Pursuit | Fall 2017

Vo lu m e 8 . I s s u e 1 . fa l l 2 0 1 7

Social MEdia D i s to rt io N

Critical influence of the internet on body image | 26

Lo n g R oa d to R e s to r at i o n Discovering meaning amid classic car parts | 34

' T h e Ba i l e y M e t ho D An artist living through colorful experimentation | 44 | Pursuit

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FEATURES sailing Across the Pacific (Almost)

22

SOCIAL MEDIA DISTORTION

Critical influence of the internet on body image

26

Long Road to restoration

Discovering meaning amid classic car parts

34

'The bailey method'

An artist living through colorful experimentation

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arts

trends

lifestyle

t r av e l

relationships

contents 6

More than Scars Redefining life after trauma

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Culture Shock Coming to America Americans seen through the eyes of international students

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Child of an Addict How children hurt, heal and grow

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Day Tripping to Solvang A European getaway in SoCal's backyard

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A Beginner’s Guide To: Road Tripping Create the perfect automobile adventure

22

Sailing Across the Pacific (Almost)

26

Social Media Distortion Critical influence of the internet on body image

30

Those Displaced Ethical approach to the refugee crisis

34

The Long Road to Restoration Discovering meaning amid classic car parts

40

Vegan Way of Life Fad or Future?

42

Survived Being Single Discovering oneself outside of relationships

44

'The Bailey Method' An artist living through colorful experimentation

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That Old School Swing Students building community through swing dancing

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Pursuit Recommends Music, podcasts and books

Cover photo illustration by Katie Ring

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s ta f f

Kathleen Phillips Managing Editor

Katie Ring Photo Editor

Jessica Rose Design Editor

Kaylah Valdez Assistant Design Editor

Krysta Hawkins Lifestyle Editor

Morgan Culberson Travel & Arts Editor

Katie Kostecka Relationships & Trends Editor

Taji Saleem Staff Designer

Dr. Michael Chute Director of Student Publications

Sonya Singh Assistant Director of Student Publications

Writers: Alexandra Applegate, Courtney Coleman, Morgan Culberson, Hayley Folk, Krysta Hawkins, Paul Johnson, Rachael Kerchner, Katie Kostecka, Kaitlynn Labit, Kathleen Phillips, Randy Plavajka

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Jim Veneman Photojournalism Consultant

Photographers: Jared Baumer, Courtney Coleman, Mariss Eanes, Randy Plavajka, Katie Ring, Ninasophia Stowe

editor’s note

R a n d y P l ava j k a Editor-in-Chief

Poetry is when you make new things familiar and familiar things new."

Rory Sutherland

At its core, journalism is poetry. It is the mastery of storytelling, the ability to connect on a personal level with a reader and teach through real-world experiences. This magazine is no exception. It aims to offer new perspectives, consider new ideas and ultimately let you, the reader, walk away having gained something that was missing before exploring the pages from cover-to-cover. Inside this fall issue there are stories of healing from emotional and mental scars, stories about overcoming great obstacles and circumstances, and stories about the struggles of being a human being in this day and age. My hope is that Pursuit can familiarize the new, make new what is familiar and ultimately inspire you on this crazy journey we call life.

Sincerely,

Randy Plavajka

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More Than

Scars

ReDefining Life after trauma

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RELATIONSHIPS

Written by Courtney Coleman Photos by Courtney Coleman & Ninasophia Stowe

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n 2013 on the Ramona Expressway, a the bathroom, but Stowe also had to manage Honda Civic and an old truck lay in excruciating pain with medication that made the aftermath of a 55 mile-per-hour her nauseous. head-on collision. Witnesses said It was about three months after the that Saramonet Stowe, California Baptist accident that Stowe was able to get back to University student and the driver of the Civic, normal life and that is when the next “hit” came. tried to swerve out of the way of the oncoming “I had a boyfriend at the time,” she says. truck, but had nowhere to go on the two-lane “He was totally with me through the accident, highway. The driver of the truck, who fell asleep then I started walking three or four months at the wheel, died. But despite the deadly speed later, and then I was on the road again. I could of the crash, Stowe survived. drive; I was fine. Then, my ex broke up with me “It was like a blackout, the next moment once school started again.”

I’m in the hospital, hearing the beeping — just Although the former couple had gone like in the movies — fading in and out,” she says together back and forth before, this was a four years later. breaking point.

Surprisingly, She “I was turning to alcohol. experienced no internal I wasn’t coping, obviously,” bleeding, but the crash did Stowe says. “All self-worth not leave her without major was gone. … We’d been injury: broken ankle, broken through everything together. hip, broken knee, loss of bone That was rough because I was in her left elbow. She had a like, ‘No one is going to want metal plate with six screws me (now) for sure.’” implanted in her ankle and a Stowe tried to focus rod inserted in her hip. The on school and says it was recovery proved to be long only by the grace of God and and difficult. through the compassion of Stowe’s family and loved her professors that she was ones stayed with her in the able to complete a semester. hospital during the first week “I wasn’t telling people I Saramonet Stowe, of her recovery. was worried about my scars, senior psychology major “It was an adjustment,” but in the back of my head I says Gloria Stowe, her mother. was nervous about them,” she “We were all concerned about Sara’s well-being. says. “For a long time I just didn’t feel pretty. I We were tired from long nights, but did not want had cuts all over my face; I had a gash on my knee to leave Sara alone.” and a huge brace.”

Stowe was able to leave the hospital a week Eventually, Stowe revisited her former after the accident, but she was confined to a boyfriend, which resulted in the two of them wheelchair. Despite her desire to continue with getting back together. She managed to complete school, Stowe had to withdraw from classes that semester of school and even went on to join because she was essentially bedridden. This was a three-week mission trip in Taiwan, where not only the beginning of her physical recovery she was required to walk extensively. Despite but of a challenging emotional recovery, as well. her usual pain and difficulty walking, even in “As time went, on I realized I’m not in small increments, Stowe felt no pain until she control,” she says. boarded the plane at the end of the trip.

For someone used to being on the go “Those three weeks — that was God,” she and independent, adjusting to recovery was says. especially tough for her. Not only did she need Not long after Stowe returned from her help with food, getting dressed and going to trip, her boyfriend broke up with her again. This

As time went on I realized, I’m not in control.”

Saramonet Stowe, senior psychology major, smiles aside her fiancé, Daniel Sunahara, during a trip to Niland, Calif.

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is when she says she painfully realized that all style and musical preferences slowly began of her self-worth had been placed in him. to change. She says she saw her pictures on “I do understand and now know that Instagram become more visibly cheerful and I allowed him to be the cause of many found her own taste in music. In the past, she issues of self-worth,” she says. “I didn’t stand only listened to her former boyfriend’s music. up for myself.”

Stowe and Sunahara even began to talk From there, Stowe became more rigorous again, but this time, she kept her perception in getting life back on track. of worth centered around herself and God. “I started counseling at CBU, found a new Looking back, Stowe says she can see how church, and then Daniel happened,” she says.

Sunahara played a huge role in her finding Daniel Sunahara, an Army serviceman, happiness again. met Stowe through “Daniel made me feel Twitter, and the two beautiful,” she says. “He exchanged sarcastic didn’t want anything from and goofy messages that me except to admire me.” ultimately led to them Stowe relates how meeting in-person. cold sends pain radiating “My initial thoughts through her body because about her was that I knew of the metal parts linked I loved her from the very to her bones. Sunahara beginning,” Sunahara would place warm objects says. on the scars to try to Stowe and Sunahara ease the pain. In these developed an unofficial moments, she needed relationship, but Stowe help up stairs. While her cut it off, uncertain about former boyfriend would diving into something never carry her upstairs, new.

Sunahara would carry her “I knew there was without being asked. someone out there for “Daniel is a very me,” she says, “but I Saramonet Stowe, understanding person,” knew I needed to focus senior psychology major she says. “He’ll carry me on God and get my stuff up the stairs. He’ll hold my together.” legs for me if I need it. … I know God placed Stowe dived into her emotional recovery him in my life, but I know I had to wait because instead, going to counseling and finding her I wasn’t ready.” place in a new church.

The now-engaged couple has maintained a “My counselor worked with me about how happy relationship despite Sunahara’s military my past doesn’t define me, about my ex, and commitments, and Stowe has maintained her about the accident,” she says. “The counselor commitment to seek God first. taught me, ‘Feel your emotions; it’s OK to cry.’

“I want to make sure I don’t ever lose Most of the time I felt anger. I was depressed for myself again in anyone else, because at the end two years … a lot of anger and a lot of sadness.” of the day, humans are not reliable,” she says.

During that time, Stowe went through “God has always been there through it all. He’s a church program that focused on the the one that kept me safe during the accident. I empowerment of women and encouraged should be dead.” women to see their worth. Stowe’s clothing Stowe can now see how the accident did

It made so many people get down on their knees and pray, and if that's all it did, that's enough for me.”

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more good than damage. The accident brought her family closer together, helped her move past an unhealthy relationship, and sparked new faith in others.

“It brought people closer,” she says. “It made so many people get down on their knees and pray, and if that’s all it did, that’s enough for me.”

The future is optimistic for not only Stowe but her loved ones as well.

“You could be doing everything right, but it doesn’t mean that nothing bad will ever happen to you. When you do encounter those hurdles throughout your life, you’ve got to remain strong — physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually — and always have good faith,” Sunahara says.

Stowe, who has always dreamed of being a mother, now works as a nanny and volunteers with the kids at her church. Although she worries about having her own kids someday, in the meantime, she enjoys taking care of ones that are not her own.

The accident turned her life upside down, but Stowe and her loved ones choose to see the good through it all.

“It was difficult,” says Gloria Stowe. “We knew she would have a long road, but we knew we would all make it together, and I believe she did.”

As for the memories of the past, Stowe says she no longer looks at her scars.

“I will touch them, just to feel them,” she says. “They’re not as gruesome as they were.

They were pretty gross, but of course they were.

They were new. Everything takes time to heal. … Emotionally I had to heal and physically, as well.”

To her, the scars no longer hold any power over her. She does not consider them a problem. To her, they are a part of her but they do not define her.

“I’ve learned to slow down,” Stowe says of her continuing journey of personal growth.

“I’ve learned everyone has his or her own journey, their own path, and they all go at different paces.” ◆

RELATIONSHIPS

Top left: A nurse dresses Stowe’s wounds at the hospital, including the stitches in her legs.

Top right: Stowe’s Honda Civic is barely recognizable after the life-changing accident.

Bottom: Stowe and her fiancé Sunahara look out at the sunset during a trip to Niland, Calif.

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C U LT U R E S H O C K

Coming to

AMERICA America seen through the eyes of international students

Written By Kathleen Phillips Illustrated by Taji Saleem

e wave and smile to strangers walking by, but call the police when one is standing on the edge of our property. “What’s up?” has been turned into a rhetorical greeting and “I’ll talk to you soon” is just a polite way to end a conversation — we do not necessarily mean it.

In church we give money to missions with little concern to what kind of conditions in which people in other countries are living. We speak of culture shock when going to a new country, but find it hard to understand why those from other countries might feel uncomfortable coming to America — the land of dreams and opportunity.

The ones who come to America, whether to live or to visit, are shocked by the cultural differences of Americans' post-modern, fast-paced lifestyle.

The reasons can be small and fleeting, or obvious and substantial. Despite America’s freedom, wealth and diversity, and often because of it, many things about the culture make them uncomfortable.

They know they are not home.

Imagine America seen through the eyes of outsiders. The ability to empathize and understand others — their thoughts

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and culture — can inspire and motivate positive social change in America. Making the effort to relate to people from different places can create a unique community strengthened through diversity, making America an even greater “melting pot.”

Mayu Fukasawa, senior cello performance major at California Baptist University, is from Japan and came to America to attend CBU. She says knowing how to communicate with Americans proved to be an uncomfortable and difficult obstacle.

“I definitely had to adjust myself when communicating with people. It’s not only because of the language, but also because I didn’t know how to show the right amount of respect to others or know how friendly to be when meeting new people,” Fukasawa says.

In other cultures, different forms of language are used to show a level of respect to the person being spoken to. In America, formality varies depending on the intimacy of the relationship. For example, students may acknowledge a professor by their first name, but with others it is a formal “Doctor” or “Professor.” Children may speak to their friends' parents using “Mr.” or “Mrs.” while others address

parents by their first name.

“In Japan, especially to strangers, older people and people who are of a higher rank, you have to use certain words, sentences and grammar (called Keigo) to show that you’re being respectful to them,” Fukasawa continues. “In the United States, people speak to strangers with a friendly attitude and that’s completely normal. I can’t say that is bad or good because Japanese culture can be seen as respectful but also close-minded.

Americans are seen as open and friendly but also as rude or fake.”

Rebekah Leininger, senior fine arts major, grew up in Belarus, lived in Russia and attended boarding school in Germany for three years. She has experienced many different cultures and is used to adjusting her comforts to fit the society where she is. In 2014 Leininger moved to America to attend CBU and despite her familiarity with different countries and customs, she says the United States is a completely different world to her.

Without making note of it, Americans are raised to be socially friendly, extroverted in their exchanges. It is not uncommon to have a stranger smile, wave, initiate a conversation, use small-talk or

RELATIONSHIPS

States is wasteful, informal and does little to give advice and directions. To Americans these promote healthy lifestyles. quick exchanges are considered polite gestures; “America is very fast-paced and attracted in some cultures, more than one would think, it to convenience,” Leininger says. is thought to be insincere, abrasive, coarse.

Americans do tend to focus on what is “Socially, in America, people are really convenient and comfortable. Internationals friendly, but it comes off as fake,” Leininger often view Americans as naive and selfish, says. “It was hard for me. When I saw (people) searching only for what will bring immediate or talked to them, they acted so friendly and satisfaction and pleasure. Reaching beyond nice. They would say ‘Oh, let’s hang out!’ but the easily accessible into the different and then not even mean it. I realized they were just uncomfortable is difficult for Americans. being polite for the situation. I don’t want to say Valerie Paris, in an article for PBS' it’s not genuine, but that’s how it feels.”

“Newshour” titled “Why do Americans spend Because of the absences of follow-ups so much on pharmaceuticals,” reports that the after interactions, Americans may come off as United States is ranked No. 1 for the number of flaky and inconsiderate. medicines bought and the amount of money “There’s a level in American culture where spent on prescription drugs. people are friendly and nice to anyone they “The American health care system doesn’t know, so it’s hard to know when you get to the really care about training point of actually being your body to be healthy their friend,” Leininger and heal itself naturally. says. “I’ve adapted to it They just ignore you until and appreciate it now. It you’re really sick and then gives opportunities for they just pop drugs into strangers to chat. I’ve you,” Leininger says. come to appreciate that This tendency to now that I understand cling to what is easy — the what’s going on.” desire for a “quick-fix” — is Although at times also apparent in America’s Americans may seem Christian churches. The fake to internationals, it Washington Post released is a dynamic that can be Rebekah Leininger, an article by Rachel Held utilized to foster greater senior fine arts major Evans covering that trend understanding.

Most in American churches. She points out that Americans' ability to talk to others easily can, churches are embracing the familiar American with a little sensitivity, invite international patterns of marketing, consumerism and peoples into U.S. communities. Being genuine entertainment. with others creates a more welcoming place.

“Churches have made news in recent Instead of participating in pointless chatter, years for giving away tablet computers, TVs and there can be thoughtful exchanges that might even cars at Easter,” Evans writes. “And, foster a genuinely friendly, globally relevant contrary to popular belief, the fog machines and more aware way of living in the world. and light shows at those slick evangelical America has increasingly maintained conferences didn’t make things better for me. a tolerant atmosphere. In other countries, They made the whole endeavor feel shallow, “People expect you to fit into a certain category forced and fake.” and if you don’t, they dismiss you as a loon,” When international students come to Leininger says.

America from a country that has religious views Within the variety of lifestyles represented and practices rooted in meaningful tradition or in the United States, it is almost guaranteed cultural beliefs, Christianity in America may that anyone can find a comfortable community. seem like an entertainment factory, forcing a While internationals may feel easily accepted sub-Christian agenda more like Disneyland into the culture, they may not feel as cared than the community of God’s people. for or respected. Subtle culture differences Daniel Shaw is a sophomore undeclared become off-putting and create distance. For major who, like Leininger, has spent time in example, in Leininger’s experience, the United

America is very fastpaced and attracted to convenience.”

plenty of other countries. Being born in Botswana and residing there for seven years, living in Zambia for four years, and moving to South Africa for six years while attending boarding school in Kenya, Shaw has had to grow accustomed to many cultures. Shaw, a son of missionaries, comments on the condition of the American church culture.

“Churches are a lot bigger here, but I have seen that they, at least, have a large emphasis on community,” Shaw says. “Another difference is that in the States, sermon topics seem to be more topical, self-help based, while churches I went to overseas tended to be very scriptural.”

Like Evans, Shaw comments on the tendency for American churches to be have a heavy emphasis on entertainment.

“I see a lot of entertainment in the churches here. Worship, especially, is like entertainment — tons of lights and big screens. It’s all about the people on stage and tends not to be about the creator of the universe,” Shaw says. “It’s not the overall intention, but for me and other people coming from other countries, it could easily be thought that it’s only about the musicians on stage.”

Especially today, people are constantly hearing about others from varying countries coming to America.

Whether they are international students, refugees, or immigrants all are coming with impressions that have been made by the actions of Americans. Seeing American society with fresh eyes can quickly reveal the country that the United States has become — an impression of pride or shame. ◆

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child of an

ADDIC T how children of addicts hurt, heal and grow

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RELATIONSHIPS

Written by Hayley Folk Photos courtesy of Hayley Folk t was late in the evening. The light from the television screen dimly lit the plain, desolate living room and the sound of Bill Cosby’s “Kids Say The Darndest Things” was muffled beneath the profanities and hatred coming from behind the door of the next room.

Crouched in the corner of the living room and wrapped in her “blankie,” a little girl awaited the ending of a screaming match that began over a grocery trip gone wrong.

Filled with anxiety and fear, her golden hair covered the tears streaming down her tiny, flushed face. If only for a split-second, quiet would flood the air — and just as quickly as it came, it was shattered by the sound of her mother’s yellow hairdryer crashing into the wall.

The girl had always despised that hairdryer and was glad to later learn it had broken.

The mother often forced her daughter’s fine, wispy hair into a perfect hairdo with the help of that hot, yellow hairdryer. Often, the little girl would cry from the pulling, tugging and manipulating of her golden strands, much like she would cry from the pulling, tugging and manipulating of her parents’ emotional and physical war. If she complained about having her hair done, her mother would whack her head with the heavy, wooden hairbrush.

The girl never complained about the screaming, the unusual sleep habits, the absence of her parents when she needed them most or the emotional toll all of it took on her little mind. Uncertain of what would happen if she did complain, she never said a word.

Both of her parents used methamphetamine to feed their daily addictions. She knew that something in this routine was not normal, but she remained puzzled by the cause of her parents’ behavior. She was only 4 years old.

As the young girl grew, her life began to change. At 5 years old, her parents finally decided to split up. Usually this would leave a young child confused and hurting, but she never felt that her family had been torn apart.

For things to be torn apart, they would have needed to be whole in the first place.

Shortly after the split, her father obtained full custody of his daughter. Her mother

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disappeared, consumed with her own habits and lifestyle. Her dad became her entire world — they spent every day together.

In the early morning, before he went to work, they would sit side-by-side and eat a bowl of Wheaties together. After a long day, they would watch episodes of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” He would tuck her into bed, often chase her around the house playing “tickle monster,” reminding her that he cared.

Things finally seemed better. He made sure she was fed, clothed and happy. Some nights, she would wake up and he would not be

You have to be strong, take it day by day and push through in order to heal.” home. She stayed up until he returned. Other nights, she would sleep on his friend’s couch as the grownups played darts and drank until dawn.

Still, he never failed to make her feel safe and loved. Many picture-day photos displayed her ‘80s-esque side ponytail held up by a bright pink scrunchie and her cheesy, toothless smile.

To her, the side ponytail was the best hairstyle in the whole wide world; she was clueless that her father wanted the ponytail straight but he could never manage to get it just right. To her, anything beat the emotional turmoil of that yellow hairdryer.

During the next few years, she spent a lot of her time with her paternal grandmother. She called her Granny, who played make-believe, told bedtime stories and taught her how to read at a fifth-grade level — she was only in the second grade.

Hayley Folk, CBU alumnus poses for a photo with her father.

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It was a time for her to be what she was: A little girl with dreams of riding a pony, growing up to be a vampire slayer, and writing her own stories about a detective who found toys for children who lost track of their own.

One afternoon, Granny asked the 7-yearold a seemingly simple question: “How would you feel about living with Granny for awhile?”

Bursting with excitement and curiosity, she replied, “Yes! Daddy and I could live with you!”

Quickly, she learned daddy would not be coming along.

The excitement and curiosity faded behind her grief, sadness and discomfort. On Jan. 22, 2003, her father was admitted into a rehabilitation facility. She spent the next year living with Granny, the alternative to living in a foster care home.

This was not the first time her parents’ addictions had affected her. However, it was the first time that her father’s addiction and choice to receive treatment radically changed her.

Now, the little golden-haired girl is no longer a 7 year old but a 21-year-old woman. I am that woman. oday, I am no longer trapped within the constant feeling of hollow, painful bitterness. Between my childhood to now, I have managed

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to find solace and comfort in the experiences I thought would always wreak havoc on my inner-self.

When my father sought recovery, my life was changed forever. From the very beginning of my existence to now, he has been there to fill my world with love, bear hugs and endless encouragement.

I was born on June 3, 1995, in San Bernardino, California. Born three months early, and weighing in at only 1 pound, 15 ounces, I was in the neonatal intensive care unit for 105 days. There was never a day that he did not remain by my side.

From then on, my father was the one constant within my life. As he lived in his addiction, he knew he wanted to do better— for himself, but also for me. Today, my father has been clean for 14 years and I have never been more proud to be the daughter of a man as caring, selfless and strong.

In his recovery, my father constantly shares his story and counsel with other addicts.

He knows the power that addiction can have over addicts and those close to them. He chooses to share his story so that others can continue to gather the strength, alongside him, to keep moving forward.

“Recovery has taught me to be honest

with myself,” my father says. “Bad, good or indifferent, I know that my decisions affect those around me.”

Personally, my father’s decision to seek treatment was life-changing for both of us.

Unlike him, my mother did not choose to take the same path. She has sought recovery dozens of times. Yet she continues to return to her addiction, seeking the comfort that it briefly offers her. I have not seen my mother in 10 years; I have no clue where she currently is. As a child, she was not around much. I felt my mother chose her addiction over her love for me. I did not understand my situation. But through many years of counseling, support from my family and friends, God’s love and countless hours of writing (which I have always found therapeutic) I have found a peace that surpasses the pain I felt.

Addiction affects everyone involved: the addict, family, friends and acquaintances.

Above all, the children of addicts are often impacted more than anyone else.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 12 percent of children under the age of 18 live with at least one parent who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. SAMHSA also reports that they are

RELATIONSHIPS

more likely to be neglected, develop feelings of emotional disturbance or illness and develop their own addiction entering adulthood. icole Dionisia, a residential substance abuse counselor at Michael’s House in Palm Springs, Calif., described her work with addicts and their children. She says that it is difficult to fully predict what effect a parent’s addiction and treatment will have on his or her children. However, it is clear that treatment is a step in the right direction.

“Most of our patients have at least one parent who is also an addict or alcoholic, which means that they have a genetic predisposition to becoming addicted to a substance, as well as being exposed to the lifestyle that comes along with it. However, that is not always what happens,” Dionisia says. “For anyone in this situation, either the addict or the child of an addict, I would always recommend getting help. Seeking treatment, counseling or other resources of help is the best thing to do.”

Dionisia says it seems unfair that children, who are often helpless in these situations, cannot receive the guidance and help they deserve. However, many are able to access help later in life through organizations that provide services for them to understand and make peace with their past, present and future.

She also says the children of addicts,

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regardless of age, will always carry remnants of their parents’ addiction with them, but they have the power to change the way they perceive their circumstances and move forward in a healthy, positive way.

Addiction does not discriminate; it can take hold of anyone regardless of gender, ethnicity, wealth or age. Therefore, each experience and circumstance of a child of an addict varies greatly.

If you met a wife and mother of two in San Jacinto, Calif., you would never guess she comes from two addicted parents. Her story is one of vulnerability and strength.

“Growing up was stressful; I hated my life as a child,” she says. “I felt forced to mature much quicker because my parents were hardly around. They were usually locked in their bedroom getting high.”

She recalls the day her childhood home was raided by the sheriff ’s department.

Screaming and the barking of police dogs filled the house, striking fear into the 5-year-old girl.

The police took her parents away and she was sent to foster care. There, she learned about addiction and why her parents were not fit to take care of her.

Today, this woman struggles with severe anxiety that stems from her experiences with her parent’s addictions. She still receives

counseling services that she began at age 12.

Five years ago, her father sought treatment and has been clean since.

“Now that I have children of my own, I have the perfect example of what not to be,” she says. “You have to be strong, take it day-by-day and push through in order to heal.”

Addiction is not simple. It is painful and oftentimes, those affected by it do not know how to move forward. Although many children of addicts feel isolated, we are never alone.

The availability of encouraging, helpful resources is growing rapidly: the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, SAMHSA’s National Helpline and the Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization are all organizations designed to help provide support and resources to children of addicts who are already grown or are still children.

If you or someone you know is a child of an addict, encourage yourself or someone else to seek the help they deserve. It is my hope that another child of an addict will use the resources offered to receive help in moving forward.

It took me several years, but once I began my journey toward receiving the help I needed, I saw the positive impact it has. Counseling changed the way I perceived my situation, allowed me to find inner peace, gain acceptance and develop the strength to forgive. Through my mother’s absence, addiction is still an everpresent factor in my life, but I no longer let it define who I am, where I am going, or what I think of myself.

With this chapter ending, I have found myself reflecting on what I have done and where I have been. For my next chapter and the one after that, I am thankful for my experience with addiction, in both the past and the present. ◆

Left: Hayley’s grandma lifts her up and holds her during a family party.

Right: Ten-month-old Hayley and her father wear matching Raiders hats.

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T R AV E L

day tripping to

A E u rope a n Ge taway I n So ca l s Backya rd Written by Morgan Culberson Illustrated by Jessica Rose

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or many travel junkies who have ventured beyond the borders of our own culture, returning to the ordinary can be difficult. Not because of the workload or the growing to-do list or even the financial stress that naturally accompanies the regular routine of life.

Rather, our ears have grown accustomed to the ambient noise of a once unknown place.

Our shoulders have become used to the hulking weight of a backpack; our feet perhaps inured to the blisters we proudly accrued from getting lost in a strange city.

Although there is always comfort in coming home, we cannot help but miss the adventure of exploring a new crevice of the globe.

Solvang, California, is an oasis for such wanderers with cabin fever. A small town planted by three Danish men in the early 20th century, Solvang is a charming piece of modern Denmark nestled in a valley just north of Santa Barbara. From its architecture and food to its warm and sociable residents, one cannot help but feel as though he or she has taken a detour through Scandinavian territory. “(There is) the small town charm and warmth — I didn’t realize I had a unique

growing up until I moved away to go to college,” says Kristen Klitgaard, Visitor’s Information Specialist and lifelong resident of Solvang.

“We’ve got a wonderful, charming town to walk around on Saturday afternoons or even after school. We'd go down after school to Ingeborg’s (Danish) Chocolates and get our chocolates or the ice cream. … It’s just a very warm, tight-knit community.”

It is hard to believe that Solvang is considered a home to nearly six thousand people as you walk down streets that feel so much like the setting of a fairytale.

Windmills tower high above the roofline no matter what downtown street you’re walking.

Even though the windmills are not in use, they are a salute to Denmark, which produces the highest capacity of wind power in the world.

A clock tower chimes on the hour as you make your way down the brick-lined streets past the shops with “velkommen” signs in the windows, past rows of brightly colored buildings reminiscent of iconic Copenhagen.

Of course, much of this is strictly for tourists’ sake, but this only heightens the feeling of spending a day in western Europe.

You cannot visit Paris or Rome or Copenhagen

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without feeling as though you have stepped onstage and everyone is putting on a big performance. Solvang, although much smaller, is no exception to this rule. Fortunately, it also means that behind the costumes and props are the hidden gems you will not find in a guidebook.

“I would definitely recommend the Bethania Lutheran Church,” Klitgaard says.

“That is a landmark, and not a lot of our visitors tend to go over there.”

The Lutheran church, built in 1928 in the traditional Danish style of rural churches, was the first of its style to be built in Solvang and remains unchanged today. While the outside is seemingly simple, the inside sanctuary is a pleasant surprise: hand-carved wooden pulpit, stained glass windows and model ship hanging from the center of the ceiling as a reminder of the fishermen at sea and the church’s role as a place of safety.

Unlike the shops in the center of town, the open church building remains almost completely unvisited, leaving those who do happen to find it to admire its beauty in a sacred silence.

The architecture is hardly the sole reflection of Danish culture. If you are not already absorbed by it after walking through the stores stockpiled with clogs, cookbooks and curios, the food is sure to do you in. One of the many characteristics for which Solvang is known is its numerous pastry and candy shops, which are no less than chock full of cookies, macaroons, eclairs, tarts, strudels and plenty more traditional treats.

It is nearly impossible to avoid trying one candy after another once you have been lured in by the wafting aroma of sugary batters. Some of the more unique treats include polkagris — a Swedish peppermint stick on which the candy cane was based — and aebleskiver, a light and fluffy pancake ball drizzled with a raspberry preserve.

Alouette Pettit, junior nursing major, has grown up visiting the town regularly and says it is her family’s tradition to buy eclairs at Mortensen’s Bakery any time they visit Solvang together. The regular time they have spent in the town has made it a place of “sentimental value.”

“We like it because it’s something we can all easily do together,” she explains. “With my sister in a wheelchair, it’s sometimes hard for us to find activities we can all do and enjoy. But

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Solvang has a certain comfort to it. It’s easily accessible and familiar, yet still has something new for us to do, or a nook we haven’t explored.”

Alouette Pettit, junior nursing major Solvang has a certain comfort to it. It’s easily accessible and familiar, yet still has something new for us to do, or a nook we haven’t explored.”

Solvang’s strong dedication to the arts makes it a new adventure upon every visit.

Festivals, plays, dances — there is always something new happening.

Jennifer Gette, docent at Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, explains that the arts play a large part in Danish culture because Denmark had “storms flattening them regularly,” creating a desire to “turn vice into virtue” through the arts. Solvang’s location in Southern California has only fostered that love of the arts because, Gette explains, it draws in tourists who already have an appreciation for them.

A unique piece of Scandinavian culture, Solvang is the closest thing to hopping on a plane and heading to Europe for a day. The city is a hardy cure for travelers yearning for a piece of the unfamiliar. ◆

santa maria

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bakersfield

pasadena RIVERSIDE anaheim long beach temecula

oceanside

san diego Pursuit | 19

A Beginner's Guide To: road tripping Create the Perfect automobile adventure

Written by Rachael Kerchner Photo Illustration by Mariss Eanes riving down a seemingly endless road, windows down, music playing, watching miles upon miles of landscape swoop by in a flash, surrounded by friends, stomach full and catchy tunes blaring from the car speakers — these are the things that make up a perfect road trip. Before hitting the road, make sure everything is planned, packed and ready to go.

MAP IT OUT There is always room for spontaneity on a road trip, but having a specific destination in mind will be more efficient and motivating.

Always assign a “co-pilot” with a good sense of direction to follow a GPS or a map, if he or she is old-school. It is helpful to have some kind of itinerary mapping out rest stops, where to avoid toll roads and which cool places to check out along the way.

budget where money is going to be spent. Try local diners, which are often much cheaper than chain restaurants. Use reward cards for gas if possible, which could save a chunk of cash.

BE COMFORTABLE We all know the struggle of napping inside a car, which is why a pillow and a light blanket are absolutely necessary. Avoid bulky blankets that take up too much space and end up cramping the car. Wear sweatpants, those comfy fuzzy socks, old clothes you can spill food on — wear whatever will be the most comfortable during hours of being crammed in a small space.

Icebreaker’s Bodyfit line of clothes offers breathable, odor-resistant pieces that can last for a while without a wash. Clever Travel Companion also offers a multitude of pants and shirts with hidden pockets to provide a safe place for wallets and passports. Make sure to bring layers in case the weather at stops changes unexpectedly.

TAKE PRECAUTIONS

It is easy to get caught up in the moment and spend much more than intended, so use the right smartphone applications to fill up at the cheapest places, bring food from home and

Take safety into consideration. Keep a first-aid kit, flashlight, matches, blanket and plenty of water in the car to be prepared for any emergency situation. It is also imperative to have a fully charged phone to contact help in case of an emergency.

In case the car breaks down, have numbers

Animoto

Life 360 A locator app that allows family

BUDGET MONEY

apps Waze

A mobile navigation app that provides live maps and real-time updates. This app offers multiple routes, notifications, speedtrap alerts and comparable gas prices.

Roomer A hotel-finding app that allows road-trippers to buy room reservations from people who can no longer use theirs.

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This app will turn photos from the trip into quality videos that are easy to make and share.

GasBuddy

The world’s largest community-based fuel app. This app helps find the cheapest gas, closest gas stations and discounts.

and friends to see their loved ones' location so they can track their progress. Life 360 minimizes the amount of texting while driving, making the trip safer, because those wanting to know the whereabouts of a person will be able to check without calling or texting.

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of car repair shops or insurance companies handy. One item to especially keep in the vehicle is the ever-useful Duct Tape. It can be used to temporarily fix a busted hose, prevent glass from getting in the car if something hits the windshield or “fix” a broken tail light.

Some helpful items to keep in the car include a no-spill gas can, jumper cables, flashlight, roadside flares, flat tire inflation canister, a spare tire and jack and small tool kit. The more prepared, the better.

carbs while the protein and fat stabilize blood sugar. Fruit such as tangerines, grapes, berries and even dried fruits such as raisins keep energy up while delighting the taste buds. Bananas and apples are favored road trip fruits for being full of vitamins and fiber. Almonds are full of magnesium and offer a bit of protein. Granola bars are quick, tasty and filling. Beef jerky is also a good choice because it has plenty of protein with added convenience.

FOOD

A lot of words can be used to describe a road trip. Many times, the main word is: boring. Read a book if carsickness is not an issue, or watch a movie on a laptop. Car karaoke or group games such as the alphabet game, I-spy, telephone and one-word-stories can also make time fly. Bring an audio book or listen to a podcast if your car crew is the type to enjoy learning something new.

Now all that is left to do is grab some friends, fill up the gas tank, make the perfect playlist and hit the road to make some amazing memories. ◆

In order to avoid becoming “hangry,” road trip snacks are a must. Look for an ideal combination of complex carbohydrates and protein and fat for fuel, but also have some guilty favorites.

Whether the reason for eating food is because of hunger or just boredom, there are a few snack staples that are recommended to have in the car.

Hummus gives a boost of energy from the

ENTERTAINMENT

PURSUIT STAFF's road trip PLAYLIST

12:00 PM

Library

Songs

Sort

Greek Tragedy The Wombats There's a Honey Pale Waves Send Me On My Way Rusted Root I Believe In a Thing Called Love The Darkness Into the Wild Eddie Vedder Baby I'm Yours Arctic Monkeys Waiting on a Song Dan Auerbach Youth Glass Animals All Star Smash Mouth Carry On Wayward Son Kansas

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Sailing

Written by Katie Kostecka Photos Courtesy of Jared Baumer

a c ross

Pacific the

) t s o m (al Pursuit | 23

A

t 2 and a half years old, he rigged a ladder out of a stack of chairs so he could lie atop his backyard fence and view the neighbor’s cacti, pool and dog eight feet below. As he aged, the challenges became greater: building a torch in his backyard, slacklining over canyons in Laguna, California.

When Jared Baumer, senior accounting major, told his mother his plans for his next great adventure, it came as no surprise.

“Jared has always had an adventurous spirit,” says his mother, Susan Mary Baumer. “(He) has always been a risk taker so I have come to accept some of his activities … some of which are dangerous and he would do with or without my permission.”

The next challenge was sailing the Pacific Ocean from Southern California to Hawaii. Baumer is part of an online platform that connects people with a nautical itch.

It was on this platform he connected with the captain of a 42-foot Cascade Sloop. In exchange for help manning the boat, the captain would take Baumer and another man, Spenser Scorselletti from Austin, Texas, across the sea.

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Most adventure movies are filled with detours, mishaps and conflict. This adventure lived up to those expectations for the three-man crew. Swells up to 15-feet high rocked the boat, causing Baumer to be rocketed out of his bunk several times each night, creating an impossible environment for cooking. The ceaseless rocking and the vastness of the ocean surrounding the sailboat caused Baumer to fear for his life.

“I never thought at a point in my life I would have to pray to God to give me satisfaction in knowing that his will is done, even if that means that I am to die,” he says.

“So if I were to die on this trip, I can still praise God and bring him glory through my death. I never thought I’d pray that prayer in my life and come to a point of satisfaction in it. That was very spiritually and mentally and emotionally (taxing).”

Throughout the trip, Baumer says he was able to see glimpses of God’s handiwork and timing. The stunning night sky, filled with more stars than he had ever seen, gave Baumer some much-needed peace. He was also given opportunities to be a light to others. Scary circumstances draw people

together, and this was no different.

Baumer and Scorselletti had several conversations about faith and bonded over a mutual interest in a software application Scorselletti is creating. Baumer was also given the opportunity to put a smile on the captain’s face by making dinners of a higher caliber than the captain was used to eating.

These simple interactions in fellowship, in the midst of a scary and spontaneous trip, showed Baumer that God’s plan is greater than his own.

However, it is difficult to put a positive spin on situations in which your life is in peril and all your plans go out the window.

Along with rough seas came technical difficulties.

On Day 5, the weather made it necessary for them to “heave to,” or stay still, for the night. This requires an extra sail, or jib, to be put up. Unfortunately, the jib furling line, the rope that rolls and unrolls the sail, broke.

They were in the process of repairing it on Day 6 when the forestay, a wire that keeps the sail from falling backward, snapped.

This led to the executive decision to turn around and head back to San Diego.

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Exactly one week after setting sail, Baumer was awakened by yells that the engine had overheated and stopped. In the process of cooling the engine and rigging the spare emergency jib, the crew realized their path to San Diego was taking them further south, toward Mexico.

Baumer had one main problem with this: He had not packed his passport. There was little time to dwell on this issue because another pressing matter came to the forefront: the spare emergency jib ripped.

The captain was able to sew it back together with thread and floss.

The accumulation of stressful situations, exhaustion and mishaps caused Baumer to wake up on Day 12 feeling ill. By the next day, his distress had transformed to full-fledged vertigo. Unable to stand and

wedged between furniture, Baumer was vulnerable, scared and homesick.

Waking up the following day feeling more himself, Baumer went about his duties when there was another tear in the jib. It was repaired by the captain, but only temporarily.

That evening it shredded. Baumer spent his night shift constantly soaked, freezing and wondering if he would ever make it home.

The massive waves of the angry sea, the changed plans, and a disintegrating boat left its passengers fearing the worst.

“It was like the world was coming to an end,” Scorselletti says.

Though there was tension and varying opinions on the course to take back to land, the crew finally anchored off the shore of Punto San Hipolito, Mexico, on Day 17. The captain stayed in the village to repair his

boat while Baumer and Spenser hitched a ride with a local man named Jesus to the bus station. Baumer’s priority was to go to the United States’ consulate in Tijuana to sort out how to get through the border. On the 11-hour bus ride from Vizcaino to Tijuana, Baumer finally able to update his mother by texting her. She says she was not surprised to receive a text from Baumer.

“I knew this was who he was when he was learning to crawl,” she says of his independent spirit.

Fortunately, Baumer made his way across the border without a hitch. Adjusting to the comforts of home and recounting his experience, Baumer says, “I don’t think I’ll ever do anything as challenging or scary in my life for a long time.”

He returned from the journey with a renewed thankfulness for life and ready for the next adventure — preferably a dry one. ◆

Previous page: The 42-foot Cascade Sloop ventures across the Pacific Ocean on its charted course to Hawaii.

Top left: The crew approaches Mexico after 17 grueling days of sailing the Pacific Ocean.

Middle: Jared and the captain mend the sail after several mishaps on their expedition.

Bottom: A day-by-day map of the ship’s progress shows the crew’s full journey by sea.

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S cial Media

Distortion Critical influence of the internet on body image

Written by Kaitlynn Labit Photo Illustrations by Katie Ring Lighting. Posing. Framing. Captioning.

The four components that make an Instagram photo earn the highest number of likes and comments are also the four components that strongly influence social media consumers.

Designed as a social community to share photos, Instagram has instead turned into a trend-setting platform. Instagram is more than a collection of photos for people to browse, and its “feed” has become more than a figurative

26 | Pursuit

term for it truly feeds users with images promoting health and body image.

“It’s easy to look at people’s photos and compare yourself and ask, ‘OK, what can I do to get to that level?’” says Katelyn Grafton, senior health science major.

During her sophomore year at California Baptist University, Grafton started her Instagram modeling career after being involved in a friend’s project to advertise a company’s product. It was then that her Instagram profile changed from a feed flooded with funfilled memories of her friends and family to a portfolio to market products, photographers

and herself.

Soon after modeling in the initial product shoot and integration into the Instagram network of photographers, self-proclaimed “Instagram models” and companies, Grafton temporarily found her place as a “beach, fit and lounge” model.

Out of the various companies that Grafton promoted, a tea detox program meant to help people lose weight sent her more than free tea to try.

Along with the samples, they also sent her a contract filled with restrictions and expectations she had to meet, including not

LIFESTYLE

It’s easy to look at people’s photos and compare yourself and ask, ‘OK, what can I do to get to that level?’”

Katelyn Grafton, senior health science major This photographic illustration is intended to highlight the focus of social media's stereotype of a “perfect figure.”

affiliating with other tea companies and posting one to two photos a week promoting the product and blogging her experience.

Despite the company’s claims that the tea itself is responsible for weight loss, the main requirement placed on Grafton — which would make or break the deal — was to work out, meet with a personal trainer and provide proof that she was doing so.

“It was fake. I didn’t even finish the tea,” Grafton says. “It was just tea. It was a whole marketing thing.”

Grafton says she grew tired of posting photos about the tea, and when she stopped

putting up as many photos as before, the company contacted her with incentives, such as extra money or more product to advertise.

While the “teatox” is a direct way of influencing health and body image, Grafton says she also used her swimsuit photos to promote the product and, at the time, did not recognize what she was actually promoting.

“I was so wrapped up in it that I was blinded by the message I was giving off,” Grafton says.

“I wasn’t promoting because of the product. I was promoting because that was the business of it. It wasn’t helping men become godlier men because they would scroll through their feed

and see someone in a swimsuit and it wasn’t helping women because they could look at me and think, ‘Oh, this is what is acceptable,’ and “This is what is culturally popular,’ or ‘I need to look like this.’”

After realizing the effect her Instagram posts were having on her followers and friends, Grafton says she decided to remove the photos that had no purpose behind them, and started to use her social media platform the way it was intended — to share her own photos.

“I don’t regret (Instagram modeling),” Grafton says. “Through it, God’s grace has been shown to me and that is really cool. It’s

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I was someone who people looked up to on social media and now I'm trying to take that and influence people in a different way."

Katelyn Grafton, senior health science major

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easy to look back at situations and say, ‘I wish I didn’t get involved with that,’ but sometimes God brings you to places where your weakness is turned into a strength. That’s what happened with me. I was someone who people looked up to on social media and now I’m trying to take that and influence people in a different way.”

Dr. Jennifer Harriger, associate professor of psychology at Pepperdine University, says, “Social media has played a tremendous role (in health and body image).”

The way society sees its mirror image has become more complicated in recent years, says Harriger, who teaches courses on developmental psychology, child clinical psychology, body image and eating disorders.

Over the course of seven years teaching her body image and eating disorders class, Harriger says she has had to shift the way her course tackles the cultural influences on body image as social media has advanced.

Harriger, whose research focuses on how young children develop beliefs about body size, says, “What we’re finding is that children as young as 3 are already demonstrating a preference for very thin or average size individuals and demonstrate negative beliefs about overweight individuals.”

Although influences on body image start at a young age, Harriger says she feels social media is a leading cause in people’s comparisons and dissatisfaction.

“What happens is when we view those pictures — because someone is not looking at a celebrity — it’s easier for them to feel discontent because they think, ‘Well this is someone that is like me,’ or ‘This is my friend’ or ’This is a friend of a friend, so if these pictures look so great, why don’t I look like that?’” Harriger says. “We aren’t taking into account the fact that people have edited those pictures heavily.”

The powerful sway social media has on a consumer’s mindset has transformed the way diets are marketed and how quickly people become dissatisfied with their own body image.

A trending topic Harriger has noticed in her research is “fitspiration.”

Whether used as a hashtag, a category on Pinterest or an Instagram page devoted to the idea of health and fitness, “fitspiration” is supposed to encourage a healthy lifestyle with models and “inspiration quotes,” but it accomplishes the opposite.

“Phrases like ‘Nothing tastes as good as

skinny feels’ or ‘How many push ups would you have to do in order to compensate for eating a cupcake?’ make people feel guilty when they look at those images and it encourages disordered behaviors,” Harriger says.

Although phrases and photos are supposedly inspiring people to lead a “healthier” lifestyle, Harriger warns against the hazardous nature of the “health” trends promoted on social media.

“A lot of the diets today are tricky,” she says. “They sound healthy, but detoxes or ‘the juice cleanse’ or any of these diets, while they sound like they’re a good thing, are not. When you read the science behind them, they’re dangerous for your body and yet people look at these and think, “I’ll be healthier if I do this.’”

Rather than fixating on the carefully curated marketing content of people who promote diets and cleanses on social media, Harriger suggests social media users shift their focus to avoid dissatisfaction. She encourages others to promote a healthy body in all shapes and sizes to change the social media status quo into one that promotes a positive body image encouraging confidence instead of diet and weight loss.

“We’ve been so brainwashed by our society to assume that people who are thin are healthy,” Harriger says. “People can be healthy at any size. The more we can teach young kids that, the more we can get the message out there that the way that someone looks — someone’s body type or someone’s weight — is not an indicator of how physically fit or healthy he or she is. We need to use social media to our advantage and learn how to send positive body images out instead of complaining about what’s already out there.”

“I cannot tell you how many times I fall down the rabbit hole of staring at stickthin, perfect ‘Instagram models,’ wishing I was them,” says Yumi, 19-year-old model for Wilhelmina New York and Los Angeles.

Averaging almost 4,000 views per YouTube video and close to 5,000 followers on Instagram, Yumi is shaking up the social media world by breaking up the monotonous feed of toned thighs and tiny waists with her message of self-love and body confidence.

Even though Yumi has been a model for the past eight years, appearing on websites and in catalogs for companies such as Forever21, Wet Seal, Eloquii and Love Culture, she

LIFESTYLE

struggled with self-confidence because of the social media standard for a “model.”

“It’s a fight to love yourself and stop the comparison when you have so many influential media platforms,” Yumi says.

During a summer vacation to Hawaii in 2016, her mindset shifted from being ashamed of her size and flaws to embracing every imperfection. She decided to begin using her social media to encourage others to feel comfortable in their own skin and help them acknowledge that health doesn’t automatically equate to a size double zero.

“I found freedom in loving myself and my body just as I am. I never want to go back and I only want to encourage others to join,” Yumi says. “It’s so exhausting living in a mind that is so self-loathing.”

Instead of succumbing to the endless scrolling of visually appealing Instagram feeds and allowing herself to be influenced or defined by society and social media, Yumi took control of the influence she has as a model and uses her digital platform to counter social media and have a new and positive influence.

“There’s a body-image revolution. With social media as an essential form of reaching others, your platforms are a powerful voice,” Yumi says. “Use social media to build others up.

Choose your words (and photos) wisely.” ◆

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thOSe DISPlaCeD Ethical Approach to the refugee crisis

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LIFESTYLE

Written by Paul Johnson Illustration by Kaylah Valdez

C

hristianity is a faith with strong ties to humanitarian efforts. Missionaries go to people in need to provide food, clothing and shelter. Within the past few years, however, this particular trope of American mission work has been altered by war and terrorism. This being the reality of the day, choices must be made by Christians to help the victims of the current refugee crisis.

According to the United Nations' website, “The world is witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. An unprecedented 65.6 million people around the world have been forced from home by conflict and persecution at the end of 2016. Among them are nearly 22.5 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18.”

However, in The Atlantic article, “What Should the U.S. Do About Refugee Resettlement?” Research shows that since 1975, the United States has admitted approximately 3 million refugees.

Millions of stateless people have been denied the expected regularity of nationality and access to what some consider basic rights, such as education, healthcare and employment, as well as freedom of movement.

For those accustomed to such rights, it is almost unfathomable to think of life apart from them. Paying bills, going to school or doing your dishes become luxuries instead of thoughtless acts.

The U.N. records on its website that “school attendance in Palestine has dropped by more than 50 percent and roughly onequarter of schools have been damaged, destroyed or are used as collective shelters.

More than half of Syria’s hospitals have been destroyed or badly damaged. Water supply has decreased to less than 50 percent of its pre-crisis levels. An estimated 9.8 million people are considered food insecure and many more are living in poverty.”

Though some of these areas do not sustain refugee status on those claims alone under the 1951 Refugee Convention, the

people who are living in, or have recently left, these locations may need some form of protection.

The current refugee crisis is not a moral issue. It is clear to non-threatening parties in all countries that safety is a necessity for anyone involved, including both those hosting dispersed people and those dispersed people themselves. The topic pertains to ethics.

Out of the options at hand, the question is not what should be done but what can be done and how the best choices can reach fruition as quickly as possible so that safety and well-being meet those in need. Romans 12:19-21 expresses the belief that followers of Christ are to feed even their enemies if they are hungry.

The Apostle Paul says to the Romans, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome with good.” The idea presented

by Paul is that as people, Christians specifically, the charge is to help others, namely those perceived as enemies, with the things they need. God will supply vengeance where it is due, if it is due.

Concerning the general issues of dispersed people and refugees, the only questions that may cause problems are where the people will go and from where that funding will come.

Brook Dane* lived in Turkey, one of Syria’s border countries, for six years.

“In Turkey, my family and I helped the Syrians who did not agree with Turkish government camps,” Dane says. “We provided them with both earthly and spiritual fulfillment. We also led teams to serve across the border in places of need.”

American Christians and non-Christians alike have a natural desire to keep themselves and their loved ones safe from harm. Many Americans see the refugees hoping to come to the United States from Syria, South Sudan and Afghanistan as potential threats to American safety.

The world is witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record.”

United Nations

*Name has been changed

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I talk to so many people who say, 'I wish I could do something to help.' Now and again we see people say, 'I will find a way to help.'

Don't just stand by and watch and wonder, just find some way to do it."

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This fear is genuine and possibly wellfounded, but is the best option at the moment to act quickly on that fear?

Dane says she believes that Americans should not fear refugees by default.

“An individual person should not be feared by others just because of his or her religion, skin color or language,” Dane continues. “We tend to assume things about certain people and compare them with what we think they are. If we live in fear, are we really living?

“Instead of fear, we need to replace that word with precaution. We should be careful just like we are with every other person we meet.”

Dr. Amy Stumpf, professor of society and religion at California Baptist University, has first-hand experience with refugees.

“Generally, there are two types of fear about refugees, particularly from the Middle East and Muslim countries. Sadly our leadership and the news have played on these unfounded fears,” Stumpf says. “One is that they will bring more terror. The reason these refugees get their visa is because they worked with the U.S. military, so they’ve already been vetted. In fact, all of them have been in the midst of battle with U.S. troops.”

Stumpf dismisses this fear as unfounded, stating, “They are victims of terror and they’re sensitive to its awful effects and they don’t want that around them.”

Stumpf is an advocate for starting personal relationships with refugees. She has seen that refugees need relationships, as well as medical and financial aid. Two or three dozen students work with Stumpf to assist refugees by driving them to the store, helping them make doctor’s appointments, and simply having dinner together.

“I talk to so many people who say, ‘I wish I could do something to help.’ Now and again we see people say, ‘I will find a way to help.’

Don’t just stand by and watch and wonder, just find some way to do it,” Stumpf says.

Imagine a group of children outside during a harsh storm unable to go to their respective homes. The moral thing to do is allow them into one’s own home, if possible.

The ethical dilemma is whether to let the children in with the perception that some might be dangerous to the other children once inside.

This hypothetical situation is not far from the reality faced by parts of Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which devastated the state late in August of this year.

In an article written by Aliyya Swaby in the Texas Tribune, Hurricane Harvey has delayed opening many Texas schools and some have become shelters. Reports say more than 1 million students have been affected as school districts figure out how their infrastructure will recover from the volume of water destroying highways and property.

Swaby quotes Thomas Hensley, principal of a Texas high school, that "put more than 250 inflatable mattresses in the two competition gymnasiums attached to the high school, turned the office space into a command center, started a nurse’s clinic in one section, and provided four computers for people to fill out their disaster assistance paperwork. All day long, people have shown up in droves, saying, ‘What can I do? Give me anything. How can I help?’”

Houston Independent School District is helping its students in another practical way, receiving approval to give all its students three free meals per day throughout the school year.

According to Swaby, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Superintendent Mark Henry says he wishes he had been more prepared for a potential 50 inches of rain, and said his district is going to make a disaster plan for something as traumatic as this one.

It took about a week to understand when things could start to be taken care of and from where resources for such aid would come. In like manner, but on a larger scale, refugees are homeless indefinitely with no idea when normality will begin.

Swaby reports that superintendents in the Houston area intend to only allow students back on campuses once they are deemed safe and operational. This shows the community wants its members to walk exclusively into safe environments. Globally, Christians should strive to help people stay safe and not be victims in dangerous lands.

What if this effort seen in Texas was implemented on a global scale? Even if some refugees were from countries considered enemies of the United States, Jesus calls his people to love their enemies, not only their

LIFESTYLE

fellow countrymen.

What is a college student to do with this information and call to action?

Dane suggests educating oneself.

“Welcome and learn about (refugees) with a genuine intention of friendship,” Dane says. “Helping with expenses is wonderful, but relationships are even better.”

Stumpf discusses another fear of some Americans about refugees: “They’ll take our jobs or they will drain the welfare system.

The reality in America is they get a couple months, at most, of benefits and then they are expected to have jobs; their kids have to be in school.

“They are innovative in getting work.

Many of them drive for Uber or Lyft, so they’re not taking our jobs, they’re contributing.”

In truth, individuals are the key to making change. This comes out-of-pocket, in free-time. This was clear as Texas parents and community members volunteered to assist in putting back together the pieces of the schools in which they believe.

In both situations, the hurricane and the refugee crises, there are forces driving innocent people from their homes and means of education, health and well-being. The way Texans responded to their internally dispersed people was methodical, sincere and hearty.

The current refugee crisis refuses to be swept under the rug because it is simply too large a reality for that to occur. But out of Texas’ natural disaster, people are helping one another build their recently destroyed homes and schools to reach a point of normality.

Though the differences between the two catastrophes largely pertain to proportion and differing laws, the basic situations are quite similar. If either of these is to be taken seriously, Henry’s idea must be heeded: Prepare for rain.

Going forward, preparation for events such as these is the responsible action that can be taken little by little while there is no disaster to thwart efforts.

As humans, just like those fleeing their homes overseas, Christians must see the need to educate themselves on humanitarian crises, trust in God for protection and justice, and make the ethical choices that have the potential to save the lives of those in need. ◆

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Discovering meaning amid Classic car parts

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LIFESTYLE

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Courtesy of José Trujillo Written by Randy Plavajka Photos by Randy Plavajka and José Trujillo

L

ate in 2003, an old 1972 Ford F-100 pickup truck arrived home inside the back of a tractor-trailer. With its worn paint, balding tires and fading chrome, the standard-sized truck’s age was waiting to be unveiled upon its arrival to the audience of a young child.

A 5-year-old boy eagerly awaited the moment of truth as his father stepped out of the big rig and walked toward the back to begin unloading the haul. Still unaware of the treasure inside as the ramp began to lower toward the ground, his level of excitement skyrocketed in anticipation of the big reveal.

Upon first sight, José Trujillo III, junior exercise science major at California Baptist University, knew at the age of 5 that the ’72 Ford was going to be his. The photographs of him proudly leaning against it as a kindergartner show a bright-eyed boy ready to take on the world in that truck.

Growing up, Trujillo’s father, José Trujillo Jr., bought and sold cars, oftentimes driving to Arizona to locate vehicles and haul them back on the tractor-trailer.

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“You never knew what it was going to be,” Trujillo says. “Every time my dad would bring a new car or something out, I would get to ride with him down the ramp. That was always so exciting because it was a new addition coming down and he actually kept (the ’72 Ford) which made me even happier.”

For the next few years, his father would use the truck as a utility vehicle, mainly for work. Its age was simply a number attached to the vehicle’s registration, especially to Trujillo, whose sights were set on one day restoring the vehicle to its full potential.

During that time, his father would salvage parts where he could, be it from junkyards or other vehicles, piecing the F-100 together as it became necessary.

“As the years went on, gas became more expensive (and) the parts too,” Trujillo says.

“Money was tight and he could not keep it up and running, so we just left it and it sat collecting dust for a good seven or eight years.”

Trujillo says he watched the old truck sit idle in the corner of a lot at his grandparents’ house until his grandfather

LIFESTYLE

Top Left: José Trujillo, then 5, sits in the driver’s seat of the 1972 Ford F-100 ready to drive down the trailer’s ramp.

Above: Trujillo, junior exercise science major, uses a wrench on the 5.4L V8 fit for the F-100.

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Trujillo reaches down into the engine bay to tighten bolts, securing the engine to the frame.

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provided him inspiration.

A couple of years ago, his grandfather, José Trujillo Sr., began restoring a 1952 Dodge Royal from the ground up. He completely rebuilt it and returned the vehicle to its original glory, all the while laying the groundwork for what would motivate José to embark on his own restoration project.

“The first thing I knew I had to do was get it running and get it out of here to see

what it needs,” Trujillo says. “I opened the hood, changed the battery, changed the fuel pump and changed the starting solenoid just to finally get it running.

“I took it out for a few spins on the backroads, saw the motor run and knew it was just not good. (The engine) was out of time (with) just so many things to do to it.”

This began what has now been a yearand-a-half-long journey toward gradually repairing the ’72 Ford, which has tested José’s patience, mechanical knowledge and ability to be creative under unexpected circumstances.

Trujillo’s drive and dedication is visible from the bed of the truck alone, which took him more than a year, dozens of online offerings and hundreds of miles to finally locate.

“It was 10 p.m. and I get this email. I had been looking through Craigslist, replying to a lot of ads, and then this guy sends me an email and I’m like, ‘Oh shoot, we have to do this tomorrow,’” Trujillo says.

Each time he responded to an ad and drove to the seller, the parts had either been sold a few hours before his arrival or been given to another customer moments before he could make the purchase.

“So we went down to Tijuana. Drove two or three hours to get there and we finally found (the truck bed),” Trujillo says.

“It was there and in one piece, thankfully.”

After bringing the shorter bed back to California, he was then able to remove the original long bed, trim the short bed where needed and reassemble the truck so it was perfectly aligned and able to function.

After the bed was reattached, the next step was fixing the truck’s seemingly hopeless drivetrain. The engine and transmission were near their final miles, forcing Trujillo to get creative with replacements.

With one trip to the impound yard, he was able to buy a 1997 Ford F-150 for $400, coincidentally made the same year he was born – a small detail Trujillo says made the purchase feel right.

The ’97’s 5.4L V8 engine and transmission fit the ’72 Ford with some slight adjustments – a relief for a young mechanic who has no room for errors mechanically or financially. Trujillo wants the truck to maintain its character on the exterior as he works on it, reminiscing about how it has

LIFESTYLE

Growing up we used (the truck) a lot. (Our dad) would take us to school in it, take it to work and it really has been this one-of-akind treasure we have held onto.

José Trujillo, junior exercise science major

always looked best with its pieced-together, worn-down appearance.

“Growing up we used (the truck) a lot.

(Our dad) would take us to school in it, take it to work and it really has been this one-ofa-kind treasure we have held onto,” Trujillo says.

The ’72 now rests in the driveway of the family’s auto garage, 30 percent complete

by Trujillo’s estimation.

He uses the free time he has during breaks from college to maintain it and advance his progress, often spending entire days from sunrise until long after sunset adjusting and fine-tuning the truck.

“By next summer, everything should be up and running, with all of the kinks worked out. Then, it is just a matter of polishing up the externals,” Trujillo says. “It may not look pretty but it will run like a ’72 should.”

To Trujillo, the truck is more than just a passion project. In his words, it is symbolic of his appreciation for his family, how his father shaped him through lifelong guidance, and ultimately, a right of passage into truly being an independent man. As he works toward the day the truck is completely restored, those childhood memories of the first ride down the ramp in the 1972 Ford F-100 also roar back to life. ◆

Top: Trujillo inspects the front quarter panel of the ‘72 Ford F-100.

Left: The truck’s original engine has been swapped with the 5.4L V8 from an impounded 1997 Ford F-150 Trujillo bought for $400.

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The Vegan Way of Life Fad or Future?

Written by Alexandra Applegate Illustrated by Jessica Rose No meat. No fish. No milk. No honey. No butter. No eggs.

This is the choice of millions of people across the world who are choosing to sacrifice their own dietary desires to spare other living creatures with whom they share the Earth.

While it sounds hard to begin with, the more labels you read and ingredients you look into, you find there is meat or dairy in seemingly everything. Even a packaged peanut butter and jelly sandwich reads “Contains: Milk” across the front.

Although the term “vegan” was coined in 1944 — 73 years ago — it has only been in the last few years that this diet and way of life has exploded into popularity. As of June, six percent of Americans identified as a vegan, which is up 500 percent from three years ago, according to a study conducted by GlobalData.

More vegetarian and vegan restaurants are opening and more businesses are providing vegan options or “vegetarian meat” as substitutes.

Many trends have come that we have long forgotten, like collecting silly bands or Pokémon Go. Becoming meat and dairy-free might be a fad that will fade away in a few years. Will veganism simply be a trend or will it become a way of life?

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TRENDS

A FAD? One of the reasons vegetarianism and veganism have become more popular lately is the amount of informational literature and documentaries we now have access to.

Tiffany Schiro, senior psychology major, watched a recently popular and convincing film on Netflix titled “What the Health” that compelled her to consider becoming vegan.

“Being vegan is definitely a popular thing to do. Some of my close friends have recently become vegan after watching this documentary,” Schiro says. “I was shocked by the corrupt nature of the food industry and the major disease organizations. It is difficult to watch it and not be influenced at all.”

After realizing the challenging diet that being vegan entailed, Schiro decided this was not the diet for her.

“It’s realistic for people who are extremely health conscious to be vegan, but it is not conducive to my lifestyle,” Schiro says. “It is extremely difficult to eat without any animal products.”

Even with the increase in demand for vegan food options and products, the affordability for some people may be a deterring factor when considering the switch.

A diet?

Vegans often carry the stereotype of being judgmental, pushy and exclusive — whether it’s true or not. However, some vegans are only concerned with healthy, nurturing food options for everyone.

Branko Fernandez, Riverside resident and co-owner of Oasis Vegetarian Café, has been on a plant-based diet for as long as he can remember. His parents opened Oasis in 1996, and Fernandez and his brother took over the business almost two years ago. Oasis is marketed to be a vegetarian café, although Fernandez says 95 percent of the menu is vegan. Only some organic and ethically sourced cheese and eggs make the menu vegetarian.

Fernandez says their family tries to avoid

the term “vegan” because of the implications it can have.

“I can’t claim that I’m vegan. I live plantbased. I like to stay away from the word ‘vegan’ because there’s a lot of meaning behind it,” Fernandez says. “In reality, they don’t vary that much, but when I hear ‘plant-based,’ we’re talking about a diet. When I hear ‘vegan,’ you think about a movement and trying to change the world to that ideology.”

Rather than being concerned with making a political statement, the Fernandez family says they simply wanted to help a growing need they saw in Riverside.

One person being vegan does make a difference.”

Stephanie Carlos, junior applied mathematics major “In Riverside, I started to see how there was a need for organic, vegan, quality-made food. I saw the potential because it’s trendy,” Fernandez says. “Growing up, it was the weird thing. I got made fun of a ton for (eating) plantbased (foods). But in the last few years, I’ve really seen Riverside change. There’s a lot of vegetarians and vegans here now. People are hungry for it.”

A way of life?

Many long-term vegans stay motivated because they appreciate all living creatures and want to protect them, no matter what comes with the territory of claiming to be a vegan.

“Veganism means trying to do your best to not participate in the suffering and exploitation of animals. It means rejecting the idea that animals are there for us to use,” states Dominika Piasecka, spokesperson for The Vegan Society, the oldest vegan organization in the world. “If you believe that harming animals is wrong, in your heart you are already vegan.

Veganism is simply living in line with those values and beliefs.”

Stephanie Carlos, junior applied mathematics major and vegan for almost two years, admits that challenges come with being vegan, but if you are doing it for reasons you care about, it becomes easier.

“If you’re really passionate about animals and want to make a difference, it’s worth it,” Carlos says. “I feel like I’m making a difference.

Imagine how many burgers I used to eat in one year. I stopped eating all of that. The more and more people who become vegan and stop buying those products will force the meat and dairy industries to slow down. One person being vegan does make a difference.”

the future?

Maybe this growing trend will fade out in a few years but, to the people who have both a passion and knowledge for this lifestyle, they believe this is not just something society will soon forget.

“It’s imminent that veganism and plantbased diets, with the way things are going in the world — diseases, outbreaks, the farming industry and contamination of the ocean — it will be the future,” Fernandez says. “People are tired of being sick. We live in a country of obesity and heart disease. People are starting to do their research and are tired of being lied to.”

Carlos says, “It’s not a trend, it’s just more accepted now. There are more resources and more people are interested in learning.”

Whether we all forget about veganism in a few years or not, more restaurants, grocery stores and food companies are offering vegan options for all of us to try, if we so choose to join this increasingly popular trend. ◆

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Discovering oneself outside of relationships Written by Krysta Hawkins Illustration by Jessica Rose

A

s I begin my senior year in college, I realize I have never been in a committed relationship. An ample number of media outlets, movies and even events on campus opening a door for complacency within my single relationship status. Yet, being critical of my decision to refrain from dating was the best thing I could have done.

Stepping away from relationships and spending time with myself has allowed me to escape the norms of a society that isolates singles into the category of those downhearted.

So, I decided to indulge in what usually would be seen as activities for those in a relationship.

My fear was that I would become saddened watching the cute couples sharing the same setting as me, a single 20-year-old college student, but it was the complete opposite.

When approaching the hostess at my favorite restaurant, she asked, “How many in your party?� I confidently said one. While

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enjoying my pasta, I briefly glanced at the eyes that stared me down in judgment, while I confidently dined alone.

Yet, my mind still remained at ease. This could be considered a difficult task for most young people because everything is centered on what is appealing in the eyes of others.

I embarked on another solo journey to the movie theater. This activity was much easier to accomplish because no one can judge you in the dark. I put my feet up and enjoyed not sharing the candy I sneaked inside in my purse.

My final journey to Newport Beach was my time to reflect. I realized by putting selfcare as a priority I was able to see the joy in the small things, such as the peace that comes from sitting on the sand and listening to the waves of the ocean.

During these selected times I was granted the opportunity to treat myself. I questioned when was the last time I spent money for my own enjoyment, whether it was something

as simple as dinner and a movie. I obsessed so much on waiting for the perfect proposal and person when I could have experienced contentment myself.

Being single allows me to experience a freedom that I would not have in a relationship: The freedom to reflect on who I am with an abundance of time to do so. It is through solitude that we have the opportunity to engage with ourselves. We teach others how to love us, and to do that effectively we must first love ourselves.

When you are enjoying life, being alone does not necessarily make you lonely, and solitude is not always associated with misery.

All people deserve to give themselves the same love they offer to others.

I have observed and researched the reception of being single in current society and much of the feedback I discovered was negative. “If marriage is a sign of maturity,

TRENDS

&

Books to read inspiring scriptures

respectability and success, then being single suggests you are immature, reckless and a failure,” says Xavier Amador in his book “Being Single in a Couple’s World.”

The same people who made being single sound horrible may presumably be the same people who suffer from a measure of dependency. These single moments are a vital time to indulge in yourself completely and learn who you are alone before pouring yourself into someone else.

“There are so many things young people could be out experiencing besides dating,” says Beverly Clemmons, therapist at Riverside Universal health systems detention services and relationship specialist. “Not everyone is fulfilled by the union of a relationship or marriage. Go travel, start a business or find yourself.”

As if being a single college student is not difficult enough, being a single, Christian, college student simply adds fuel to the fire.

Singleness: How to Be Single and Satisfied The Chase: Trusting God Living Beyond Your Feelings

Based on what Christian culture says, I should be engaged around this time in my life.

Despite the statistics on the failure of young people who rush into marriage, the church continues to strongly encourage matrimony during young adulthood.

According to twoofus.org, 60 percent of all couples who marry between the age of 20 and 25 will divorce.

“The church does not favor long-term dating in adulthood. They see a platform for sin from two adults who spend a lot of time together and are attracted to each other, that will eventually give into their God-given desires (for intimacy),” says Lance Penland, ordained minister within the Church of God in Christ, and former youth pastor.

Although it is easy to assume that young people are more likely to give into temptation, being single is a chance to become selfdisciplined and work on not giving into desires.

There is no need to give into the expectations

Jeremiah 29:11 Psalm 119:9 Philippians 4:6

of anyone, not even the church, for it will only bring on immense stress.

Whether you are single and not looking for a partner, or single and waiting on your best match, this “alone time” is a vital period in your life that you must optimize. Get closer to God and become deeply involved in him before becoming involved with someone else.

The Lord's plans may go beyond what any relationship can give you.

Thrive in the field you choose to go into during college. Experience new places and meet new people. Take yourself out to a restaurant, enjoy a movie, or even a day at the beach.

This is your opportunity to throw yourself into something wholeheartedly with no one to hold you back. College is your time to step into adulthood and into what you want to be and where you want to go. Do not allow the fretting over being single poison these next years, because you will never have this college experience again — use it. ◆

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'The Bailey Method' An artist living through colorful experimentation

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ARTS

Written by Kathleen Phillips Photos by Katie Ring

M

ost people have become accustomed to looking at a painting and having it mean something. People thrive on transcendent justification and will stare, waiting for a sensation of emotion, motivation or social purpose.

They are forgetting about innovation and invention — something born out of both creativity and disorganized experimentation. It is possible in art and it is something that has been referred to as “The Bailey Method.”

Bailey Dahlgren is a senior biology major at California Baptist University. Back in high school, she took a jewelry-making class to help with her hand-eye coordination necessary in her chosen career — neurosurgery.

“While in class I totally screwed up this chemical-based art project that dealt with copper. I didn’t listen. I didn’t pay attention to the teacher’s instructions,” Dahlgren says.

“When my teacher told us to go work on our project, I literally just started messing around with chemicals and random stuff. It turns out I

came up with a new method that I didn’t even think would work, but I ended up with the right product. I just took completely different steps in getting there.”

Her teacher, impressed by Bailey’s accidental invention, adopted the new method and started teaching it as “The Bailey Method.”

After her try at jewelry-making, Bailey enrolled in an art class and started painting at the age of 18.

“I realized there is an academic side (to art). They will give you boundaries, but the fun part of it was that I went and destroyed every boundary,” Dahlgren says. “Art was just another place that I was able to not only express myself but figure out more things to do that I didn’t know existed.”

In Dahlgren’s community of friends and family, it is no secret that she is a free-spirit of sorts. Her art reflects her character: products that push boundaries.

Dahlgren’s paintings are colorful and bold, yet strange. Viewers took notice of every brush stroke, charcoal trace or oil paint dabs of her

Bailey Dahlgren, senior biology major, begins a painting inspired by the shadows of the plants.

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Above: An in-between moment of radiant happiness while painting.

Right: Small details of Dahlgren's process: post-painting hands, a well-used brush and usage of mixed media.

I feel that who I am is consistent: It’s definitely not black and white, but it’s me.”

Bailey Dahlgren, senior biology major

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ARTS

anomalous style; soon they wanted customized paintings of their own.

“When I started doing customized paintings, I would ask for color schemes or any sort of territory they would want me to attempt, but I have to let them know, I will end up doing my own thing. I will check in to see if they like it in the end, but for the most part, I want free reign,” Dahlgren says.

Dahlgren is able to customize paintings because she does not necessarily have any emotional ties or obligations to her artwork.

“When I’ve been challenged to depict an emotion in my paintings, I can’t. I don’t think the product reflects an emotion,” Dahlgren says. “I cannot be restrained by the rules someone gives me. I want it to come out the way I want it to be — something unexpected, something different.”

Although Dahlgren does not express her own emotions through her paintings, she does through writing. In her writing, she is most vulnerable and protective.

“Writing is where I solve my processing issues, biggest fears and confusion or desires,” Dahlgren says. “They all go down in writing.

It’s where I explore things that I don’t know yet about the writing process and myself. It’s still the experimentation side of me, but it’s relieving myself of troubles.”

Dahlgren has written pieces of spoken

word, poetry, short stories and blog posts.

What motivates her, she says, is the positive feedback she gets from others who can relate to her writing.

To her, letting people understand they are able to have a writing outlet or safe haven in their own or another’s writing is a way to give a good service.

Dahlgren’s style and independence are not only evident in her painting and writing, but in her music and love for theater, as well.

Dahlgren is from a musical family heavily involved in the Collinsworth School of Music at California Baptist University.

Her dad, Steve Dahlgren, had been a worship director for most of Bailey’s life and is now an assistant professor of music at CBU. The Dahlgren family began leading worship together at church and would sing together at events throughout her childhood.

The six of them — two parents and four siblings — are a kind of powerhouse at CBU’s School of Music. While many singers have belting voices that sound similar to any other singer, Dahlgren’s voice is uniquely hers.

“She has a wide range and is able to sing either soprano or alto. People enjoy hearing her do solos because of her style. It’s a voice you can hear only from her. You know she is talented because she has this style, but she can imitate and take on different styles or voices,”

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says Easton Dahlgren, Bailey’s only brother and youngest sibling.

“Music has always been a part of my life,” Dahlgren says. “I would pursue singing as a career, but it’s just something that I enjoy and can lean on. I can count on it and it’s a consistent thing in my life.”

To see Dahlgren so immersed in the arts makes it easy to forget she is bound for the sciences. She studies biology and plans to continue on to medical school to become a neurosurgeon. Dahlgren says her passion for learning and challenge is what excites and motivates her endeavors.

“I found that in biology, I can’t just break boundaries; I just have to try and reach the boundaries. The foundation of learning science is hard and it takes all you’ve got. You are left hoping your brain has enough to hold all that there is to learn. It is something for which I constantly have to strive. I’m so impressed by how much there is to learn and it keeps me energized at all times,” Dahlgren says.

Dahlgren says she plans on attending medical school after graduation and is looking forward to the next 10 years as a graduate student.

“I want to succeed and do it well,” Dahlgren says, “but the biggest thing, reflecting on the past year, is that I began losing my sense of the present.”

Dahlgren says her goal in continuing

her education is to learn and also live. It is important to her that she stays present in her relationships with others.

In the previous school year, Bailey says she found herself falling behind in what was most important to her — relationships. Since then, she has committed to remaining present and active in her relationships and life, appreciating the gifts that God has given her.

“My relationship with God has completely overwhelmed me and has completely changed from what it was just four years ago,”Dahlgren says. “I’m so excited to be furthering my education, but what I’m seeking is not to be a doctor, necessarily, but to seek God and his will for me. At any point, my identity will not revolve around being a doctor. It’s comforting to me because there is an entire career I get to do, but it doesn’t determine who I am. My identity is and will be in Christ.”

Dahlgren’s mind is not on a single track.

It is constantly moving, but in totally different directions.

It is what makes her creative, yet scientific.

She has an eye for the arts, a heart for helping people emotionally and medically, and a motivation to learn how to do so.

“I’m a walking contradiction,” she says. “It’s OK that my mind is running in five different directions. But I feel that who I am is consistent: It’s definitely not black and white, but it’s me.” ◆

Left: Bailey’s palette, consisting of various paints, atop a Trader Joe's paper bag Right: Bailey, mixing colors, adds finishing touches to her painting

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Students building community through swing dancing Written by Courtney Coleman Photos by Mariss Eanes

estled in the middle of a corporate plaza is a small dance studio called Dancing Riverside known for its Monday swing dancing nights, where people of all ages come to participate in the classic art.

One group of young people in particular, who coined themselves the 'Lancer Dancers' has become known at the studio as more than a handful of California Baptist University students who like to swing.

People young and old fill Dancing in Riverside studio as the instructor greets

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everyone walking through the door. The Lancer Dancers arrive a little late, and despite getting caught behind a never-ending train on the way there, the group of 10 is still in high spirits.

Each dancer sports his or her unique style — some of the men wear slacks, and others wear jeans and button-down shirts. Most of the women wear skirts of varying colors and fashion. All 10 students wear a smile.

The group of students started the tradition of swing dancing on Monday nights two years ago, beginning with John Free, CBU alumnus, and Jennifer Speakman, senior graphic design major.

Free was the initial organizer of the group

who arranged for everyone to go out dancing.

“At first there were usually around five or six of us; the specific group of people would change every week. Most consistently, it was me, John Free and (senior graphic design major) Jack Kerchner,” Speakman says.

Speakman grew up dancing, having trained in ballet and tap. “Swing dancing filled the passion I had to have fun, relieve stress and dance to fun music with friends,” she says, “I love the challenge of learning how to rely on another person on the dance floor. The people make it a great time.”

Kerchner is an old soul who also has a passion for people. He makes sure to keep in touch with students who try the dance classes

ARTS

at Dancing Riverside with the Lancer crew.

Sam Mix, senior health science major, used to attend the same Bible study as Kerchner, where he invited her to come along and try out swing dancing with the crew. She was hooked, and has been going ever since.

To all of the dancers, meeting up on Mondays to dance is more than just a hobby.

“It’s a wholesome, fun thing people can do,” Mix says, “It’s inexpensive, it’s a social activity, you can get exercise; those are the benefits of it.”

The community is really what draws the individuals together. The group numbers have fluctuated, with the most being 20 members, and averaging at about 10 dancers that meet on Monday nights. Like the CBU dancers, the majority of those who come to Dancing Riverside are regulars — to whom many of the CBU students have grown close.

“There is this older couple that comes every week, it’s so cute,” Mix and Kerchner say in unison. Kerchner adds that the other dancers who come there to “enjoy a little community.”

Regulars and Lancers alike follow Josiah Keagy, the dance instructor, into a ballroom setting where the dim glow from overhead lights set the mood. Dancers begin with a warm-up session and make it clear by the expressions on the faces of the dancers the excitement in the room is increasing.

Keagy has been swing dancing since college after some friends invited him to go and he has

been dancing every week since then for more than four years.

“Swing has really changed my life,” he says, “It has pushed me out of my comfort zone and through it (I) have had many great adventures that I would have not had if I didn’t dance.” “(The CBU dancers) are a great group of people. Every week it makes me really happy to teach them and see them on the dance floor. ...

I really like spreading the joy of dancing among the college community, especially at institutions like CBU,” Keagy says.

As the night goes on, the real dancing begins. Skirts flare as the women are spun in circles by their partners, and smiles spread across everyone’s face as the ballroom is taken back to the 1920s when swing dancing began.

“The guys are gentlemanly, and the women are regal in their classic interactions that (harkens) to a different era, a different time,” Kerchner says of swing's old-fashion charm.

“I don’t know if (swing dancing) will be the new big trend; it’s old-school, old-fashioned,” he says. “All of us that go are a little more oldfashioned in our mindset.”

Swing dancing might not become a major trend but between the classic charm and the welcoming community, CBU students keep coming back for more.

Keagy will no longer be working at Dancing Riverside but says that “some of the people I will miss most are the CBU dancers.”

In some way or another, the CBU dancers stand out. They are not expecting to have any major impact on the community; rather, they dance to have fun, grow closer to each other and let the rest happen naturally. “'Impact' is a big word. It is a space to momentarily forget about the monotony and routine of school work and pressure to perform well. The dance floor is a place to be goofy and chat with interesting people," Speakman says.

Even without trying, the group can send a positive message. Between praying together before and after each Monday night outing and building genuine friendships, they are noticeable.

“It can be a form of ministry,” Mix says. “It’s a cool way not only to socialize, but to be that light to people who maybe don’t know about God.” Kerchner chimes in, “We’re not going to revolutionize the world; we just like to go have a good time. (But) it is definitely a ministry in the way we interact with one another.”

In their own way, and with warm hearts and swing-out, the Lancer Dancers continue to grow both in numbers and in the mark they are leaving on the local swing dancing community. ◆ Left: Emily Borden, senior creative writing major, twirls in perfect rhythm to the lively music.

Right: Siblings Jack Kerchner, senior graphic design major, and Rachael Kerchner, junior English and journalism and new media double major, perfect their dance moves at the studio.

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PURSUIT Recommends MUSIC Written by Krysta Hawkins Illustrated by Jessica Rose

'After Laughter' by Paramore

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a r a m o re re t u r n e d t h i s y e a r w i t h an album highly influenced by 1 9 8 0 s p o p - ro c k . I t h a s b e e n f o u r y e a r s s i n c e w e re c e i v e d m u s i c f ro m t h e G r a m m y A w a rd - w i n n i n g g ro u p a n d t h e y h a v e c o m e b a c k w i t h a n e n t i re l y n e w s o u n d . “A f t e r L a u g h t e r ” h a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e f e e l wh i l e s t i l l m a i n t a i n i n g t h e e s s e n c e o f ro c k . S o n g s f ro m t h e a l b u m , s u c h a s “ H a rd T i m e s , ” e n c o u r a g e t h e l i s t e n e r t o p e r s e v e re t h ro u g h l i f e ’ s h a rd s h i p s . A s e n s e o f v u l n e r a b i l i t y a n d o p e n n e s s i s p re s e n t i n t h e v o i c e o f t h e g ro u p’ s l e a d s i n g e r, H a yl e y Wi l l i a m s .

Ly r i c a l l y, t h i s i s P a r a m o re ’ s b e s t a l b u m t h u s f a r.

'Heart. Passion.

Pursuit.' by Tasha Cobbs Leonard

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o w e rh o u s e v o c a l i s t a n d e v a n g e l i s t T a s h a C o b b s L e o n a rd re l e a s e d h e r f o u r t h s t u d i o a l b u m , wh i c h c o u l d b e c o n s i d e re d a c ro s s o v e r t o m a i n s t re a m m u s i c . T h e g o s p e l s i n g e r t o o k a d i f f e re n t ro u t e f o r c o m p o s i n g t h i s p ro j e c t b y s c o u t i n g r a p p e r N i c k i M i n a j f o r a s o n g t i t l e d “ I ’ m G e tt i n g R e a d y. ” T h e s o n g d e b u t e d a t N o . 1 o n B i l l b o a rd ’ s Gospel charts on Sept. 16. Not only is C o b b s L e o n a rd s i n g i n g b u t s h e i s a l s o d e c l a r i n g t h e w o rd o f G o d . Wi t h l y r i c s s u c h a s “ E y e s h a v e n’ t s e e n a n d e a r s h a v e n’ t h e a rd t h e k i n d o f b l e s s i n g s t h a t ’ s about to fall on me,” one has no choice b u t t o f e e l e n c o u r a g e d wh e n l i s t e n i n g t o this album.

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'Freudian' by Daniel Caesar

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aniel C a e s a r, a 2 2 - y e a r- o l d s i n g e r- s o n g w r i t e r f ro m To ro n t o , i s f u l f i l l i n g t h e n e e d f o r re a l R & B s o u l wh i l e o t h e r a r t i s t s i n t h e g e n re a re c ro s s i n g o v e r i n t o p o p . T h e a l b u m f e a t u re s 1 0 c a p t i v a t i n g t r a c k s t h a t t e l l s t o r i e s o f l o v e , h e a r t b re a k a n d s e l facceptance. Caesar took his exploration o f s o u n d a s t e p f u r t h e r a n d c o v e re d t w o g o s p e l s o n g s : K i rk F r a n kl i n’ s “ H o l d M e N o w ” a n d D o n n i e M c C l u rk i n’ s “ We F a l l D o w n . ” I t i s c o m m o n t o s k i p t h ro u g h a n album to play the one or two songs you l i ke , b u t t h i s a l b u m i s p h e n o m e n a l f ro m beginning to end.

ARTS

PURSUIT Recommends PODCASTS Written by Morgan Culberson

'Stuff You Should Know'

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h e t h e r y o u ’ re p o n d e r i n g t h e e f f e c t s o f g h o s t f i s h i n g , w o n d e r i n g wh e re A m e l i a E a rh a r t wound up, or feeding your fascination with f o re i g n a c c e n t s , “ S t u f f Yo u S h o u l d K n o w ” c o v e r s e v e r y t h i n g y o u d i d n’ t k n o w y o u w a n t e d t o k n o w.

H o s t s J o s h C l a rk a n d C h a rl e s “ C h u c k ” B r y a n t h a v e b e e n re p o r t i n g o n t h e m i r a c u l o u s a n d t h e m u n d a n e f o r m o re t h a n a d e c a d e , s o t h e t o p i c s a re e n d l e s s .

I t ’ s h i l a r i o u s , p ro f o u n d a n d e n t h r a l l i n g a l l a t t h e s a m e t i m e . E v e r w o n d e re d h o w S t o c kh o l m S y n d ro m e w o rk s ? M a r v e l e d a t t h e c o n c e p t o f h y s t e r i c a l s t re n g t h ? We d a re y o u t o s c ro l l t h ro u g h t h e e p i s o d e l i s t w i t h o u t f i n d i n g s o m e t h i n g t h a t t i c kl e s y o u r f a n c y.

'Reply All'

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art investigative journalism, part techn e rd c o m m e n t a r y, “ R e p l y A l l ” i s p u re g o l d t o a n y o n e i n t e re s t e d i n t h e f a s c i n a t i n g w o rl d o f t e c h n o l o g y. H o s t s P J Vo g t a n d A l e x G o l d m a n d i g i n t o t h e w e i rd t h i n g s t h a t h a p p e n wh e n y o u h a v e t h e w o rl d a t y o u r f i n g e r t i p s . F ro m p h i s h i n g t o t e l e p h o n e s c a m m e r s t o m i s d i re c t e d p h o n e c a l l s f ro m R u s s i a , t h e y l o o k a t h o w a n d wh y t h e s e t h i n g s h a p p e n a n d e v e n m a ke a f e w u n s o l i c i t e d p h o n e c a l l s t h e m s e l v e s .

We i rd , h i l a r i o u s a n d s l i g h t l y u n s e tt l i n g , t h i s p o d c a s t w i l l h a v e y o u re p e a t e d l y h i tt i n g “ n e x t e p i s o d e . ”

'Literary Disco'

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h i s o n e ’ s f o r t h e b i b l i o p h i l e s o u t t h e re wh o c a n n o t h e l p b u t d e b a t e J o h n G re e n’ s l e g i t i m a c y as a writer or dig into the dirty details of Neil G a i m a n’ s l a t e s t re l e a s e . J u l i a P i s t e l l , To d G o l d b e r g a n d R i d e r S t ro n g ( y e s , t h a t ’ s t h e s a m e R i d e r S t ro n g wh o s t a r re d i n “ B o y M e e t s Wo rl d ” o h - s o - l o n g a g o) t a l k a b o u t a n y t h i n g a n d e v e r y t h i n g d e e m e d l i t e r a t u re . S o m e t i m e s i t ’ s w i t h a c a re f u l c a r v i n g knife; other times it is with a bludgeoning club, b u t i t i s a l w a y s w i t h t h e re a s o n e d c r i t i q u e o f a t r u e l i t - l o v e r. M o re o f t e n t h a n n o t , b o o k s d i s c u s s e d o n the show lend themselves to political and social c o m m e n t a r y, g i v i n g l i s t e n e r s m u c h m o re t h a n a b i t e of food for thought.

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PURSUIT Recommends BOOKS Written by Diana Corona

'The Vow'

by Kim & Krickitt Carpenter with Dana Wilkerson

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i v e y e a r s a g o , a u d i e n c e s w e re i n t ro d u c e d t o a r g u a b l y o n e o f t h e b e s t ro m a n c e m o v i e s t o t h i s d a y, “ T h e Vo w. ” T h i s c o u l d h a v e b e e n t h e fact that Channing Tatum and Rachel M c A d a m s c o m p l e m e n t e a c h o t h e r, b u t m o s t c a n a g re e t h a t t h e s t o r y i n i t s e l f w a s c o m p e l l i n g a n d u n f o r g e tt a b l e . T h i s b o o k s h o w s wh a t h a p p e n e d b e y o n d t h e b i g s c re e n , a n d y o u ’ l l n o t e t h a t t h e m a r r i e d c o u p l e ’ s re l a t i o n s h i p w a s c e n t e re d a ro u n d t h e i r f a i t h , a s t ro n g detail Hollywood forgot to include.

N o n e t h e l e s s , i f y o u ’ re l o o k i n g t o re a d a ro m a n c e s t o r y, t h i s i s t h e o n e : a t r u e story about marriage interrupted.

'The Help'

by Kathryn Stockett

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h e h i s t o r y o f r a c e re l a t i o n s a n d the racial divide is one that is p re v a l e n t i n t o d a y ’ s s o c i e t y a n d o n e t h a t b o o k s s o m e t i m e s p ro l o n g and exploit in inadequate ways. This b o o k , h o w e v e r, a tt e m p t s t o i n f o r m i t s audience about race in the '60s using a n e m o t i o n a l a p p ro a c h a n d i n t ro d u c i n g u s t o t h re e w o m e n wh o s e s t o r i e s d r i v e the plot and the significance of it. Not o n l y i s “ T h e H e l p” a b o o k t h a t h i g h l i g h t s race and social status, but also one t h a t e x p l o re s h u m a n n a t u re , a n d t h e w a y p e o p l e c a n g ro w t o l o v e a n d h a t e o n e a n o t h e r. Yo u c a n l e a r n a l o t a b o u t e m o t i o n a n d re l a t i o n s h i p s t h ro u g h t h i s n o v e l : a g r i p p i n g , c a n’ t - f a l l - a s l e e p until-you-complete-it kind of book.

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'True Religion: Taking Pieces of Heaven to Places of Hell on Earth'

by Palmer Chinchen

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alking down the aisles of Dollar General or surfing the internet on Amazon, you might find this piece for $1 or $2. Readers sometimes find themselves not picking up the cheap books with the assumption that t h e y ’ re n o t g re a t b e c a u s e o f t h e i r cost. “True Religion: Taking Pieces o f H e a v e n t o P l a c e s o f H e l l o n E a r t h” places an emphasis on God’s intention t o u s e a l l o f h i s c re a t i o n a s i n s t r u m e n t s t o h e l p re p a i r t h e t h i n g s b ro ke n o n e a r t h b y s e r v i n g . I f y o u ’ re g o i n g o n a n I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e r v i c e P ro j e c t o r m i s s i o n t r i p w i t h y o u r c h u rc h t h i s s u m m e r, t a ke t h e t i m e t o re a d t h i s .

'Their Eyes Were Watching God'

by Zora Neale Hurston

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n c e i n y o u r l i f e , y o u re a d a s t o r y t h a t s t i c k s w i t h y o u f o re v e r.

Maybe it’s because it is the first b o o k y o u w e re a s s i g n e d , a n d f o r t h e f i r s t time, you might have found it enjoyable.

Fo r m a n y i n d i v i d u a l s , t h a t w a s t h e c a s e w i t h “ T h e i r E y e s We re Wa t c h i n g G o d ”

by Zora Neale Hurston. The 1937 novel is a powerful story about an AfricanA m e r i c a n w o m a n n a m e d Ja n i e a n d h e r j o u r n e y t h ro u g h a s o c i e t y t h a t w a n t s t o i m p o s e i t s re s t r i c t i o n s o n h e r, i n c l u d i n g the men she lets into her life. She learns t o f i n d h e r v o i c e a n d wh a t s h e w a n t s in the midst of it all. It is one of the most compelling novels aimed at all a u d i e n c e s b u t i s p a r t i c u l a rl y re l e v a n t t o w o m e n t o d a y. ◆

PURSUIT Pursuit Magazine is a studentproduced 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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