bus. Students get free RTA rides with their CBU CARD. Just show it to the driver and you are good to go. PURSUIT | 49
Written by Iona Brannon
S
tepping into the Riverside coffee shop, you would have never expected to stand out in your faded jeans and simple T-shirt. You feel eyes following you. You are out of place. You don’t belong. Even your skin seems drab from the lack of ink and metal. The barista slides out from behind the espresso machine to take your order and you detect a slight curl of disdain on her lips as you ask if cold brew is simply iced coffee. Before long, you walk out with an
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overpriced, undersized cup of coffee. Since when did coffee shops begin to feel so oppressive? The word “hipster” may conjure an image of a well-groomed individual twirling his mustache and reading “War and Peace” with a single-origin, pour-over coffee in hand. Or, it could create the image of someone with a floral shirt buttoned to the top and nothing but a five-panel hat holding back their greasy, tumbling locks. No matter the image, the word represents the proud individuality that comes with living “authentically.” Hipster
Lindsay Estraba (right), California Baptist University alumna, quietly works on her laptop at a local hipster coffee shop.
culture is elevated in a society obsessed with autonomy and individualism. Value is found in what is uncommon, while the ordinary becomes a cheap, fake way of life. It is in this society of individual glorification that the hipster phenomenon has blossomed. “It is about being yourself and being who you are, not being afraid of it,” says Dr. Joseph Pelletier, assistant professor of psychology at California Baptist University.
Photo by Daren Stevens
TRENDS “Hipsters are that child who can only say no,” says Matthew Myatt, junior philosophy major. “Anything you suggest in terms of music, clothing brands, et cetera, will be rejected on the grounds that more than one person in the world enjoys it.” Others, like Andy Abelein, senior graphic design and digital media major, do not consider themselves hipster but rather just normal people who like to be original. The label should not be applied to people who dress a certain way because there is no clear definition. Abelein says the difference between hipsters and others in society is that “they aren’t willing to become clones of the culture.” “It is important to be your own person in today’s culture,” Abelein says. “A lot of people bow down to the rules or cultural normalities around them, but in return (they) lose a lot of the uniqueness and beauty of their humanity. God created us all different.” If this community emphasis on originality is taken so far that it harms society, it could create a vicious cycle. “Hipsters often rant against that which is considered ‘mainstream,’ but to condemn the mainstream is to suggest that something else should be mainstream,” Myatt says.“If it is the essence of the mainstream that they hate, then by their own logic, they wouldn’t like what they like if others took interest in it.” In a pluralistic society, absolutes are few and far between. Authenticity is simply another term to be put on the shelf of labels to be determined by each individual. ◆ “You could be completely different from that hipster look and still be accepted.” Unfortunately, the hipster culture seems to have evolved from one of celebrated individualism to one of expensive elitism. Pelletier says what is on the outside seems more important than what is on the inside. Costly leather boots and Herschel backpacks are the invitation into the club. Fashionable tattoos, oxford cloth buttondowns, high-waisted floral skirts and mighty beards serve as the proper attire to hang with this crowd. “It is funny because hipsters are
supposed to be open-minded, accepting people as individuals living the life they want to live, but ‘Hey, you can’t eat that because it is not organic,’” Pelletier says. “It is really hypocritical.” In an attempt to label authenticity, hipsters seem to distance themselves from the general public. Pelletier says that by setting the standard for what is authentic, hipsters validate their own experience while, knowingly or not, devaluing the experiences of others if they do not align. Some students find the individualistic ideals of hipsters an unnecessary nuisance.
‘You can be completely different from that hipster look and still be accepted.’ Dr. Joseph Pelletier, assistant professor of psychology
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Written by Courtney Coleman
A
s the world's most advanced species, humans are capable of taking on the role of earth's caretakers. No matter what an individual believes, eating and shopping habits play a part in the actions that may harm the planet given to us. “Wasting food is bad for the environment because a lot of resources go into growing food,” says Kyle Mann, University of California, Riverside, alumnus. Mann’s bachelor of science degree in business administration with a concentration in environmental management allows him to understand how food waste can affect the environment. “Pesticide run-off from agriculture has caused huge dead zones in the ocean where rivers meet them,” Mann says. Joy Graham, sophomore early childhood studies major at California Baptist University, grew up in northern Africa. During the 17 years she lived there, she saw her fair share of poverty and cultural differences. “The United States has an excess of everything, including food,” Graham says. “The U.S. teaches, ‘If you want it, you can have it.’” Harm from food waste goes beyond the environment. In many ways it can be associated with world hunger. According to a research study conducted by the United
Nations, an average of 21,000 people worldwide die of starvation every day. “People should make a conscious effort to find out about countries that are impoverished because then you think twice about (wasting food)," Graham says. According to the Worldwatch Institute, a sustainability website, 1.1 billion global citizens are overweight, while nearly 800 million people do not have enough food to live. Food waste may not be the cause of world hunger, but knowing the statistics can put things into perspective and changing personal habits can make a difference. Many ways abound to avoid food waste. Graham says getting used to eating leftovers is a start. ➤
1.1 billion global citizens are overweight, while nearly 800 million people do not have enough food to live. - Worldwatch Institute
Jonah Mackin, junior Christian studies major, places his empty plate into the tray return rack at the ADC. Mackin says he refuses to use trays for his food because it can lead to piling his tray with food he may or may not eat. Mackin says food waste is something that occurs too often on CBU's campus. Photos by Lauren Koski
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“People are taking for granted how much they have,” Graham says. “People in the States just don’t understand that value on food.” On March 26, 2014, ASCBU spent a day collecting uneaten food and drink from the cafeteria. At the end of the day, they weighed what they had collected. After four hours of collecting food, the ASCBU staff had gathered 250 pounds of food, still edible, that had been thrown out. Graham notes that it is difficult to realize how important food is because for people in the United States, for the most part, food is always there. LeftoverSwap is an app that allows individuals to connect with neighbors and friends to share food leftovers that would otherwise be thrown away. With an app like this, change can be made by finding neighbors who cannot afford home-cooked meals and providing them with food. Finding time to make home-cooked meals makes a major difference. Robert Maule is the housing coordinator of the Regenerative Cooperative in Pomona, California. This cooperative allows a diverse community to live together and work together to maintain healthy and sustainable lifestyles. One way they minimize waste is by recycling much of what they use, by cooking at home, and by growing their own fresh produce. “We coordinate and share all our grocery shopping by house,” Maule says. “We also share potluck-style dinners five nights per week for which we all take turns cooking, furthering our goals of making food a healthy, shared and sustainable experience.” Pre-planning grocery shopping trips and buying non-perishable goods can minimize the amount of food thrown out. Second Harvest is a food bank in Riverside that gathers food donated by grocery stores that is deemed unsellable. Much of the food is perfectly fine aside from crushed packaging or passed sell dates. Purchasing from food banks steers a large amount of food away from landfills. When going out to eat, ways to change habits lead to less food waste. Graham suggests spending less money and only buying what you know you can eat. She also makes the point that simply avoiding 54 | PURSUIT
In March 2014, 250 pounds of food were tossed out by students at the Alumni Dining Commons. This trend in food waste has been attributed by many to the buffet style of dining.
food waste is not enough. “If you’re really worried about it, spend less and donate,” Graham says. Riverside is full of homeless shelters always in search of food donations. For Maule, growing your own fresh produce and recycling organic food through
composting are more ways to avoid waste. Being wary of how food waste affects our world can lead to change. With the many options available, there is no excuse to not benefit our environment and not fight world hunger. It just takes a little effort from everyone and community involvement. ◆
Pursuit magazine is a student-produced publication of California Baptist University that works to utilize professional, balanced journalism to tell the stories of CBU’s community and the real-life, relevant factors that affect that community.
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Photo by Jared Overstreet
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