The Vision Magazine

theVision

magazine

Branching Out A collection of college students’ journeys

Vol. 2 Issue 2 | Spring 2016

Letter from the Editor:Faith Auslund As the final semester of my college career comes to a close, I have wondered how I will branch out from the community I know and love at North Greenville University. I’m often inspired by my fellow student and faculty’s drive and enthusiasm.

Now it’s time for me to find my passion. Supposedly I should already have this figured out. However, even though I know I want to spend the rest of my life writing and creating, I don’t have any idea what capacity to do that in. And I’ve discovered that’s okay.

2016 is a year of closing chapters and new beginnings, and I don’t have to have it all figured out. I’m focusing on enjoying every minute I have left of college.

I’m going to skip a couple classes and get pizza at Papa John’s instead. I’m going to study in the library without getting anything done because I constantly run into friends.

I’m going to enjoy the roots I’ve grown here for the remaining time

that I have.

I’m NOT going to pull an all-nighter.

I’ve avoided it for the last three and a half years, and I’m not going to try it now. I like sleep way too much.

I’m also going to look forward to the future. Graduation is such a unique time in life because there’s no telling where I’ll be this time next year. I want to appreciate this last remnant of young life before becoming an adult.

So my advice to you, whatever branches you are planning to grow, is this: enjoy every moment. Take time to stop between your walk to classes to look at the sky and find shapes in the clouds, and drink a ridiculous amount of coffee.

This time of life will go quickly, and it won’t be long before you’re ready to move into something new and exciting. But this time will also never come again, so don’t wish it away. Live it, and enjoy it. Thanks for everything NGU.

Letter from the Artistic Director:

Victoria McNorrill

I think it is as important to remember where you came from

as it is to work towards your future.

Reflection is important to

understanding who you are. Whether

it’s spiritual reflection or remembering

your past, it’s important to know how

everything you have gone through

has brought you to this point. From

there, you have to decide how you are going to handle your future.

King David, for example, grew

up as a shepherd. He became the King of a nation and made it great.

He made mistakes, which included murder and adultery. However, David never let humble backgrounds or bad mistakes define who he was or who he could become. David

let God determine who he was.

Today, we remember David as a man after God’s own heart. All of us have stories of where we have been and how we came to North Greenville University.

The beautiful part about stories is no matter how horrible things were, for the Christian, everything changed because God took the horrible things and made them into a testimony to the Nations.

When I was designing this issue, I decided to let the stories speak for themselves. Whether the articles are about racial tensions in the U.S. or students struggling with “Ring by Spring” mentality, these are your stories and your stories deserve to be told beautifully.

Table of Contents 1 Ring by Spring: Finding comfort amid the pressure to commit 3 Money Matters: Planning a budget before and after college 4 Free College: Symbolizing an entitled generation?

5 Snazzy Styles: Students showcase their spring apparel 7 Mental Health: Breaking down the stigmas

9 Daniel Diet: Fasting the body while

feeding the soul 11 Mission Addiction: Preparing your heart and your luggage 13 Racial Unrest: An analysis of the tension rattling America

15 Branching Out: A collection of students’ journeys 20 Money Matters: Planning a budget before and after college 21 Crepe Scott!: Understanding the ingredients and ingenuity behind

Tandem Crepery

22 Social Media: Enjoying life beyond Instagram 23 Election Evolution: A backstage pass to the political process

Editor-in-Chief Faith Auslund Artistic Director Victoria McNorrill Writers Carli Frady Victoria Pujdak Alex Miller Contributing Writers Megan Conley Caleb Ecarma Christian Segers Graphic Designers Abigail Tinker Ethan Sullivan Photographer John Bell Patrick Brown Cover Art Carli Frady

Copyright 2016 The Vision The Vision is published by the Mass Communication Department North Greenville University, Tigerville, S.C.

Advisor Karyn Campbell

Finding comfort amid the pressure to commit Carli Frady If you don’t know what “Ring by Spring” is, then you probably live under a rock or don’t attend North Greenville University as a student.

“Ring By Spring” stands for the idea that when people go to college, if they’re not engaged by the time they leave (in the spring of their senior year) then they get their tuition money back.

Obviously, this is a lie, but people

are so concerned about getting married that they’ve made up a slogan for it.

Picture this: it’s the last semester of college. A guy is anxiously waiting for the end, the final race. At the finish line, there’s a college degree and a wife… except there’s no wife yet.

He is so consumed at the thought that his life won’t be complete at this point in time, he settles for someone

“We get in this mindset that while we’re at school, this is the only time we are going to meet people who love Jesus and will be attracted to us.”

who God doesn’t have set for him. He settles because of this point of view that society has drilled into our brains that he sacrifices his future happiness for something that everyone else expects (a ring).

Then there’s the girl whose friends are all getting engaged and she doesn’t have a single prospect to pursue her heart.

Everyone tells her that it’s okay, that God is in pursuit of her heart, but the mundane ways of life has her feeling like she needs to meet someone before the end of her senior year, or else she will fail at being “normal.”

This isn’t a type of view that people should have.

When asked about “Ring By Spring” Drew Norris, senior, Christian Studies, said, “We get in this mindset that while we’re at school, this is the only time we are going to meet people who love Jesus and will be attracted to us.”

Norris also said, “Yes, this is a great four-year experience, but after that, we go on to bigger and better things.

Limiting yourself to finding a mate in college is dangerous.”

Joy Johnston, sophomore, English major, said, “To say that one needs to be engaged by the spring of their senior year is crazy. Every person and relationship is different.”

Many people agree with Johnston.

NGU surely had a significant number of single graduates walking the stage in May 2015.

Johnston also mentioned that different people are called to different outcomes, such as staying single until later on in life, getting married in college or taking the step toward a lifetime of celibacy.

The point of the matter: some have created an environment that is very competitive when it comes to dating.

O n e student said

many alumni had come to her saying they met their spouses while at NGU and that she would meet hers there, too.

Hello pressure, it’s nice to meet you.

Yes, many people from NGU have met their spouses while attending the school, but there were also great friendships that formed during that time as well.

Norris said, “I think NGU has formed this idea that by dating someone, you’re supposed to get married to them, or constantly think about it.”

Biblically speaking, there is

not hing wrong with dating someone with the intent of marriage.

To obsess over it with every individual who comes into one’s life is pushing the limits.

Beth Ross, administrative assistant for Campus Ministries, said that marriage is a serious matter, but

God ultimately has a plan.

To get over the “Ring By Spring” mentality, Ross suggested changing your mindset to not consider college as just finding a spouse, but to view it as an opportunity for an education that can support you through a lifetime. College is four years, but marriage is forever.

Take the time needed to enjoy it while it is here.

So what happens if you do want to date in college?

Johnston stated, “I think it’s good if you’re in a place where you feel you should be, and if you feel that you’re grounded enough and not because everyone else is doing it.”

Both Norris and Johnston made the point that dating is fine as long as God is the forerunner of one’s intentions.

“If it happens it happens. My identity isn’t wrapped up in whether I find a mate,” said Norris. “I place value in God who makes those relationships.”

As far as relationships go, even regular friendships won’t last if there’s not a solid foundation in Christ, says Johnston.

“Any relationship that isn’t founded in Christ and doesn’t know what unconditional love is can’t stand a chance. God is the ultimate source of love,” she said.

When asked about advice for the future, Norris said, “Stop searching for marriage and start searching for relationships that evolve into a great friendship.”

Johnston mentioned we should remember that a relationship before marriage isn’t marriage in itself. There are still boundaries that need to be set and kept up with.

Marriage is something very serious.

God has a plan. We can’t get upset because God’s plan doesn’t fit our plan, so we need prayer and meditation on that. Some people at this age think that they come to college to find their partner, and it’s a low opinion of yourself if you have that mindset. You CAN survive without someone, because God fulfills our hearts.

2

Free College

Symbolizing an entitled generation?

Victoria Pujdak “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme,” echoes the halls and shakes the foundation of numerous college campuses throughout the United States.

The debate regarding free college education has been tossed around in politics for years, but recently, fuel has been added to the fire by presidential candidates who seem to cradle an entitled generation’s desire to take the easy road in life.

The real question people must ask is, “What does ‘free’ actually entail?”

Let’s face it, nothing in life is truly free; funds must come from somewhere or someone. There is truly no system that offers free college.

3

A realistic question is “Who should pay for collegiate students?”

Advocates for free education claim that wealthy, upper crust citizens and trade organizations, such as Wall Street, should distribute their vast and earned wealth to the masses. But what happens when those fortunes are depleted? The next valuable source of revenue is tax payers dollars, reversely, causing people to pay for their own “free” college.

“The reason I say it is a flawed system,” said Mark Roeder, a professor of political science at North Greenville University, “Money doesn’t grow on trees; there’s no such thing as free.

Somebody is footing the cost .... It sounds nice ... But colleges are not just going to decide to offer students an education for nothing.”

The question must also be raised, “Where will free college apply?”

Will free college apply to public, private or both institutions? If the system only applies to public colleges and universities, small, private colleges could potentially be put out of business. Unfortunately, most people would choose free education over the luxury of a small campus environment. So, private schools are left with a dilemma: shut down or receive funding from the government.

For Christian colleges, the separation of church and state is a concern.

If the government is funding a school, it might also be granted access to control the curriculum that is taught.

“Free education could potentially disrupt the entire academic climate of the United States in a very negative direction,” said Roeder. “Then everybody basically gets taught from the same perspective and there isn’t really any diversity in education.”

Technically, there are means for students to receive free or reduced collegiate educations through scholastic scholarships. Traditionally, collegiate education has been upheld as an opportunity for exceptional, hardworking individuals to accelerate their future prospects. However, if education becomes accessible for all post high school graduates, how will colleges and universities determine who is and is not deserving of an advanced education? Similarly, how will education systems factor the level of difficulty in their courses, and aptitude they expect of their students?

Over the years, Samuel Maycock’s, a junior biology major, family has taught ballroom dance classes for beginners. He said that his parents would charge a nominal fee of $5 before classes began. Maycock correlated this example to free education, “They do it to get a certain level of commitment. If you have, say, free dance lessons, you’re going to have a lot more people goofing off, just because they haven’t invested anything in it. I feel like it’s the same thing with free college. You have people who are just going to college for the experience and it would be a giant waste of money.”

“What would happen is, either, you would have a much higher dropout rate because there would be kids going to college who don’t need to be in college, because they are not smart enough to handle the work load, or you have to decrease the level of difficulty of college and doing that you are devaluing what college really is,” said Maycock.

Money doesn’t grow on trees, there’s no such thing as free... Colleges are not just going to decide to offer students an education for nothing.

For students who want an easy pass through college, the idea of free education sounds wonderful, but free education can have a degrading effect on societal morale and motivation.

Wanting to teach his students the personal effects of socialism, a college professor declares that on each exam, everyone will receive the class average as their grade. This announcement falls on the ears of two types of students.

First is the hardworking overachiever who will study without fail, and secondly is the disinterested slacker, who will rely on the work of others.

After the exam, the class average is lower than some students have anticipated. For the students who achieved excellence on their exams, this is a crushing blow. In time, the students who were once keen on academic distinction slowly descend into a slump because they realize they will never get ahead of the students who are disinterested in achievement.

Countries such as Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom provide free, public higher education for their

citizens. However, in recent years, these countries have seen a decrease in the pursuit of degrees in medicine, because of the lack of motivation from students to want to improve society.

“The problem is ‘How does it work?’ Do you think this stuff magically appears? That’s the problem.

Socialism creates a disincentive for work, and instead of society getting better, it just gets worse,” said Roeder.

Despite concrete evidence that free education is a gateway for socialism in America, 62 percent of Americans advocate free higher education, according to the “Washington Examiner.”

Is this mindset the by-product of an increasingly entitled generation, who believes the government should provide for them from cradle to the grave?

While free education, does not have immediate effects, it can have increasingly negative effects over time. Free education comes with a high cost that will have people paying for generations.

4

Students showcase their spring apparel Victoria Pujdak

Once again, the trees have begun to blossom with sunlight streaming through their branches, the birds are singing in the powder blue skies, and North Greenville University students are beginning to shed their winter sweaters as the emergence of the spring season envelopes campus. From effortless sundresses to crisp, seersucker shirts, students are welcoming the season in a fashionable way. Spring fashion is more than wearing pastel colors and strappy sandals,

it’s an external way to show how the beauty, freshness and renewal of spring can make one feel. Renowned fashion designer, editor and icon Rachel Zoe once described personal style as “ a way to say who you are without having to speak”.

Channeling their inner styles and the latest spring fashions, here are some students who are turning the NGU campus into their personal runways.

Men’s Fashion A man can never go wrong with a classic pair of jeans and a crisp oxford shirt. This classic combination is in fashion any time during the year.

It’s stylish, comfortable, practical.

It’s basically golden and should be a staple in every man’s wardrobe.

What makes an oxford shirt so amazing is you can dress it up or dress it down. Put your button up with a pair of jeans for school and for a date or church slip on blazer or sports jacket to elevate your outfit. This look is wonderful for the spring weather because it will keep you breezy on warm days but still gives coverage.

Oxford shirts come in all types of styles and colors to suit every man’s fashion fancy.

A great spring style twist on

this look is the addition of pastel, seersucker fabric to the shirt.

Seersucker is a timeless, lightweight spring fabric that will keep you cool and looking dapper.

So if you’re looking to break out from the daily t-shirt and sweatpants, don on a snappy Oxford and walk down the street a classy, confident man.

Women’s Fashion Covergirl makeup company’s slogan “Easy, breezy, beautiful,” best encapsulates the essence of women’s spring fashion.

Spring is a time for women to toss off the cocoon of a drab, heavy winter sweater and emerge in effortless, feminine style.

A classic, casual spring look for women is peddle-pusher pants with a lightweight knit top, tank or sweater. Peddlepusher pants are a great addition to any woman’s wardrobe

because they are cute, comfortable, and practical.

This look is an excellent asset to any college girl’s fashion arsenal because it’s great for running around campus, lounging on the grass or going on a date.

“Clothes and manners do not make the man; but when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance.”

Arthur Ashe, American tennis player The pants often come in a variety of colors and adorable patterns.

This look is attainable for any woman because the pants are flattering on most body shapes and are sold in most stores, so they

are readily available at any size and price point.

Complete your outfit with a pair of delicate sandals or charming Keds tennies. This look is an undeniably timeless way to look casual but chic.

If you are looking for a way to amplify your feminine aesthetic this spring, flowy, effortless sundresses are a terrific way to do so. Every woman should own at least one, classic sundress because at some point it will come in handy.

Sundresses are great way to look charming with a laid-back elegance. They are incredibly practical because you can use them for multiple occasions.

If you are going for a more casual, school look, pair your sundress with a pair of sandals or ballerina flats. You can also dress up your sundress for a occasions like a wedding, church, or a night on the town, by adding a pair of cute wedge sandals and sparkly jewelry. A classic sundress is a wonderful way to feminine and effortless with a causal elegance.

Coco Chanel once said, “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”

So this Spring, let your style model your feminine spirit with causal but elegant look.

6

Mental Health Breaking down the stigmas Alex Miller Shifting in her bed, Sarah peels open her eyelids. The sunbeams shining through the window pierce her sleepy eyes and she groans. She is exhausted: physically, mentally and spiritually. Her body begs for just another hour of rest.

Alas, she rises from the comfort of her inviting bed and shuffles over to the mirror to assess the damage.

The image before her doesn’t surprise her. Darkness surrounds her eyes and her hair sticks out like twigs. She wipes the remnants of crusty build-up from her eyes and then reaches for her pill container. Today is Sunday.

Lifting the appropriate cap, she dumps the multicolored medicine into her hand, slings it into her mouth and washes it down with water from the sink.

Straightening up, her back making small pops from her night of tossing, she stares into her reflection. Disgusting.

“A face only a mother could love,” she says out loud. If even that, she silently wonders.

Heading to church in the drizzly rain, she passes a graveyard. Sitting at the stoplight, she sees a family huddling around a 6-foot-deep hole as the minister holds an open Bible.

A woman grasps a little girl to her side and weeps. Sarah thinks back to the moment when she was 16 years old and stood by a similar hole. Her father had stood by her, resilient, not daring to let a single tear fall. He had always told Sarah to be strong. Tears were for weak people who did not fully trust in God. As she sunk into her cycle of tormenting thoughts, she could feel the tears welling up, creating pressure behind her eyes. She could not let them fall. People in the church would ask questions if she showed up with a runny nose and a red, blotchy face.

Growing up, she was told saving face was the number one priority. If you crumble, at least don’t let others see it. So she stuffed her tears down deep, waiting for the moment when she was back in the safety of her home.

Home was also the place where she sunk deepest into her despair and regrets – regrets about events and mistakes from the past and despair over the person she was now.

Fellow believers had always told her that Christians with a strong relationship with Christ don’t struggle with depression.

They were ignorant of the demons

Mental illness: we all know

someone who is affected by it, but most of us don’t

understand the healthy

approach to dealing with those who 7

suffer.

she constantly wrestled with in the privacy of her mind. She felt ashamed that she read her Bible daily, yet still struggled. It was unacceptable.

After parking outside the church, she walked up the stone steps and quietly sat in the back wooden pew, smiling modestly at those who greeted her.

Today was just another day of hiding and pretending.

Sarah, like 18 percent of the world’s population, suffers from depression, and that is just a description of one morning in her shoes. Like so many, she is shamed for her illness by the one place that should be a sanctuary for her mind: the Church.

Mental illness: we all know someone who is affected by it, but most of us don’t understand the healthy approach to dealing with those who suffer.

The most common approach by the Church is to Band-Aid® the mentally ill with scripture and prayer. Unfortunately, this “Jesus can fix everything” outlook is counterproductive.

When they ramp up their spiritual life and still feel the effects of their illness, they feel even more shame because they’re “failing” spiritually.

The last thing you tell people who hate themselves is there’s one more thing they’re doing wrong.

Steve Bielby, student counselor at North Greenville University, said the Church often ignores the mentally ill because of fear and misunderstanding.

“If it’s outside of your expertise, you can’t just say, ‘The answer for you is Jesus. Here’s a Bible verse for you. Read scripture, pray a lot and stay in church and you’ll be okay,’” said Bielby. “If that person is, say, borderline personality

disorder, that isn’t going to fly. They need a whole lot more.”

A hundred years ago, lack of medical research resulted in the poor treatment of the mentally ill. Then, people had no clue what they were dealing with and the decision to throw someone in an institution was based upon whether or not the public deemed an individual’s behavior as “crazy” or “threatening.”

With the advancement of scientific research, we now have no excuses.

“Now we have a better understanding of people’s behavior and the contributing factors such as chemical imbalance of the brain or environment,” said Bielby.

According to Bielby, Christians often factor in only one cause for illness, leaving the mentally ill searching for a loving hand to reach out and rescue them from their pit.

In 2013, Lifeway Research did a study which showed over half of Christians believe mental illness can be cured by Bible study and prayer alone.

Bielby said, “It’s an approach that leaves out the other dimensions of your being: your physical, your emotional, your social, your psychological and your spiritual. You are all of those things together.”

This type of approach ignores people like Sarah who only get a couple hours of sleep every night, don’t eat a balanced diet and have trauma in their past.

When you ignore all of those factors, you’re left to grasp at straws and the only one left to grab is, “They don’t believe in Jesus.”

There are plenty of godly people in the Bible, however, who displayed symptoms congruent with mental illness.

For example, Jeremiah, “the weeping prophet,” was severely depressed as he lived in a miserable environment seeking to fulfill God’s will. King Saul was close with the Lord, but was susceptible to mania and depression.

Lastly, there’s the demoniac who was a

“Praise be to...the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that

we can comfort those in any trouble

with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 cutter plagued by psychosis.

All of those people had mental illnesses, and the spiritual aspect was only a small part of the issue.

Bielby described finding the root of people’s illnesses as “peeling back layers of an onion,” and those who rush the process by jumping to quick conclusions and offering petty spiritual advice are only creating more problems.

In regards to suicidal people, he said, “Saying they’re just selfish is selfish.

First, you’re dismissing the factors in their life that made them suicidal and then you’re telling them it’s their fault for feeling that way and they should be ashamed. You’re putting even more of a bind upon them.”

If the Church desires to branch out from the stigmas created by Hollywood and show actual compassion for the mentally ill, it must adopt a holistic approach.

Bielby described counseling as a “holy thing” and an “art.” But you don’t have to have a doctorate to help someone.

The most important thing to remember when dealing with the mentally ill is their humanness. They are image-bearers of God and every single one is unique.

So, there is no cookie cutter approach to addressing mental health.

The b e s t option is to see the person as an individual, broken, and in need of something. That “something” is not our uneducated diagnoses or spiritual judgments, but rather our unrelenting love and pursuit of their well-being, whatever that looks like.

God created us to live in community, which means taking care of each other through struggles and not leaving the weak to fend for themselves.

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-6, Christ calls us to bring comfort to others and to suffer with others, as He suffers with us.

The title of “Christian” does not mean you must have it all together, but that in your suffering you have a body of believers and a compassionate Heavenly Father to turn to for strength and comfort.

Mental health is a lifelong battle for those afflicted. With the unhindered efforts of the Church to lock arms with these victims, we can make their battles a little less uphill.

8

Fasting the body while feeding the soul Carli Frady

At first, I saw the Daniel Fast as intimidating, but it soon became life altering.

I decided to allow myself 10 days on the fast, concentrating on worship and obedience in my walk with Christ. I wasn’t worried about the commitment in soul searching with God, but more of the eating healthy and stepping out of my comfort zone.

What I didn’t realize, however, was that God slowly stirred my heart during this time. It wasn’t until after my 10 day fast that I realized He was opening my heart to obedience in ways that I couldn’t imagine (through food, to be exact).

Just a disclaimer: I didn’t exactly follow the diet. If you look up what the Daniel Fast really is, it’s considered a fast based on the Old Testament that allows certain foods but also restricts foods as well. Daniel’s fasting experiences can be found in Daniel 1 and 10, which also

9

lists what are considered clean and unclean foods.

I allowed myself coffee throughout the fast because I am a college student.

I survive off of it.

When the Caf fell short, there were many trips to Walmart to get fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, carrots, soy beans, nuts, etc.

Day 1: Not going to lie, the first day was one of the hardest. The fast usually doesn’t allow coffee, but as soon as I woke up, I grabbed some without thinking.

Upon noticing what I was doing, I kept drinking it, thinking to myself that I would slowly wean myself off of coffee.

I had a simple breakfast and lunch, containing fruits and veggies.

My suite-mates had pizza in their room and had to constantly tell me to not eat it. I love pizza so much.

For dinner I had a lot of green beans.

A lot.

After going to work, I was still hungry so I decided to go out and get sushi with my friends. I had a veggie roll.

Day 2: If I thought the first day was hard, the second day was even harder.

Same breakfast consisting of fruits and simple, whole grains. Lunch was subpar. I did notice that I was praying more and growing in joy and obedience. I was reading in Hebrews and gaining so much insight.

For dinner I had black bean soup.

It was concocted in the Caf and was the only thing I could find that was remotely near what I was eating. It was a bit spicy, but I managed to eat it without too much hassle.

Day 3: For breakfast, I had oatmeal. Lunch, however, was different. My family went to Outback to celebrate my Dad turning 50.

When I arrived, I told myself to not

even think about the beautiful brown bread that would be served with a creamy honey spread, but as soon as it arrived, I felt my mouth watering.

Instead of eating it, I drank water with lemon in it. I noticed that my intake of water had grown quite a bit since telling myself that I wasn’t allowed to eat anything unhealthy. I ended up ordering soup while everyone else had crisp coconut shrimp and steaks.

I left the restaurant empty handed with a stomach that was satisfied but still desiring more.

Day 4: Same boring breakfast of oatmeal.

Usually, I love oatmeal, but there’s something about eating it four days in a row that makes a person start to resent it.

Podcasts have helped me get ready more quickly in the morning and I noticed that telling people about the fast also led me to tell them about how God was changing my life.

When people asked why I was eating what I was eating, I was able to share with them what I was meditating on and how God was molding me through this time.

For lunch, I had a whole bowl of black bean and hummus spread with grilled vegetables. It was honestly one of the best lunches I’ve ever had at North Greenville University. I remember walking out feeling so full and so happy.

Day 5: Today I worked at a clothing company in Haywood Mall. For lunch, I had fruits and veggies and three handfuls of roasted soy beans.

As a snack, I went into GNC at the mall and ordered the biggest fruit smoothie ever. I drank the whole thing, and I was still hungry afterwards.

Even though the diet allows only water, I tried some kombucha (fermented tea), which was okay. I decided that I needed something to keep my immune system going.

Obedience was slowly grasping onto my soul. It amazed me how hard it was to stick with something that I planned.

Even though I wanted sweets and

hearty food, my obedience allowed me to focus on why I was doing this.

It reminded me of God’s love for us.

He sent His son to die for us, and Jesus was so obedient that He was crucified so that His blood could make us clean.

Obedience. It’s a humbling word.

Day 6: Today I traveled with Joyful Sound.

The churches we visit provide food for us, so I was planning on eating every green veggie I could lay my hands on.

Unfortunately, when I went to lunch, the only remotely healthy thing was a bowl of microwaved green beans.

Luckily, I love beans, so I had a whole plate.

That night at dinner, there was only one vegetable available: green beans.

I still ate a whole

plate of them.

Basically, I was a giant green bean by the end of the night.

Day 7: I reached a week. It was hard, but I did it. I was sick that day and spent it sleeping.

I had a protein shake for lunch to see if I would feel better having something in my stomach but nothing helped. For dinner I ate some crackers and bread to try to help whatever I was

fighting off.

Day 8: All I remember of this day was still feeling sick, so much so that I slept the whole day without eating.

Day 9: My last full day on the fast. I was slightly happy that it was ending so I could go eat a bagel, but I was considering extending the fast. I chose to cut out all dairy, sugar and most carbs, but allow myself grilled chicken if I had the craving for it.

Day 10: This fast was hard. I had times where I couldn’t stay with my fast because I was so sick to my stomach. Other times, I was able to eat a full meal and feel full for the rest of the day.

What I really noticed, though, was my spiritual walk getting stronger.

Whenever I was able to separate my thoughts from what meal I was going to have next, I was able to focus more on God. Whenever I felt weary or intimidated, I turned to the Word. There, I was met with the promise of steadfastness that God allowed me to experience.

The fast was a reminder of how God loves me. As I sought His presence, I was filled with peace. Even now, though the fast is over, I still feel the effects of it.

10

MISSION ADDICTION Preparing your heart and luggage Victoria Pujdak

Whispers of the Great Commission have echoed in the hearts of many young Christians, urging them to follow the call of the Gospel to the farthest reaches of the earth.

Whether trekking to unfamiliar lands or venturing in near vicinities, missionaries must prepare themselves for the journey ahead.

Gazing upon a rotating luggage carousal with their hearts, minds and luggage prepared, a team of missionaries await the arrival of the last member of their team. Slight panic sets in their minds as they realize their luggage may not appear. While the mystery of the disappearing luggage may not befall every traveler, it is always important to pack wisely for a trip, in case of emergencies. Carry-on articles

11

such as backpacks are an efficient way to keep a miniature kit of basic necessities such as medicine, toiletries and the all important change of clothes.

Toting his backpack through 20 mission trips, Jeremy Wetherton, a senior print media major, said, “Always take a backpack. Backpacks are incredible because they just carry everything . . . As long as a few people in your group have a backpack, everybody can have everything they need.” Often while packing, there is a constant tug of war between bringing what you think you need and what you actually need to survive. A bulging suitcase can be a physical and potential financial burden to you and your team. Before leaving, calculate the weight of your luggage on an available scale.

Often, if luggage exceeds airline weight limits, there can be a pricey upcharge.

Discovering that your luggage has gained a few more pounds and your wallet has lost a few is not an enjoyable experience.

Packing for a five week mission trip to Guatemala, Hannah Mashburn, a junior elementary education major, discovered, “Don’t over pack. Keep it simple, because you’re probably going to bring back more than you take, especially, if you’re going for a long term mission trip.”

Preparing and arriving physically for a mission trip is only half of the groundwork for a missionary. There is also a mental and spiritual preparation that is vital. Proverbs 19:21, says,

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”Before a mission trip, it’s common to have preconceived expectations about the goals, ministries or structures of a trip.

However, these presumptions will most likely be altered or shattered.

Keep a flexible and positive attitude in your dilemma. Remind yourself and your teammates that God is in control and will provide.

The way you handle trials during your journey may leave an immense impact on those around you.

Wetherton personally witnessed how a team’s flexible and willing spirit can open unimaginable doors to ministry that were once sealed. Last summer, Wetherton, worked as a team coordinator in Guatemala. Originally, Wetherton and his team planned to minister in a local children’s home. However, a single phone call changed the course of their ministry.

The caller was a local pastor seeking people to help build a house for a family in a nearby village.

Rearranging their original plans, the team trekked three quarters of mile up a mountainside to construct a house alongside a local family. While nailing boards and pouring foundation,

Wetherton and his team built something even more substantial than a dwelling. They built meaningful relationships and connections with the family and their neighbors. “ It was actually one of the more incredible experiences we had,” said Wetherton. “It was our foothold into the community.

We came back the second week and the third week and so on because we felt God calling us to that specific community,” he said.

Another important factor for preparing physically and mentally for a mission trip is gaining an understanding of the culture in which you are ministering. Every culture you visit, whether national or international, has its own set of cultural practices that must be honored and embraced.

Understanding these practices can deepen the relationship with locals and heighten the impact of evangelism.

This can affect your method of ministry from something as simple as clothing you wear to t h e

p r e s e n t a t i o n of the Gospel.While preparing to minister in Uganda, Erica Yelton, a junior elementary education major, researched and studied the people and culture.

For Yelton, understanding culturally appropriate clothing for a mission trip is beneficial. “When you are serving in a different culture it’s important to know what’s respectful for them,” said Yelton.

“In Uganda most of the ladies wore skirts or dresses, so that’s what we wore so we were on the same level with them,” she continued.

It is easy to assume conclusions about a culture t hat is dif ferent f rom you r ow n .

Pre conceive d not i ons ab out a culture can creep into your mind and color the effect of your ministry.

12

Racial Unrest

An Analysis of the Tension Rattling America Caleb Ecarma Following Michael Brown’ s death at the hands of a white police officer, America has seen a notable increase in racial tension and civil unrest.

That is not mere conjecture, nor is it an anecdotal statement. According to a New York Times poll, close to 60 percent of Americans feel that race relations are currently bad and deteriorating rapidly.

Paul Thompson, the dean of the College of Humanities and head of the Faith, Race, and Culture committee at North Greenville University said, “There have been surveys done in the last few years where all Americans say race relations have gotten worse; it doesn’ t matter who’ s answering the question.”

“But what’ s really interesting about that these polls is they show Blacks [throughout the years] as consistently believing race relations to be generally bad,” added Thompson.

The last time polls regarding race relations were this bad was in 1992, which was immediately after the Rodney King police altercation and the ensuing L.A. riots. This is extremely telling to the current situation in America, as there are many similarities to the King and Brown cases.

In 1991, King was driving while intoxicated on an interstate in the L.A. area when police officers began to tail him. Refusing to pull over, King incited a high-speed car chase on the freeway and through residential areas. King was finally cornered and had to exit the

13

vehicle.

O f f i ce rs surrounded King and attempted to subdue him but he resisted arrest and charged at an officer. King was struck by a taser twice.

The officer that King charged at began beating him with his baton. A second officer joined in. Combined with the first officer’ s assaults, King was hit a total of 33 times with batons.

George Holliday, a man living in an apartment overlooking the scene, videotaped the majority of the altercation. The tape which was presented on KTLA, a local news station, had the first ten seconds cut, which included the part where King charged at the police officers. Instead, the public only saw the police officers beating King.

This altercation, combined with the acquittal of the officers, is widely considered to be the spark that ignited the L.A. race riots, where 55 people were killed, roughly 2,000 injured and 11,000 arrested.

Fast forward 22 years to August 9, 2014 and there’ s Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black man, who was fatally shot in Ferguson, Mo., after a physical altercation with Darren Wilson, a white police officer. The struggle resulted after Brown stole from a

convenience store and physically assaulted the store clerk. revolving The circumstances around Brown’ s death are extremely controversial and very speculative, as there was no video or audio recording of this deadly encounter.

However, what is not speculation is that Brown was killed, whether justifiably or not, by police officer Wilson, who fired his handgun at Brown a total of 12 times.

D u J o n Johnson, a professor of history at North Greenville University, said, “We give the policeman the power to be God, which we shouldn’ t do, and they decide who gets to live and who gets to die.”

“We’ve given you [the police] the right to execute people, we can at least require you [the police] to show discretion,” said Johnson.

“Every In the King and Brown incidents, time a Americans focused on which party p o l i c e m a n was guilty, the black man or white shows up, they’re police officers, or, if both parties were e n c o u n t e r i n g guilty, which party was less guilty. another human When a black man is shot or beaten being, one that and civil unrest ensues, many believe they have Americans will assume the unrest is never met due to the actual, physical encounter, b e f o r e , and focus almost entirely on the w h e n circumstances of that exchange. they are The King assault and the Brown

shooting were both “straws that broke the camel’s back” moments; they b o t h validated the feelings black Americans in a had towards the justice system. heightened According to the PBS poll, 87 e m o t i o n a l percent of blacks feel that they do not s t a t e , ” s a i d have an equal opportunity within the Thompson on justice system. the wide ranging “On the issue of race, you never discussion on police brutality. heard black Americans say, ‘Oh,

things will get better for us racially.’

We never said that. That’ s always the mainstream society,” said Johnson.

A recent New York Times poll shows that, when asked if race relations in the U.S. were good or bad, black respondents have generally remained the same over the past eight years, while white responses showed a 40 point swing from race relations going good to bad.

This shift in focus on racial issues can often be blamed on the media’ s constant focus on racial subject matter within the past year and a half, especially situations revolving around police brutality.

Thompson said, “There’s always a component of entertainment that people are trying to insert into the news, not to mention profit, which comes from advertising. So you get higher ratings, which equals more profit, by having the most titillating news.”

When asked in the New York Times and CBS News poll, 82 percent of polled were cited as saying race is one of the more important political issues in America today. However, before the Brown incident, race was not an issue that was unilaterally recognized. So while more Americans do consider race relations to be generally bad and getting worse, at least it is an issue that is now in the public sphere and being addressed.

60 percent of Americans feel that race relations are currently bad and deteriorating rapidly.

14

Branching Out

A collection of students’ journeys Alex Miller Axel Kootstra, plunked down in his seat, sandwiched between two other impatient travelers. With headphones in, the others had already drowned out the whirring of the cranked plane engine, relaxing in for their journey.

But Kootstra was anything but relaxed.

He was leaving his homeland and moving to unknown territory with hundreds of people he’d never met.

This was the beginning of a new season with new growth and he wasn’t sure he was ready.

The millennial generation: we are often criticized heavily for our sense of entitlement, our unwillingness to work hard, our small and skewed vocabulary, our extreme division and our lack of goals. But slide in a little closer and you will notice that description only applies to a small amount of people.

Many within the millennial generation are also driven, big-dreamers, hardworkers and comfort-zone-challengers.

We reach far, press hard and we celebrate individuality and those who work towards and achieve greatness.

We are a generation known for branching out. Throughout the world our ever-growing limbs have stretched and intertwined and we are making a difference despite the stats or the angry bloggers who say otherwise. Never has there been a generation that has wielded such a large megaphone 15 and boldly proclaimed its beliefs

about abortion, sexuality, slavery and education.

Never has a generation been so courageous to step into a scary, uncertain world and make its dreams happen or do something uncomfortable, but rewarding.

Here at North Greenville University, we frequently declare our mantra, “Where Christ Makes the Difference.”

We pride ourselves in giving willing students the opportunity to come to this campus and discover how God can use their unique talents for His glory. We encourage them to not live mediocre lives, but do big things and we take pride when they do.

Our difference makers are going out into the world, to the nations, and they are sharing their knowledge of their learned field and their knowledge of Jesus Christ. They are breaking down the stereotypes for the millennial generation and pushing down the walls of low expectations.

GIULIANA YONEMOTO Each student here has a distinctive story that sets him or her apart. Whether you came here to play on a sports team, to be part of a Christian community or to simply get an education to equip you for your dreams, your story has one central theme: branching out.

One such student with a story like this is Giuliana Yonemoto, sophomore interdisciplinary studies major, who

was sent alone to the States at 14-yearsold to attend high school and eventually go to college. Coming to the States isn’t a big deal, but if you’ve grown up in Japan for your whole childhood and know practically zero English, scary is an understatement.

Explaining her family history, Yonemoto said, “After my parents married, my dad wanted to start a business, but they were in Brazil at the time and the economy was bad. So they

B u t amid the pressure and the discomfort of being moved to so far from family, Japan where the Yonemoto said her high school years in economy thrived the States brought new light to her life and there they had my older and changed her forever. sister and me.”

Growing up in a Christian family Yonemoto shared that due to her in Japan had been hard for Yonemoto, constant skipping of classes in middle and she had never before experienced school, her failing grades and the way community with fellow believers.

Japan’s school system is set up, she “People in Japan think ‘You can’t was not going to be advancing to high even see the God you’re worshipping. school. Her parents, obviously viewing this as unacceptable, decided to send her to Pennsylvania, where her sister had been studying already, for high school. Yonemoto is a prime example that sometimes branching out is not a choice; sometimes it’ s forced.

Recounting her journey of adjustment, Yonemoto said, “I remember the bell ringing and everyone went to their classes and I was just standing in the hall all alone not knowing what to do or even what to ask because I knew no English.”

For Yonemoto, the struggle to fit in to a new culture and living far from her family continued for four years.

Why do you believe in Him?’ A lot of people there don’t believe in anything,” said Yonemoto.

But coming to Pennsylvania and being immersed in a predominately Christian nation, she found unity of heart with others and encouragement to take her faith to a new level.

“Whenever I had gone through a hard time in the past I had never really taken the situation and turned it over to God and saw it as something God would use,” shared Yonemoto. “So it was really different to see how others responded to hard times here and how they encouraged each other,” she continued.

While branching out into a new culture wasn’t easy, the result for Yonemoto was a stronger faith, forever friendships and eventually an opportunity to go to NGU, where she continues to thrive, despite her home being so far away.

“God really changed my life by giving me fellow believers to encourage me and that continued as I came here to NGU,” said Yonemoto. “So, while it was an uncomfortable transition coming here, I know it was all in God’s plan,” she concluded.

16

AXEL KOOTSTRA For Axel Kootstra, freshman sport management major, leaving home was definitely a challenge, but also rewarding. Plopping down in his chair, Koostra smirked and asked, “You really want to know everywhere I’ve lived?”

Kootstra is a 6-foot-3-inches tall man and besides his slight accent, you’d never know he wasn’t from the U.S., much less someone who has lived in so many parts of the world.

Born in Cameroon, Africa, then moving to Nigeria, Vietnam and lastly resting for 15 years in the Netherlands, Kootstra is well traveled, to say the least. After high school, Kootstra came to America to attend 22FT Academy in Greenville, a basketball clinic that prepares young men for college.

Kootstra was passionate about the sport, but after having knee surgery that passion dwindled and Kootstra switched to football.

17 A workout with NGU coaches

resulted in Kootstra’s recruitment to play football. Never did he imagine moving to an unfamiliar place to play at a school he’d never heard of, but taking a step of faith, he did. Kootstra shared that his immersion into an American college was and still is difficult at times.

“I found it hard to adjust to being in the States in the sense that this is such a completely different setting then back home in the Netherlands,” said Kootstra. “Your culture is a part of you that doesn’t change,” he continued.

But Kootstra concluded that sports have helped him adjust the most and have pushed him out into many situations that would have been otherwise daunting.

“A team will take you places that you wouldn’t go to otherwise,” said Kootstra, “I have that unity which encourages me to explore and get out of my comfort zone,” he said.

STUART FLOYD There’s nothing more nervewracking than graduating and heading out into the world. For Stuart Floyd, senior interdisciplinary studies major, that jump is less scary, thanks to cultivated connections at school and his own drive to branch out.

Floyd began his journey into the career world early in the most literal sense: he took on the work-study position of being the assistant to NGU’s Career Services director, Joshua Putnam.

Floyd said he took on a more active role as a work-study due to Putnam being so busy on and off campus.

Chuckling, Floyd noted that, “In fact, if you’re emailing Josh than you’re probably emailing me instead.”

But while most would shudder at the thought of taking on even more responsibility while balancing classes, Floyd saw nothing but an opportunity to flourish, and that he did. As of this

semester, Floyd has officially taken on the job of NGU’s new career planning coordinator. The job is not something he ever dreamed of doing. In fact, since he was little he has wanted to be in the Secret Service.

Settling in, Floyd explained, “My dream of being in Secret Service began at former president George W. Bush’s first inauguration in 2001. You see the guys in suits and sunglasses and it just seems like such a cool job to have.”

Floyd has gone as far as visiting the Secret Service agency in Greenville, to see what the requirements are. Floyd said, “After I get some work experience, maybe one day that dream will become reality. For now I’m focusing on my job as coordinator and serving here at NGU.” Floyd said he loves working in Career Services because he gets an opportunity to help his friends.

“Sometimes it’s

intimidating for students to talk to someone they don’t know,” said Floyd.

“But people know me, have heard of me or can relate to me. That makes me more approachable and gives me more chances to connect people together. I love seeing people find fresh opportunities and success,” continued Floyd.

ANDRE FALARDEAU Commitment and loyalty are surely valuable traits in this world. Andre Falardeau, sophomore business administration major, practices those character traits every day as he participates in ROTC in hopes of one day braving the worst evils for our freedom. More specifically, Falardeau desires to be a part of the Green Berets, also known as Special Forces, and eventually move up to Delta Force.

Falardeau described the Green Berets as the “Navy Seals of the Army,”

whereas Delta Force deals more specifically with hostage rescue and counter-terrorism.

Falardeau said, “Always as a little kid, I would see guys with a gun or something and think, ‘Oh I want to be like him!’ Everyone, it seemed, wanted to be a fireman or a policeman. I’m in ROTC now and I really enjoy it and the benefits... but I wouldn’t say I’ve always been a die-hard military guy. My dad wasn’t a general or anything. I just feel like it’s something I need to do.”

Of course, none of us are ignorant to the intense responsibilities and weight of such a career. Not only do our soldiers sacrifice their own lives, but also they sacrifice time with their family. Falardeau felt the heaviness of that and empathized.

“I’m not afraid to die. My biggest fear is leaving the ones I love, to be honest.

I hold very tightly to family, but at the same time I would love to serve my country and protect it,” he said.

18 18

Falardeau is already a hero. His selfless approach to his future directly breaks away from the mold that society has appointed saying the millennial generation is purely self-interested.

Falardeau proved that branching out doesn’t always mean doing something unique, but simply serving others.

HANNAH SQUIRES AND COLLIN DALE When it comes to unique plans, Hannah Squires, sophomore business administration major, and Collin Dale, sophomore marketing major, definitely impress.

The two, who have been dating for over two years now, have developed a specific plan to start a business of their own some day.

Squires knows a thing or two about having a business as she has been doing photography on the side during her college years to provide income.

Her Instagram feed and clothing style exude a unique, artsy taste and her lovely voice is often found singing the praises of Jesus or a certain hot beverage: coffee.

Dale is all of those things, too, but he plays guitar instead of singing and he currently hates coffee, but according to Squires is “warming up to it.”

So what kind of business do two lovebirds who emanate the hipster vibe start? Well, a coffee shop, obviously.

Squires said, “He’s really good with marketing and thinking of cool

19

slogans and ideas, so one day we were just like, ‘Wouldn’t it be so cool if we had our own coffee shop?’ I’ve always thought that me starting my own business would be totally out of the box, but ever since we decided to think about it together through the lens of our life together it’s been a lot more realistic.”

These two have vision. What better example of branching out than two college students laying out their specific goals and actually chasing after them? For Squires and Dale, their coffee shop isn’t just a dream; they are 100 percent set on making it a reality.

“I have so many ideas for this, my head is just exploding,” said Squires as she motioned above her head. Dale chuckled and nodded in agreement.

“You have to make it real yourself.

You can’t just sit by and say, ‘I wish that would happen, but it’s not going to, so whatever,’” Squires said, shrugging her shoulders.

“No. You have to put yourself out there and take risks,” she said with a finger pointing defiantly.

Dale chimed in to say, “It’s kind of funny, but we even have a playlist for our coffee shop that captures the whole vibe that we’re imagining. Sometimes we listen to it to get inspiration.”

Dale and Squires described in detail the atmosphere they wanted for their business. The first floor will be a music-filled social environment with live music from any aspiring artists seeking some stage time. There will be large tables and plenty of chairs for family and friends to relax and mingle.

Squires and Dale described the upstairs as a library setting, but without the dull library feel. It would be an inviting atmosphere with a retro feel, complete with couches for people to curl up on as they nestle their noses into books and their cappuccinos. Squires also mentioned one thing that was an absolute must: tons

of outlets.

“Coffee shops struggle with having enough outlets for students,” she said.

But that’s not all there is to their business plan – they also want to give back a portion of their proceeds to various worldwide charities.

Dale said, “It’s not just great because you’re giving back to your community or the world, but it’s also a marketing technique. People feel good about their purchase because they’re doing a part in helping, but also your business is benefitting.”

Squires and Dale feel strongly that this is what God wants for their lives – to be young entrepreneurs seeking the glory of Christ in whatever community they land. And just like them and all the other students here who are attempting unique or hard things and hoping for the best, all of us can in some way branch out. The important thing is to keep the focus on Who walks with us in those scary moments when we’ve gone out on a limb and we’re praying it doesn’t snap. Christ truly does make the difference —here on this campus and beyond. He is changing the stereotypes of this generation and pushing us to do bold things. Luckily, we all get to take part if we’re willing.

So as the nose of the plane lifted of the black top launching forth into the blue sky, Kootstra felt the weight of his anxiety leave him. His time at NGU was about to begin and his time in the Netherlands was temporarily ending.

But that was okay, because, while branching out might be scary, it was totally worth the adventure… and the accumulation of frequent flyer miles.

Money Matters

Planning a budget before and after college Alex Miller

So, a lot of your friends are making a late night trip to Cookout and of course you want to go. You decide to check your account balance before you leave, just to make sure. It’s been a while since you checked, but there has to be at least $100 in there. The web page loads and your stomach sinks as a balance of $1 mockingly sits before your eyes.

We’ve all been there and faced the humiliation of missing out on fun with friends due to low funds. But, following a few simple tips, you can avoid money disasters during and after college.

Richard Gianni, personal finance professor at North Greenville University, said, “Everybody has social media and they like to know what everyone else is doing and keep in touch with people. You need to do the same things specifically with things like credit, job opportunities and the rate of pay you’re going to be able to receive in your field.”

It’s easy to overcomplicate budgeting when you despise the thought of dealing with numbers even in the simplest form. But it’s not a complicated math equation.

Awareness is key. You can be aware by checking your balance regularly, checking your credit score, understanding the impact of taxes on your gross salary and also, when seeking an apartment, understanding the many fees associated with renting.

Credit scores: If you don’t already know, it’s a three-digit number that tells lenders whether you are an applicant worthy of a loan, mortgage or credit card. A good to excellent credit score range is 650-750.

One of the best ways to raise your credit score is to have a credit card.

Now, before you go screaming about how credit cards are of the devil, listen.

Gianni said, “You’ll be inundated with credit cards. Don’t use them, but you have to have them.”

He went on to explain that you should take scissors to all of your plastic, but have one specific type of credit card. Secure credit cards require cash collateral. Basically, you get to determine what you can afford. For example, you deposit $500 into the credit account and then your credit line will range anywhere from 50 percent to 100 percent of that deposit.

The deposit acts as backup, so, if you do not pay your bill on time, the bank takes money from your account to satisfy the debt.

Not to be confused with a debit card, when you make a purchase, the money is not directly withdrawn from your account. Instead, making a purchase creates a balance to be paid off.

As Gianni said, “It’s a credit card with a limit and it’s your limit, so you’ve protected yourself.”

With a secured credit card, you’re raising your credit score but keeping yourself from the temptation of buying all the clothes.

It’s like a financial choke collar - pull

too hard and you can’t breath anymore.

Budget creating and managing seems so complex when you’re just starting out, but by taking initiative to do small, simple things you can work your way to financial success.

Brad and Kristen Hartman had a vision of great coffee and great food, being served and enjoyed in togetherness. This idea has come to life through Tandem, the Travelers Rest creperie. “Our phrase has become ‘together is best,’ in our team, in our food and drink, and also in our community, and for people coming in,” Hartman said. “We want them to enjoy great times together.” She shares her favorite crepe recipe below.

Tandem’s Sausage and Potato Crepe Recipe Ingredients 4 eggs 1 cup water 4 cups whole milk ¼ cup canola oil 1 tbs sugar

2 ½ cups fresh ground whole wheat flour 1 lb diced red potatoes ½ lb Greenbrier Farms sausage 1 cup freshly chopped kale

Instructions Crepe batter: In the order they are listed, add eggs, water, whole milk, canola oil, sugar and whole wheat flour to a blender and blend until smooth.

Filling: Bake potatoes and sausage in a large roasting pan at 350 degrees for 50 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and toss with kale.

Making The Crepe: Spread batter on a crepe griddle or in a buttered, medium-sized skillet. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Spread 1 ½ cups sausage potato mixture over half of the crepe. Fold the crepe in half. Sprinkle 1 tbs grated cheese onto the open half of the griddle or skillet. Crack an egg onto the cheese and cook to desired doneness.

Roll the crepe up like a burrito, top with the egg and drizzle with syrup.

FSA

Social Media

Enjoying life beyond Instagram Megan Conley My alarm begins to buzz and I roll over. Begrudgingly, I open my eyes and look at my phone, as I do every morning. I open the Facebook app and see what major news I missed in the seven hours of my unconsciousness.

“Oh, someone else got engaged,” I think to myself. “How wonderful,” as I go to scroll through countless filtered photos on Instagram.

After a while, I climb out of bed and begin my morning routine. As I wait for my first class to begin an hour later, I find myself again riveted to the stories of people I haven’t spoken to in years. Throughout the day, I am glued to this trap of social media any time I’m moderately bored.

Social media, although created to help communication, has also hindered it. Our society has become completely engrossed in the virtual world.

When did we start seeing life through a filtered lens and start living for likes and retweets instead of just living for the moment?

From a physical and psychological standpoint, the effects of social media on our culture are greater than we realize. Robert Gaddis, associate professor of psychology at North Greenville University, gave his insight.

“One of the key aspects to mental health, well-being and happiness is close relationships with a few people, at least. Online, you don’t see the person and you don’t get the complexity of normal face-to-face communication,” said Gaddis.

When we put down the phones, we realize just how profound an impact these apps have on our lives.

Rachel Wade, sophomore, is one of the few people on campus who does not have any social media accounts.

Because of this, she is able to see the impact it has on those around her.

“People who are constantly on social media, I see that they’re not able to focus on one thing for a long period of time. It can become very sad to see people on social media become oblivious to the people around them,” said Wade.

She recalled specific instances when she had seen social media hinder personal communication.

“I was in Coffee Underground with a group of girls and all seven of them were on their phones, and were not talking to each other. It’s sad,” said Wade.

Could it be the innovation that was meant to connect us to the world only distracts us from what’s right in front of us?

“When you see two people sitting down at a restaurant for a meal and you see them looking at their phones instead of each other, that is a problem. If that is the default, if every time you are with them you are paying attention to other people online, then that’s not building a relationship,” said Gaddis.

Social media definitely has positive aspects as well, as Gaddis explained how Facebook makes the best of an otherwise not-so-pleasant situation.

“I think that the pros would be that I can have communication with my grandson who is in Korea in the army, but I wouldn’t want to never

have the opportunity to see him face to face,” Gaddis explained.

The key here is moderation. I’m not saying you need to delete all your apps and toss your phone into the woods, but we have to remember that God has given us each and every moment as a precious gift, and who are we to waste those gifts?

Instead of sitting around with your friends, constantly going from one social media site to another, take part in the conversation you’re in now.

I think it’s time we take a step back.

It’s time to see what life has to offer outside of a screen. Let’s branch out from this social media craze we’re living in. There’s no replay on life, so turn off the social media, grab onto this Godgiven life and never let it go.

22

Election Evolution

A backstage pass to the political process Although the race for the presidency is often viewed as a competition between both a Democrat and a Republican candidate, there is far more to the presidential selection than casting a ballot once every four years.

The process typically starts when potential candidates form exploratory committees to gauge if their candidacies would hold any sizeable measure of interest. These committees stirs the name of the prospective candidate into various conversations, generating buzz. If feedback remains steadily favorable, then the prospective runners hold a press conference to announce their intentions to run for office.

Once they declare their candidacies, they will create websites and media packages that solicit support. In addition, candidates from both sides endorse the creation of a political action committee, or PAC, for short.

PACs are limited in what they can do, according to political education website Opensecrets.org.

“A political action committee is organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates,” said Opensecrets. org.

A PAC is able to give $5,000 to a candidate in each election, often representing business, labor or ideological interests.

Since PACs are extremely restricted in the cash allowance they can spend on a candidate, laws were passed by Congress approving the creation of “super” PACs. Technically known as independent

23

Christian Segers

expenditure-only committees, super PACs are allowed to raise unlimited funds. Candidates are also prohibited from communicating with the super PACs that supports them. Additionally, super PACs are obligated to turn in their official donation statements.

The entire goal of these limitations is to create a fair election season, but the rules are readily bent. An example is the creation of a dummy bank account by a candidate’s staff, into which a super PAC could funnel money, without ever having direct “contact” with the candidate.

After generating a sufficient amount of funding, presidential candidates begin the road to the nomination.

During this time, they embark on countless campaign destinations, with interviews scheduled along the way. Although candidates genuinely want to win over each individual they encounter, this is an unreasonable goal. The task is to win either the primary or the caucus from each state.

Many times, the words “primary” and “caucus” are used interchangeably, but they are actually two separate forms of the state election p r o c e s s .

Officials from each state determine whether they will hold a caucus or a primary. In a primary, people go out

to the polls and anonymously cast their ballots. These votes are then tabulated and the candidate with the majority of the votes is declared the winner. Additionally, some states hold “closed” polls, meaning that only registered voters, who have registared with a particular party, can participate in electing a party nominee. “Open” voting means that independents can vote, too.

Caucuses are different than primaries. Representatives from each party hold numerous smaller caucuses across the state. At each caucus, voters are herded into a room and asked to go to the corner designated for their chosen candidate (some precincts designate or open up tables to facilitate discussion). The sides then commence in a debate for a given period of time, during which, if voters change their minds about which candidate they support, they quite literally walk to the side they

intend to switch their support to. Upon completion of the debate portion of the caucus, the voters are either counted in the corner they have chosen or traditional votes are tabulated by hand for each candidate.

Regardless of whether or not a state holds a primary or a caucus, individual votes do not technically decide the candidate for the presidency. Instead, the collective votes are handed over to a specified number of delegates, who, depending on party restrictions, cast their votes for the winning candidate at either the Republican or Democrat convention, held later on in the summer. The exceptions to this rule are referred to as “ super delegates,” who are capable of changing the vote to whomever they choose. Super delegates include party leaders and former presidents.

When each of the states have held either its primary or caucus, the party’s national convention ratifies the selection made by the collective delegates and the media spotlight immediately begins to pit the two national party selections against each other. Nominees then decide which

states to begin their campaigns.

Candidates spend most of their time early on in states that are more likely to vote for the party they represent. For example, Republicans often begin their campaigns in states they believe will go to their party. This method of campaigning helps to build a repertoire with voters and serves as a foundation on which to build in the upcoming months.

Early on in the election cycle, candidates hope to build a sense of trust by answering questions about their voting records, future plans for the administration, etc.

No matter how trustworthy a candidate might appear, certain states and counties are nearly impossible to win, due to demographics that stay the same from election season to election season. California and New York are generally liberal and it is extremely unlikely that a Republican will win those states. On the other hand, it is hard for Democrats to win over the people of Texas, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. Candidates devote the second leg of their campaigns to what are effectively known as “battleground states.”

Battleground states are those that have no clear-cut loyalty to a certain party. In recent elections, states such as Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida have voted in an unpredictable manner. Ohio caught the national spotlight in the 2012 election season because of its large electoral value (the amount of points the state has to give towards a candidate on election day) and its tendency to vote either way in presidential elections. In the 2016 election cycle, states like Ohio will likely make or break a

party’s presidential aspirations.

By November, each candidate will have had numerous opportunities to garner support via debates, interviews, special appearances and rallies. The people then cast their ballots for the main event — the race for the Oval Office.

In the November election, each state has a certain number of “points” based on population. Although many people pay attention to the “popular vote,” which is the actual number of votes the candidate receives, what matters is the number of electoral votes associated with that state. For example, Iowa has six electoral votes, based on its population size. A larger state like California has 55 electoral votes. If 51 percent of the population of Iowa votes Republican, all six electoral points go to the Republican. Thus, it is better to win the electoral votes of a large state like California.

Because presidential races are decided by the “points” in the “electoral college,” it is possible for a candidate to actually receive more votes by individual citizens and still lose to the other candidate who won bigger states.

Knowing how exactly our country operates is important, as we the people hold the key to our nation’s future. David Entrekin, an economics professor at NGU, believes that it is just as important that American citizens are not mandated to vote, as it is that American citizens do vote.

Entrekin said, “ If one is apathetic or lacks sufficient information to make an informed choice, he or she has the freedom not to participate in elections. The right to vote does not necessitate the obligation to do so.

Perhaps we should be thankful that this is the case. It is my impression that the most apathetic citizens are the ones who value freedom, morality and personal responsibility the very least.”

24

PREPARE FOR A CAREER IN DIGITAL MEDIA Careers in Digital Media

Digital media plays an increasingly major role in our global culture. The media industry continues to experience exponential trasformation with technological innovations where individuals can communicate to the masses.

In our Digital Media program, you will build skills in writing, multimedia production, graphics and social media management. You will make connections with mass communication theory while developing skills specific to communicating through audio, video and the Web.

Multimedia Designer / Manager Digital Media Journalist Media Relations Manager Website Content Developer Social Media Manager Photojournalist Print or Online Editor Copywriter Digital Video and Audio Producer Media Planner

College of Communication Department of Mass Communication

www.ngu.edu/coc