theVision CULTIVATING COMPASSION
Vol. 3 Issue 1 Fall 2016
LETTERS FROM THE
EDITOR ALEX MILLER
As someone who avoids large crowds and hates the small chit-chat associated with meeting someone new, the ideas and images associated with “community” enervate me. As I have stepped into this semester-long journey of discovering what real community is, I’ve found that it’s not just daunting for the introvert like myself. Even the bouncy, youth pastortype struggles with developing real community. Because true community is not just surface-level interactions and it’s not just introducing yourself to the most people or finding a group to which you “fit in.” I love the Christian community I
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR VICTORIA MCNORRILL
Hey North Greenville. It’s me, Victoria. The world is so much bigger than our little city on a hill. Yet, here we are making decisions, studying for classes, building friendships and developing our music tastes. Here we are voting for the first time, forming opinions, realizing people are messy, and eating tender melts while the world rotates and the ice caps melt. The world is so much bigger than what we experience here. There’s a world
changing out there. We get to live in it. We. We, North Greenville, are a community. We all have a story of how we ended up here. We worship together. We suffer through finals together, and come out from the other side of the semester stronger together. While we are here, we are North Greenville. When the sun finally sets and we put away our graduation caps and gowns, we will have a whole world to explore and reach.
have found here at NGU. But I can have community with unbelievers too, simply because we’re both created in the image of God. We’ve all been stamped by our Creator with extraordinary purpose and we can walk together as we discover that purpose. Community is such a Gospel term. Jesus came and died so that we might have community with Him. And he doesn’t care if we have purple hair, vote Democrat or have full-sleeve tattoos. I hope as you read this issue, it will inspire you to love not only Believers, but your fellow Christ-creations. Love them with the same love that Jesus loves you with.
CONTENTS Paper Bound by Gloria Biggers
1
Cultivating Compassion by Victoria Pujdak
3
Dear John by Emily Artus
7
The Unsocial Network by Alex Miller and Gloria Biggers
9
Tripping on a Level Playing Field by Victoria Pujdak
11
The Great Divide by Alex Miller
13
Super Who, What? by Carrie Henderson
15
New Kid on the Block by Carson Myers
17
Third World State of Mind by Megan Conley
19
Editor-in-Chief Alex Miller Artistic Director Victoria McNorrill Writers Emily Artus Gloria Biggers Victoria Pujdak Contributing Writers Megan Conley Carrie Henderson Carson Myers Graphic Designers Emily Artus Margaret Milteer
Photographers Gloria Biggers Katie Galyean Ashley Merck Margaret Milteer Cover Model Morgan Stewart Adviser Karyn Campbell © Copyright 2016 The Vision The Vision is published by the Mass Communication Department North Greenville University, Tigerville, S.C. “Where Christ Makes the Difference” Vol. 3 Issue 1- Fall 2016
Paper Bound Gloria Biggers
A hum of chatter can be heard throughout the English hub of North Greenville, White Hall. The sound of professors and students alike discussing a plethora of topics with one commonality: literature. One afternoon, I had decided to sit quietly on the vintage 70s couches of White Hall to attempt to study for my next class. One by one other fellow NGU students joined me in the seating area each held a different book, some for class and others for leisure. Frustrated with the content I was currently trying to read, I threw a few plot questions out to the group that led to an hour-long conversation about one book. It is a known fact that a single book has the power to turn a society upside down. Also, the same fact can be true for the individual. A story can bring people together and create a sense of community due to likeminded thoughts. Oftentimes we forget that one 1 defining literary moment in each of our daily lives.
Knee deep in challenging classes such as, Literary Theory, Junior English major, Laura Stephens, Junior at North Greenville University said, “1984, the first book I read that made me realize that books are more than stories, they expose bad people and they teach you. Books give common ground. We all can have different interpretations but that brings us together.” Pausing from her busy schedule, Courtney Maderia, a senior English education major and Mountain Laurel Poetry Editor, said, “The book, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath just changed the way I think about myself as a writer and how I read poetry,” she continues, “I think it is important to find an author that you can connect with. Oftentimes passionate conversations pop up in literary circles about different authors and works of literature. There is always something to discuss.”
Stories are not limited to people who shun tablets, greedily smell a new book, or feel giddy when walking into a public library. Throughout culture narratives have intertwined with everyday life. The story itself is not what carries the most impact; it is the
individual who then shares with others who creates a tidal wave of innovation. In the quiet moments even a crumpled paperback found in the dollar bin can give an individual the ability to connect with others. Human nature compels us to share our thoughts, knowledge, experiences, and feelings. “The Book Thief changed my worldview,” said Derek Gahman, Junior English Major, “I really like the idea that death is coming for everyone but you can rob death by living a worthwhile life,” continued Gahman, “ A large aspect of my interactions with my friends is discussing stories.” Julia Drummond, an English professor at NGU states, “As a young girl I always felt like a story could better communicate how I felt than the words that circulated through my head.” There nothing better than finding another person who loves the same book series that you do and a connection can be made.
“I have made literature my life, and therefore the community that I surround myself with has to do with books and like-minded individuals. I think there is a lot to be said for a person who reads,”
“ common ground. Books give
We all can have
added Dr. Drummond. Books are a conduit for not only learning and exploration, but also a sense of camaraderie between individuals. Interdisciplinary Junior, Shaun Stokes, claims that his favorite book On the Road allows him, “To better interconnect with different types of people, by understanding eastern religions and gain a sense of understanding in order to successfully communicate the gospel.” A story allows a person to take a deeper look at themselves and the world around them. Novels give you the opportunity to wear a different pair of lenses or walk in another man’s shoes. As I hurriedly got up to leave for class, I paused to contemplate on the fact that literature has seeped into every aspect of my life. Even though I have to buy a backpack every new school year due to the sheer weight of the books I carry, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Books change lives.
different interpretations but that brings us
together.
“
2
Cultivating Compassion VICTORIA PUJDAK
A roaring, whirring sound broke the placid silence of a stuffy, humid day. Heads of Foster Circle neighbors creeped around doors and windows to view the mysterious source of the humming hubbub. Their nostrils were tickled with the pungent scent of fresh upturned dirt and turf. Dirt and grass flew into the atmosphere as large shovels, metallic spades and bare hands and feet plunged into the earth. The air was festive as North Greenville University students, covered in dirt and laced with sweat, broke the ground of their new garden. Previously, four brick blocks sectored off a small patch of turf of a commonly unknown section of Foster Circle. A ring of outdoor leadership, education, criminal justice and marketing majors clasped each other’s hands as they prayed over their green plot of land that lay beneath their feet. The prayer of North Greenville’s garden club, the Birds and the Bees, is that the fruits of their labors will
feed the surrounding community. A strong sense of duty to their community resides in each member. But the garden club has birthed an even stronger sense of unity at North Greenville. Members of various ages, backgrounds and majors toil, laugh and sweat joyously beside each other. Leaning on her shovel, freshman outdoor leadership major Jacquelyn Stuart grinned brightly about the club’s first groundbreaking. “God’s given us a lot of good soil in South Carolina. It’s good to use it for a reason and I know the Holy Spirit is going to bless this land so we can make life more abundant for others. A lot of Jesus’s parables were about the earth and its really great to see everything in action and seeing everyone working in one accord,” she said. The garden club is the brainchild of Deborah
Rollins, an analyst for IT services at North Greenville and a former urban farmer. Exhausted from working 80 hours a week in fast-paced business setting, Rollins resigned from her position. Taking a leap of faith, Rollins accepted a work proposal from NGU and joined the community on June 1 of this year. During a business meeting, the NGU faculty was volleying ideas for student life transformation. The school was looking for a low-cost activity for students to enjoy on the weekends. A brilliant idea illuminated Rollins’ mind. Her hand immediately shot into the air. “I would like to start a garden club,” said Rollins. Her mind began racing with ideas to pioneer an entirely student-led gardening club. For Rollins, the gardening club is about learning how to work and till
God’s given us a lot of
good soil in South Carolina. It’s good to use it for a reason and I know the
Holy Spirit is going
to bless this land so we can
make life 3
more abundant
for others.
God’s creation through giving the fruits of their labor to the community, “The garden club is a twofold scenario,” said Rollins, “Number one, it is designed to serve and give back to the community. And what goes hand in hand with that is the student initiative that goes behind it. It is the students getting involved on so many plains and so many levels. From the sense of community involvement in the servant’s heart to learning a skill set specifically about gardening.” Whether students use geometry to plan garden blueprints, marketing to promote club-sponsored events or accounting to manage funds and club expenses, Rollins believes the club offers a unique opportunity for students to develop their skill sets in whichever career paths they choose through the medium of gardening. “It’s giving kids real world experience…” said Rollins, “My purpose is all about helping students from an educational standpoint about gardening and helping them grow and
make the most of their time here at NGU”. To fulfill her desire for the club to be completely student led, Rollins needed to find a student to propel the club. She found a president in outdoor leadership education major Matthew Mitchell while he was touring the NGU campus over the summer. Mitchell’s father is a former horticulturist. His father’s profession has left him with a deep respect for nature. From the time Mitchell was a small boy, he loved romping in and absorbing God’s creation. Boy Scouts helped stir his passion for nature and he discovered that he wanted to spend his life instructing others to relish God’s handiwork. For Mitchell, gardening club was a perfect outlet for education. “Gardening club isn’t just about planting,” he said. “It’s about community, giving back to the community and trying to teach people more about gardening so they
will appreciate and seek its rewards.” Reclining in his chair, Mitchell explained why he decided to take a leadership position in the club. “I wanted a leadership position.” he said. “Deborah described it to me and I decided after much prayer that I wanted to become the president. I didn’t want to go through passively but build relationships and bond with people.” The club is open to all majors and needs a myriad of talents to sustain functionality. The club hopes it harvests will benefit the community by feeding impoverished citizens through church food banks. The Birds and the Bees gardening club has fostered a sense of community within the perimeters of the NGU campus and hopes to reach out to the surrounding communities. While nature has prospered the growth of one community, it has recently left
4
devastation in its wake to countless other southern communities. Stagnant water reached the window sills on the first stories of houses. The roofs of cars, lined down a oncepopulated city street, peeked over the water’s brim. Massive trees lay over the strands of fallen powerlines. Residents weaved and bobbed their kayaks through the city streets in search of food, medicine and shelter. A young women looked around her hometown of Marion, SC. Her home, her town, her community and her childhood memories had been washed away by the fury of Hurricane Matthew. This reality struck close to home as over a couple hundred North Greenville students from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina watched from campus as Hurricane Matthew left many of their communities in devastating ruins. While North Greenville University was untouched by the storm, the NGU community knew they must take measures to support their students and their communities. The NGU campus offered a blanket
of protection for the evacuating families. Eleven families, including families of students from Charleston Southern University and The Citadel, became part of the NGU family as they lived in the dorms with students and host families. Director of student life Billy Watson illuminated on the fact that NGU wanted to aid families with campus resources during the evacuation. “It is a pretty stressful time when you are being evacuated and you’re not sure what’s happening. It’s not only stressful for the families, but it’s stressful for the students here because they are worried about their families. So we thought it would be a great time to bring some of those families together in relief.” During the evacuation, the NGU family grew by one member. A Navy chaplin and his wife, Misty Jewel, piled their five children, along with their possessions, into their family car as they attempted to evacuate from a naval base in Georgia. The family drove through city after city looking for lodging, only to discover there was no room for them.
With little hope left, they recalled that a friend mentioned the NGU campus was hosting evacuated families. NGU readily welcomed the family with open arms. However, they were quite surprised to discover the mother was 38 weeks pregnant with her sixth child. On a Thursday night, during a boisterous football game, the Jewel family became kinsmen with the NGU family. Around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Watson received a call that Misty Jewel had begun labor. A new addition to the Jewel and the NGU family was ushered into the world at 6:15 the following evening. Chuckling, Watson showed a picture of the newly expanded Jewel family decked head to toe in NGU fan fare. “I think it was good experience for the whole campus because we had a baby while they were here…We could have said, ‘Hey we are really only opening our campus to student families,’ because they were not a student family. They had known a student here, but just imagine if we had sent them away what would have happened. We were able to give a
really good testimony for the school,” said Watson. Beyond helping families with evacuation, NGU has taken initiatives to help South Carolina communities with disaster relief. BSU is planning to send a team of students in December to aid in rebuilding projects. Three days before fall break, a campus wide email was sent to students and faculty to support a drive for standard living needs, such as bottled water and paper goods. Over fall break, junior math education major Mary Margaret Shelley drove a trailer full of relief supplies to her hometown of Marion, S.C., a tiny town located about 45 minutes off the Myrtle Beach coast. Leaning over a stud table, Shelley intertwined her fingers as she described her church’s prayer for the victims of Hurricane Matthew. “At first, there is always a shock of why things happen, and I know ‘why?’ is the wrong question. Nahum 1 talks about how God is in this whirlwind. He is with us every second and He will get us through this. So the big question is ‘how do we represent God and help people in need?’ God has been showing me that we need to provide for people in need and if we don’t help
our brother, then the love of Christ is not in us.” One afternoon, Shelley received a text message from her mom asking if she could ask the school for aid in disaster relief. Shelley was able to receive a generous portion of the disaster relief supplies collected from the drive. “Going to a school where our motto is, ‘Where Christ makes the difference,’ I knew that NGU would help out… People literally have nothing. They have lost everything… And it is not about the stuff that is important but the heart behind why we are doing this. To see that North Greenville has the same heart for Marion as Marion has for Marion is great,” said Shelley. Despite flooded streets, piles of wreckage, destroyed houses and sediment and sewage reaching shoulder high on an adult woman, Shelley has never seen a stronger sense of unity in her hometown. “Community is growing. People are seeing Christ and there is great opportunity to share the Gospel. There is also an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ through this. And it would be so easy to get discouraged, but that is not what is happening.”
Shelley believes God is still thriving through the churches in Marion. “Yes, it’s going to be hard and it’s going to be hard for a long time. Marion will never look the same again. It needs a heart transformation more than an outside transformation.” Through the events of Hurricane Matthew, Watson has seen the heart NGU has for surrounding communities. “We always say, ‘Christ makes the difference,’ but I always like to say, ‘Let Christ make the difference through you.’ If Christ is going to make a difference, it’s going to be through the people.” Community, a village where someone is from and calls home that holds the keys to the roots of one’s past and hopes for the future or a herd of nations united as one over a world affair. These are definitions that constitute the word community. In 2016, the NGU family has emulated the definition of community unafraid of rolling up its sleeves and getting its hands dirty to ensure the benefit of the overall community, ultimately, teaching and inspiring its students to truly make a difference in their communities.
Christ is going to make a difference
If
it’s going to be through the people.
6
Dear John, Emily Artus
Once upon a time, college students connected with potential love interests by bumping into them in line for fried chicken in the Caf or by spilling coffee on them at a Stud Coffeehouse. But today’s college dating has leveled up from simple meetings in classes or the library. Now, North Greenville University students also use online dating services like Tinder, Christian Mingle and Match to spark relationships. These dating sites match users based on mutual attraction or similar interests, and most of the services offer easy-to-access apps for smartphones, allowing users to filter through potential love interests anywhere, anytime. This convenience certainly attracts many of those looking
7
for love, and college students, part of the most technologically literate generation, are not immune to the advantages of dating apps either. Ellie Medford, a sophomore elementary education major, dabbled in online dating and even started a six-month relationship with someone she met on Tinder, a popular dating app. Though she was initially drawn to Tinder out of curiosity, Medford appreciated its straightforward aspect as she used the service more and more. “If they’re online you know that they’re looking for something,” said Medford. “But in person, if you see a guy and you’re getting to know him, then how are you going to know if he’s interested or if he has a girlfriend or if he wants a relationship. There’s not a sign that says, ‘Hey, I’m single?’” she continued. Because meeting on an internet website erases the ambiguity of an in-person meeting, online daters can feel more confident, without fear of embarrassment or rejection. “I like using Tinder because you never know if you’re actually getting rejected,” explained Medford. “You can swipe right for people, but you never know if they like you back until it matches. There’s no
rejection; it’s understood if it’s mutual then he would message first or I would message first.” However online dating is by no means, perfect. Students should be wary of any initial, in-person meetings, and Sue Suomi, a personal counselor for NGU students, offers advice for ensuring a safe, first face-to-face encounter. “If you’re going to meet, it should probably be somewhere in a very public place,” said Suomi. “Make sure that someone knows where you’re going and who you’re going with; you’re not just suddenly off by yourself with a stranger.” Because online personas can be so convincing, Suomi warns students to remember the people they meet online may not seem like strangers, but, ultimately, they still are. She also suggests students carefully re-read online conversations with their internet love interests and look for responses that appear disingenuous or raise red flags. Because if an online conversation raises red flags, the in-person meeting probably won’t lower any—a sharplylearned lesson for Audrey Burget, a junior studio art major. Burget, who used Match, Tinder and Plenty of Fish, agreed to meet a man she met online, even though his too-good-to-be-true, but seeminglylegitimate profile pictures raised some suspicion. Aware of online dating’s dangers, Burget arranged her first meeting with the man on campus in a public area, but when he hopped out of his car, she realized those too-good-to-be-true pictures were exactly that. The man, about 30 years old and not nearly as attractive as advertised, nervously grabbed her hand as the
25
Online Dating Age Groups
20
15
10
5
0
18-24
25-34
35-44
Used Online Dating Sites
pair lapped the football complex, and Burget desperately wished for her hand back and for the situation to end. But onward they walked, discussing—of all things—being safe while dating online and watching out for creeps. Though the awkward conversation soon fizzled out, the uneasy pair continued to circle the fields, but Burget had a trick up her sleeve—or rather, in her pocket. “I had my knife on me for protection in case things went south,” explained Burget. “I was just playing with it because he was holding my hand and I couldn’t pull away.” When the date and the field laps finally ended, the man actually requested a second date
with Burget. With internet dating, situations like Burget’s are not out of the ordinary, and students should always practice extreme caution when meeting anyone they’ve found online. “Anyone can hide their identity and who they are behind a computer screen,” said Medford. “You don’t know what to expect going in, you don’t know if they’re lying, because anyone can say they’re a good guy or have good intentions.” Students should research the people they connect with online before meeting them in person, and Burget suggests investigating social media accounts and image searching profile pictures for authenticity.
45-54
55-64
65+
Used Mobile Dating Apps
Finally, Suomi warns students to understand how online dating can be inherently misleading (at least at the beginning) because it removes the social factor, which is seeing someone in context with other people. “Someone can be totally charming in an email, and yet you don’t know at all what they’re like in their life; you don’t know their character qualities,” explained Suomi. “It’s really hard to know that just from corresponding, but those are things you don’t get to see if you’re not interacting with other people.” All in all, students who online date should remember to practice safety and caution, to do their research and to look for red flags in conversation and on social media. If students are mindful and wary, online dating can be a convenient and interesting way to meet a potential love interest. Or, it can at least give you some crazy stories. 8
The Unsocial Network
Alex Miller and Gloria Biggers Less than 50 years ago sending someone a message across the world meant licking a stamp and crossing your fingers the letter made it to the destination. Today you can connect to anyone on the planet with a single tap on your handheld device. This ability has enabled our generation to communicate with others who in years past we would never know. Yet, this power is crippling to those who rely too much on social media. Officially, the first widely accessible social media site was Six Degrees, a forum released in 1997, where individuals could create a profile that included their pictures and showcased their interests. Today, it would be hard to find anyone under the age of 50 who has yet to create either a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. With so many outlets to choose from, it can be useful to take a step back and examine exactly what users are gaining and losing from their time spent online. Ben Tackett, junior biology major at North Greenville University, said, “Social media offers great means of communication to friends, family and coworkers. This is crucial in a society where good communication is the key to success in all relationships.” The downside of such Internet connectivity can come when social platforms are substituted for face-toface conversation. We’ve all seen that group of people sitting together at a restaurant with deadened eyes suctioned to their phones, unaware of the community
9
bustling around them. We often avoid real connections with people because we’re scared of the after-effects. We may get too close, get hurt, face confrontation or face rejection. But these are not inherently bad things, and from a Christian perspective, have redeeming qualities. We were made for community; we need people. Yes, social media is a tool of communication, but should it be the only one? Mitchel Pace, senior Christian studies major at NGU, commented, “It [social media] distracts us from what is going on around us. Instead of being engaged with real people as we go from place to place, we are now engaged with an item that cannot give us a lasting relationship. Having a real, lasting relationship with another person is a greater gift than any benefit social media could ever offer.” Not only do we treat social media as a substitute for human interaction, but we unknowingly allow it to distract us from things that matter.
Michael Wiegand, a psychology graduate of NGU, said, “Social media is having a negative impact on today’s society because of its addictive nature. Hours spent on… random social media sites are causing this generation to lose a sense of time management and the ability to actually get important tasks completed, by wasting time on watching gifs or doubletapping photos.” We are a distraction-loving culture, it’s true. And when we spend more time debating politics or sharing recipes online than we do taking time to be with a friend in the midst of heartache or watering wilting friendships, we trade eternal for temporal. We stunt community and, furthermore, we forget to be the Church. After all, people aren’t just profiles and souls aren’t just selfies. Community demands we look behind the mask that social media encourages. Updating people about your life on Twitter and sending emojis and “lol’s” instead of actually laughing and smiling might not be considered the conventional way of communicating, but it has become the new “normal.” While social media can build a bridge where gaps once existed, faceto-face contact while not the most popular or comfortable, will always be the best choice when cultivating community. Contributions from Christian Segers
North Greenville University’s literary and art magazine
The Mountain Laurel Find out more at ngumountainlaurel.wordpress.com
Tripping on a Level Playing Field Victoria Pujdak
Scrolling through continuous streams of engagement announcements, summer vacation pictures and cat memes, a woman glazed over yet another video about the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Except this time, her eyes briefly captured the sobbing silhouette of a female, Olympic athlete after a strenuous race. She slowly glided her screen back up for a second glimpse at the post. The distraught athlete was British, Olympic track star, Lynsey Sharp. Reflecting back on the race, Sharp remembered that she was confident and running at maximum speed with her heart in her throat. All her years of intense training had prepared her for this moment, for her destiny. Her eyes never wavered from the blue and green ribbon that separated her from greatness. Victory was almost in her grasp when suddenly a tall, muscular runner easily whisked by her. In that moment, she realized she would never be able to beat a man. Standing on the Olympic podium, feeling the silky ribbon and the weight of a gold medal around
11
her neck, hearing the roar of a thunderous crowd and feeling a sense of tremendous pride as her nation’s anthem resounds throughout the stadium, are among the greatest accomplishments for a female athlete. However, could this emotion of momentous success be coming to an end? The thick cloud of controversy now fills the air of
athletic complexes as the restrictions on transgendered athletes is being slowly loosened. In the past, the International Olympic Committee deemed that, for a man to compete as a woman, he must first go through exhaustive trials of gender reassignment surgeries. However, now, an athlete must now pass a simple testosterone test to determine his ability to compete amongst women, leading many global athletes to wonder if more should be required. According to a statement by the IOC, in regards to their responsibility to uphold the status of women’s sports, the IOC stated that one of their main roles is to “encourage and support the promotion of women in sport, at all levels and in all structures, with a view to implement the principle of equality of men and women.” However, as the IOC quests for complete equality and unity among athletes, it has led to the encouragement of unequal playing fields, and the discouragement of female athletes around the globe. Male athletes, who are at the peek of physical fitness, often have a height
advantage, additional muscle mass and increased lung capacity over their female athlete counterparts. While female athletes endeavor for equal treatment as men in the athletic community, most athletes cannot overlook the simple facts of gender biology. Juggling a soccer ball since she was a small child, Junior, elementary education major, Alex Pagliaro, leant forward with her elbows causally resting on a wooden table. She explained that if women are forced to compete with men it may drive women athletes and sports to a new level of athleticism, “There are disadvantages, even the anatomy of males and females are totally different. Putting a male and female in the same competition is kind of frustrating... But I know that there are still women who can persevere and get stronger and try to compete against men.” For years, women have fought for a position in athletic fields traditionally held by men. The world of women’s sports has seen astounding growth in the past 100 years, with
female athletes securing a dominate presence in athletics through allwomen leagues and their greatest victory, the Olympic stage. These athletes have sought to be judged on their physical talents rather than their race or gender. But with the recent insurgence of absolute equality regarding transgendered athletes, has progressive women’s sports taken a back seat? Are the rights of female athlete’s being compromised for the sake of inclusion? Commenting on the battles female athletes have fought to secure a position in athletics, head lacrosse coach at North Greenville University, Brianna Hoffman, said, “It’s kind of
“
It belittles what women have fought for in the past in regards to
women’s sports.
insulting that anyone can just say, ‘I can relate to being a female, therefore I can play women’s softball,’ or whatever the case might be. It belittles what women have fought for in the past in regards to women’s sports.” Hoffman described the grueling 1980’s tennis match between Vania King and a male opponent, “She beat him to prove a point, to prove that women can play competitively and at a high level. For someone to think they can just have a procedure to become female. They are really missing the point of what it truly is to be female.” Women’s sports has also created a sense of community and belonging for all levels of women athletes around the globe. Athletic leagues and clubs have become a haven for like minded women who aspire to improve their physical stamina and sport. These bonds of community could soon be broken. This sense of community is increasingly being threatened at the professional level, and could eventually seep into the college, high school and even junior level leagues. Birth of an inclusive community could be the death of women’s sports.
“
12
The Great Divide ALEX MILLER
Some stood waving their Hillary Clinton signs, some wore their “Make America Great Again” hats, and some loved Gary Johnson, but all had one thing in common: They share the church pew with you on Sunday morning. In every presidential election in U.S. history, Evangelicals have made tradition- steeped political choices. It
13
could be said that Evangelicals vote in elections much like they vote in church: their decisions are based on what they’ve always done. However, over time, the traditionalistic, unified “church body” approach has shifted to an individualistic one. Oran Smith, election cycle historian, explained that Evangelicals are now looking outside
of Christian, conservative voices for input on their viewpoints. Smith said, “In recent years, we’ve seen an increasing individualistic culture where folks look to Ayn Rand [a Russian-American novelist influenced by Nietzsche] rather than William F. Buckley [an American conservative
author and founder of the magazine, The National Review].” This definitely rang true in the 2016 election as political Twitter rants from a movie star had higher trending rates than a well-thought out article from a political analyst. Within the political sphere, Evangelicals are reading, sharing and agreeing
of blacks actually called themselves Evangelicals. It’s safe to say that Evangelicals are going through an identity crisis. They have jumped out of the Church’s “acceptable” box and into the newly flowing stream of libertarianism. And, man, did it caused a stink in the 2016 election. Rick Sparks, former television producer and news director and now mass communication professor,
In the 2008 and 2012 elections of Barack Obama, you weren’t surprised to see your Christian Facebook friends supporting the Republican candidate, John McCain or Mitt Romney. Now there’s a plethora of Christian voices. For some during the 2016 election it was “Never Hillary,” others it was “Never Trump,” some refused to vote at all and some whimpered in the corner because Bernie Sanders wasn’t an option.
with people whose ideas would make your fundamentalist grandmother blush. Breaking away from the mold of “what has always been” and forging their own way, Evangelicals are leading many to wonder: What exactly is an Evangelical anymore? In a survey given by Lifeway Christian Research, 1,000 people were asked to agree or disagree with four key theological beliefs regarding the inerrancy of Scripture and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins. They found that out of the people who agreed, only 80 percent of Hispanics, 60 percent of whites and 25 percent
commented on the influence of media during the election. Sparks said, “Both candidates went nuclear attacking their opponent and for Evangelicals watching it became a battle of issues versus character.” With media that now focuses on entertainment rather than news and the rise of untrained person’s serving as “political experts” on social media, everyone felt stuck in an unending Saturday Night Live skit. All of these factors made it difficult to sift out what actually matters during an election cycle and contributed to confused and divided Evangelical voters.
Never in history has the “Christian voice” been such a garbled mess and truth so gray. Likewise, never has the Church been so angry and torn. On Nov. 8, 2016, Evangelicals had a significant impact in deciding the next leader of the free world. While that choice was not as predictable as in years past, one thing is sure: Evangelical traditionalism is slowly dissolving. Whether that’s good or bad, and whether Christians will be able to sit in peace on the same pews together on Sunday is yet to be determined.
14
Super Who, What Now? CARRIE HENDERSON
Lying on your bed, you pull up Netflix on your computer. Your friend recommended you watch a certain show, so you decide to check it out. One episode wouldn’t hurt, and you can finally shut up your friend begging you to give it a chance. Before you know it, you are watching episode after episode, unable to stop your binge session. Eventually, you find yourself connected with other people addicted to the show and suddenly, more than half of your conversations are inside jokes and discussion of the plot. Welcome to the world of fandoms. Fandoms aren’t just good for interjecting insider references into conversation or “shipping” your favorite characters. Elizabeth Nelsen, sophomore broadcast media major, is part of the very large and very loyal Whovian fan base; that is, she’s in love with Dr. Who. “I heard other people talking about ‘Dr. Who,’ said Nelsen. “Initially, I was like ‘No, I’m not going to like it’ but I decided to give it a shot and I sort of fell into this fandom on accident,” she continued. Hannah Price, freshman psychology major, found herself immersed in the small town charm of Stars Hollow on the popular drama, Gilmore Girls. “I would always flip past it on the TV, but I finally got frustrated because I couldn’t understand my friend’s constant references to it. I started watching it so I could be included, too,” said Price. It’s true. Fandoms are a great conversation starter. And that’s a lot of what community is about: finding 15 a common bond and using it as a
springboard into a deeper relationship. Instead of following the usual “where are you from, what major are you” questions with an awkward silence, subtle references to a popular show can pull even the most introverted soul out of their turtle shell. Katie Ladue, freshman musical education major, and fan of the crime-suspense show, Criminal Minds, said, “You meet people who are as crazy about the show as you are,” Ladue said. “You cry together, laugh together and get
“
mad together at the crazy plot twists in the show.” Someone once said that quiet minds are the loudest. The quiet girl in the corner who scurries into class, often unnoticed, and scurries out? In her brain could lie an entire fictional world. Mentioning Dumbledore’s wisdom, the death of a major character on Downton Abbey or the fact that Rory does not end up with the expected love-interest, could summon forth a stream of passionate emotions. Certainly, the power of a good series is underestimated; quality shows can connect the most unlikely people together. However, like Nelsen said, you never mean to get sucked into the vortex of fandoms. It just happens. Good community is unexpected but it’s always good, so we should just let it happen. After all, we all need someone to commiserate with when our favorite character dies.
You meet people who are as
crazy
about the show as you are.
“
Name: Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Search Maker
ddd H Q N Q
V
R
Z
J
H H
F
R
E
T
T
O
P
Y R
R
K
L
G
J
S
C
H
T
V O
K X
O X
F
P
P
R
L
R
C
F
S
T
A
S
S M A M R
T
Y D
T
F
X
B
S
X
L
E W
S
V H
L
T
R
F
M
O N
F
A
E
F
B
E
O
T
J
T
Y W
N
P
R
I
S
T
E
N
T
D
F
D V R
G N
G
P
G A K U
A
V
B
G U
E
L
E
T
A O
Z
A Y D A X
F
E
E
K N
I
Y
J
S
A U
T
V P
M B
P
X
E
K
K E
Y
Z
D H K
L
L
G D
L
S
A N N
F
L D
M N G A R M P
L
E
B
E
I
R
A H
Z
Y R
E
T
E
Q
F W S
V K H
R
Q
V W K X
B
Z
K
G
V
T
U Q
O
C
B
Z
S
O
V Z
K
C
L
H
E
G O
R
K
S
Y
K
B
J
E
G
I
C
X
U M P
R
L W N
A
P
U
G
B
Y
L
I
I
D
F
M Z
G O
N
O
F
I
H N
N
K X
P
I
F
B
Q
T
L
T
G
F
C W F
J
I
G U
R
L
H
P
Y
S
X
I
W K
L
O
V
L D
L
P
V B
V
E
D V Z
Y G W G A
F
U
O
S
S
E
I
C
U
N Q N
F
D V B
O O
Z
T
E M O
S
F
Z
P
Z
T
A
F
H
T
N
K
F
H M N H
D
V
E
D
X
I
K A O
I
N
Z
A
L
D
T
O
J
G O
J
L
S
A
L
U
V
Z
E
G
I
T
B
B
L
R
E
J
I
N
T
L
N
T
R
F
V
A
L
K R M B
S
T
R
A
P
A D
J
U
B
E
O
D M
E
O
R X W A R
D M H M L D
R
E
E
L
T
U
E
R O M M B
V D
B
E
K
G
L
R
S M V A B
K
T
H
E
L
U
S
B
D
Z
I
I
A
U
P
K G T
K
Z
K
J
E
G
S
Z
G
E
O
Y M
H
H
E
P
N
S
X
F
T
Z
G Y D
G V Z
E
Z
D
V H
S
F
J
C
S
M A Z
D
T
I
I
D X H
C
S
DOWNTONABBEY STRANGERTHINGS DEMOGORGON
STARTREK HARRYPOTTER LORELAI
D
B
P
K H
O GILMOREGIRLS HOGWARTS ENTERPRISE
Word Bank: Star Trek Enterprise Stranger Things Demogorgon Gilmore Girls
Lorelai Downton Abbey Lady Mary Harry Potter Hogwarts
16
I remember the first computer I learned to use, and it makes me feel very old. The mammoth, offwhite machine sat in the basement of our Johnson City, Tenn. home. My father marveled at how streamlined Windows 98 was compared to the fussy adding machines and clunky typewriters. In retrospect, computing systems of that vintage were downright oldfashioned given that nobody in the house could use the internet if another person was talking on the phone. During my first semester as a college student in 2013, I had a déjà vu experience with desktop computers when I saw my roommate struggling down the dark, dank staircase of Unit B with a desktop tower that had about the same amount of square footage as our room. I forced a smile as he hoisted it up to his sturdy oak shelf which sagged beneath the weight of the new computer. It made no sense to me; why use a museum piece in the age of svelte Chromebooks and iPads? “What’s it for?” I asked..“Gaming.” In the past, gaming with a desktop
computer seemed anathema to progress. For my brother and I, console gaming systems like the Nintendo 64 were our escape from Space Cadet and SimTown. While I have never been a computer geek (nor do I claim to be one), the quality discrepancy between console gaming systems and PC games was striking to me even as a six year old. However, the advent of high-performance processors and lightning fast internet connection has given an entirely different connotation to PC gaming: playing games on your computer is cool again. I decided to be a cool kid for a day and explore the world of Minecraft. I was drawn to Minecraft because it is
a fairly well-known game and offers a 90-minute trial for prospective gamers like me. I searched for Minecraft with a search engine and the first result was the Minecraft website. The interface was professionally designed and offered a description of the game: “Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures. Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles.” Within five minutes, the software was downloaded and the game was launched. No rushing to GameStop before it closes, no waiting in line on Black Friday to get a discount on an expensive game, no
New Kid on the Block 17
Carson Myers
ordering a used game online only to discover the seller sent you a scratched disc. As long as you have a computer and a bank card, you’re good to go. Although I opened Minecraft on a brand new PC with a good graphics card, the experience was like going back in time. Everything was made up of giant blocks. Although my screen resolution is high, the interface looked like a pixelated Picasso of trees, rivers and mountains. In most modern games, images are made of tiny pixels that are virtually invisible, but Minecraft builds landscapes using a 21st century form of cubism. A pop-up gave me some very brief instructions, but I had to figure out almost everything on my own. Unlike traditional console games, navigation in Minecraft is done with the keyboard and mouse. Since I didn’t know any keystrokes, I went oneby-one through all the keys learning the functions. Players navigate the interface using the buttons W-A-S-D and press E to open inventory. Items are added to the inventory when the
user right-clicks. Learning new skills in Minecraft takes time and research. I expanded my virtual skill set through trial-and-error. Minecraft is a no-rules game; there are no bosses to kill, no missions to go on, no plot or story line. The player does, however, have to build a shelter lest they be grabbed by a cuboid squid, bitten by a tarantula or attacked by a zombie. For the first half-hour of gameplay, I was constantly a victim of these predatory creatures. I quickly learned how important protection is in the realm of Minecraft. By the time my trial demo had expired, I had built a lowly hut on the beach made from a few dozen blocks. It wasn’t a big achievement, but it was crucial for the survival of my avatar. Because there are no pre-fab items in the player’s inventory, there is no limit to how complex each user can build a structure. Want to build a replica of St. Paul’s Cathedral?—Go ahead. The Great Pyramids—Why not? Minecraft is the Ford
Expedition of gaming; it looks like a throwback from the 90’s but there is no hurry to change it because the demand for it is so high. The game lacks the aesthetic of its modern counterparts. Instead, it embraces a plain look and offers its users a simple interface. After taking an objective look at my one-and-a-half-hour experience with Minecraft, I realize that the game does not appeal to the pleasure of the gamer, but to the knowledge of the gamer. I’m not quite ready to join the ranks of Minecraft’s cult following, but it was enlightening to experience a game that has over 100 million players worldwide.
18
The sun is beating down on the back of her neck as she pushes through the crowd. She looks for the familiar face she’s seen every day for her entire life. The sound of unfamiliar Pular words reverberate in her ear as she promptly attempts to translate the language of the land she calls home. A strong, potent odor fills the air as the villagers hustle around, selling their wares. Local vendors are waving around fruits and jewelry, urging passersby to stop. Then, finally, she sees her: her older sister standing with her mother, talking to one of the local women. She smiles at the familiar faces she knows, and rests on the fact that here, in Guinea, she is home. Fast forward to today, and the bustling marketplace can be exchanged for Todd Dining Hall, while the constant shouting in Pular has become students complaining in English about their 8 a.m. classes.
For Sarah Catherine Pepper, this was the major shift she experienced when she began her freshman year at North Greenville University in 2015. She went from living with her parents in Guinea to living with thousands of other students in Tigerville, all in the matter of a few weeks. Many would call Sarah a missionary kid, or MK for short, which she doesn’t mind; it’s part of who she is. However, it’s also her time spent as an MK that makes her unique. Coming to college wasn’t just packing up her car on move-in day. It was a lot more than that. The change from living on the mission field to learning about the mission field in class is one that wasn’t necessarily easy, but, the help of her parents made the transition a little easier. “Freshman year, I came with my family and they were here for a month and a half on extended leave. They
were here for the first two weeks of school, so they were able to take me shopping for things I would need for my dorm,” she explained, “and for winter clothes,” she continued, laughing. Winter clothing was something totally foreign to Pepper before she ventured to Tigerville. One of the major cultural differences, Pepper states, was how relationships are formed. Growing up with only one other English-speaking family within a 200-mile radius narrowed down the options for these friendships she had as a child. “Establishing friendships, to me, I’m used to being forced, like ‘this is your friend.’ That was hard at first, being intentional in choosing who I’m gonna spend time with,” she said. Ruth Houser, whose family served in Nigeria, can also relate to the cultural differences she experienced when coming to NGU. One of the most profound, she states, was simply the way individuals from different cultures think. “A lot of me is still in culture shock. I have a hard time identifying with what Americans identify with because I didn’t grow up here. Even though I’m ‘Americanized’, I didn’t
Third World State of Mind MeganCONLEY Conley MEGAN
19
A lot of me is still in
culture shock... Even though I’m ‘Americanized’, I didn’t grow up here, so it’s an adjustment learning how to relate. grow up here, so it’s an adjustment learning how to relate,” said Houser. Pepper also noted a difference in how quickly MK’s tend to connect with people and how that differs here in America. “We (MKs) have this tendency to go deep, right off the bat, whereas people in the states are used to ‘we’re at this shallow level and then when we establish trust, we can go deeper,’” Pepper explained. Especially with other MKs, who grow up in a similar environment, making friendships quickly is something that just comes naturally. “You’re at a conference with other MKs and its like, oh, you establish deep friendships and you’re sharing deeply by the end of the week,” Pepper said. But it’s not just interactions with people that are different for MKs. It is also simple things, like Wal-Mart. “The whole grocery store thing is still pretty overwhelming for me. We had stores in the capital city and we would go and we would shop and buy in bulk because we lived 12 hours away. It’s a different kind of store and
there’s so many options and you’re like ‘who even needs this many different kinds of toilet paper?’” Pepper joked. Although her birth certificate says “America,” Pepper knows the African country will always hold her heart. But, she contemplates the fact that neither place is completely home. “In both places, I’ll always be the odd man out. Here, I look like I belong, like I should know things, but I don’t. There, I look like I don’t know things, but I do,” Pepper said. Pepper also stated that although there aren’t a large number of things she specifically notices are different, sometimes it will be simple things, like a lack of options for fresh vegetables, that make her think of her true home, Guinea. A study published in 2001 in the Journal of Psychology and Theology concluded that MKs experienced greater cultural distance than non
MKs when adjusting to college life. This finding makes sense, as the culture that MKs are comfortable with suddenly becomes thousands of miles away. The adjustment of being thrust into another culture suddenly is one that is never easy, for the child of a missionary or someone transitioning to serve on mission themselves. But, for Sarah Catherine Pepper and Ruth Houser, the transition simply means new opportunities. So as the walk together along the sidewalks of North Greenville University, the sound of their shoes reverberating off the brick pathway, their hearts will always be miles away. The bookstore sweatshirts are no substitute for the bright cloth and exotic finds of a foreign market, which will always be home. 20
NGU’s
College of Communication Prepare for a career in media Broadcast Media
Digital Media
Media Ministry
The Mass Communication Department at NGU prepares you to navigate the media challenges of the digital media era. Through hands-on technical experience, we prepare you for exciting media careers in broadcasting, digital media, journalism, media relations and media ministry with three distinct majors.
learn more at ngu.edu/coc