Volume 22 Issue 4: Contemplation

M A R S’ H I L L

C O N T E M P L AT I O N VO LUME 2 2

ISSUE 4

N OV. 1 / 17

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FROM THE EDITOR

THE TEAM

mulling through what to say. I didn’t want to say something I would regret (although later on I did just that). I was caught in between wanting to take time to fully understand the topic, but also wanting to feel like I was important in the conversation.

ALEX GUST

Managing Editor

BROOKE PATTYN Layout Editor

NIKI MARA

Academy Editor

JAMISON DERKSEN Sports Editor

HANNAH DEVRIES Chief Copy Editor

MAYA JUSMAN Illustration Editor

TORI AHRENDT

In that car ride, I equated the depth of my knowledge with the ability to keep up with my two friends in conversation.

Visual Editor

Does being a “deep” thinker equate to being someone who fully understands contemplation?

I think not. You can think complex thoughts, but never go beyond the surface level of spending a few minutes pondering over what it means. In fact, the very meaning of contemplation itself is that you would spend time and reflect and be mindful of what you are thinking about or going through. That means taking time out of your day to stop and consider what is going on around you.

CHRISALEEN CIRO News Editor

JOEL REDEKOP

Arts & Culture Editor

Earlier this summer, I drove with a friend to a basketball game in Richmond. Along the way, the two of us picked up another friend, and the three of us made our way to the Olympic Oval.

I sat in the back seat as a spectator, to both the ride and the game, and listened to the conversation. Our mutual friend spoke on a host of different topics, and I chimed in with a few sentences here and there. She spoke with authority and wisdom, and stated her own opinion boldly. I look up to this friend immensely, but at the same time could not help but feel a sense of inadequacy. How come I hadn’t ever spent time thinking about these things in great depth?

SABINE HENDERSON Humour Editor

The night went on and I watched my two friends play basketball. Afterwards, we dropped our friend off and the two of us drove the last fifteen minutes home. Then, in a moment of self-deprecation and tiredness, I stated: “I’m just not a deep thinker.” Waking up the next morning and realizing that was in fact one of the stupidest things I could have ever said, I reflected a bit more on what it even means to think thoughtfully about something, whether that something is about myself or about the outside world.

MADISON POWERS Photo Editor

BAILEY MARTENS

On one hand, I wanted to be able to keep up with the conversation. The truth was, I did in fact have opinions and thoughts. Perhaps I had not spent as much time as my dear friend pondering over them, but nonetheless, I did have an opinion. It just took me longer to get to a point where I could express it verbally. On the other hand, I wanted to be silent and spend my time

Web Editor

My challenge to you, dear reader, is to see a time of contemplation this week, and one in particular that is content free. This phrase came to me as I was researching (and possibly contemplating) the meaning itself. I challenge you to seek a content-free time with God or even simply yourself. Stop being so busy, and contemplate your own life, but also what is going on in the world. Then, at the end of the week, think a little more. How did the week change?

What even is content-free, you might ask? It means stripping yourself of the things that might be holding you back from seeking out that quiet time. It also means that there isn’t any one way to “do” contemplation. Maybe it’s a walk, but maybe it’s also sitting in the back of a theatre at a rock concert. Perhaps that’s where you do your best thinking, perhaps that’s where you feel closest to God. Be mindful of where you’re at and take time to think back to how you’ve changed and grown.

Coming back to that car ride, I know that I still struggle with having quick words and a fearless heart. Maybe it’s a wake up call, to be ready, to take your thoughts of contemplation and put them into words. Give up your insecurity and dive into conversation, making yourself uncomfortable - regardless of how much you know.

Maybe it’s a call saying quite the opposite, asking you for self-contemplation, as well as a better understanding of what is going on around you.

You decide.

Until next time, Katie Maryschuk

RYAN SCHAFFRICK Advertising and Finance Manager

MARS’ HILL

MISSION TO MARS

EDITORIAL POLICY

CONTRIBUTORS

Mars’ Hill is a student publication of Trinity Western University, floated with funds raised by the Student Association. Mars’ Hill seeks to be a professional and relevant student publication, reflecting and challenging the TWU community, while intentionally addressing local, national and international issues.

The mission of Mars’ Hill, as the official student newspaper of Trinity Western University, is to inform and entertain its readers, cultivate awareness of issues concerning the TWU community and provide a forum for purposeful, constructive discussion among its members in accordance with the Community Covenant, Statement of Faith, and Core Values of the University.

Mars’ Hill encourages submissions and letters to the Editor.

Mars’ Hill reserves the right to edit submissions for style, brevity and compatibility with the Mission, Statement of Faith, the Community Community Covenant, and the Core Values of the University.

Anonymous authorship of any material may be granted at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.

Opinions expressed in Mars’ Hill belong to the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, Trinity Western University, its officials or its Student Association.

Andrew Dick Sienna Bontorin Clayton Andres Cam Thiessen Matthew Tucker Madison Friesen Alice Jun Isabella Hamm Hannah Ahrendt Courtney Bridge Ramon Carranza Eva De Souza Cathy Shields Andrew Richmond Hannah DeVries

M AR S ’ H I L L

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOR Loranne Brown

What is absolutely hilarious as long as it’s not happening to you?

7600 Glover Rd, Langley, BC, V2Y 1Y1 604-513-2109 marshill@gmail.com www.marshill.ca This issue brought to you by Calaminag Mac’Ill’Fhionndaig Tori’s Phone Voice TORBOT

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C O M M U N I T Y CO R N E R

DE-CLASSIFIEDS

“It is always the simple things that change our lives. And these things never happen when you are looking for them to happen. Life will reveal answers at the pace life wishes to do so. You feel like running, but life is on a stroll. This is how God does things.”

[Don Miller]

the nicest bathroom on this campus is actually the girls’ bathroom in the globe

“malibu” by miley cyrus is joel’s almost-guilty-pleasure

becca carsience fills everyone around her with joy

Questioning why we need the We Are Monthly issues when that content could be submitted to Mars’ Hill for some unknown reason there have been more chicken nuggets on my fb newsfeed in the past 5 minutes than in my whole life why is it called the reimer student centre if there are more administrators than students in there Is Linda Arce single?

Sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit Need a wife? A short visit to 1A will send you straight to an altar!

I don’t have time to read declassifieds Sarah Wright’s laugh makes my heart sing.

Guys, the Spartans are athletes AND students at the same time...#weloveyouguys#spartansarethebest Does the clock tower have a Spotify profile?

Instead of going to 11:07 we had 10:07 in our room! This is ideal for students who can’t stay up till 11.

Hey TWUSA, can you do a single and ready to mingle event for upperclassmen?

Ask out almost any upperclassman girl, and she WILL say yes. #dontbeafraid

I wish someone would write me a declassified but if I ask someone to then it’s like asking someone to throw you a surprise party. :/ - Hey, best part about them being anonymous is you can just write one about yourself!... :/ – Alex Is it just me or did it make someone else’s day as well when they saw that there was a part 2 of the declassifieds!?!?!?!?!?

who threw chairs out of the Fraser study room? #please #stewardship Clue 3/5: At 7:16pm find the end of a king When you’re so tired that you pour hot water into the hot cocoa container and not your mug because they look the same to you....

SUBMIT YOUR DECLASSIFIEDS AT: WWW.MARSHILL.CA

Dear whoever is spending every evening honking their car in the Fraser Parking lot.

Thank you, we love it so much. **** you.

Cole Krause is so cute when you’re a nursing student and you have to hide your laptop from your friends to protect them.

Isn’t Mars’ Hill a part of TWUSA? Why does TWUSA need to publish its own magazine when they could instead work with Mars’ Hill?

Low key wish this section was called Mars’ Hill’s Declassified School Survival Guide Jamison Derksen is the cutest guy on Mars’ Hill (sorry Alex) (sorry Joel) (sorry Ryan)

MH 2016/17: *quotes Nietzsche* MH 2017/18: “HI LOL”

Mars’ Hill is 50% comedic gold and 50% triggered liberals

It’s over, Anakin. I have the high ground.

the most organized thing about me is my t.v. show schedule #fourthyearlife

David Coulter has hair more fiery than my burning love for him. What a man of God.

“If I could have any man in the Bible I would choose Zacchaeus.”

How does one ask Evita Mora out? #outofmyleague

please open your Bible to Psalm BODY ONCE TOLD ME

Freedom of speech? I disagree with One TWU. But can’t speak up because my friends will turn away from me. I’m against what was done to the posters.

But if I were to expose my opinions I would be shunned for them.

Wish education students got something cool, like Spartan gear or fancy science equipment... but no, we have two broken computers for the whole department... thanks Trinity #feelingvalued So many memes, So little sweet tea.

to the girl who noticed the guy wearing cowboy boots! thank you for noticing his style choice. even though kyle was publicly named there are others like him who share his same vision. there are others out there!

Sincerely, a fourth year

Why are Rhys Fowler’s jeans always so tight? (Not that I’m complaining... but still) Daniel Erkau is actually pretty cute #therealreasontodoSBA new column: Joel’s hot grammar tips edit *Joel’s spicy grammar tips *Joel’s FIERY grammar tips “I don’t need marriage. I’ve got my chemistry set and the Lord, leave me alone.”

Christopher Townsend and Casey, the CA for West Coast Collegium, make the cutest couple!

Send Noods? forget the Trinity Geese - those gym mosquitoes are the real terror!

Dear Mars’ Hill, Please ask new people the bottom line question! #newvoices #gettin’old – ok sorry I only have so many friends :( It’s awkward starting a 50-person group message with people you don’t know. I can’t help who actually replies in there, it’s a war zone. just tell me if you want to get asked the bottom question for next time <3 - Alex

Mars’ Hill editors reserve the right to edit or reject submissions based on content and/or length. A printed submission does not necessarily reflect an endorsement of any kind, nor does it necessarily reflect the opinions of Mars’ Hill staff, the student association, or that of the University. In fact, probably not.

LOOKING TO CONTRIBUTE? Go to marshill.ca

In this issue ...

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CALL FOR

CONTEMPLATION

Academy

THE LOVE OF THE LOBSTER Arts & Culture

10 Feature

TEMPLIFY

18

IS THAT REALLY BOYFRIEND MATERIAL? Humour “nut shots” – Zach Friesen

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NEWS CATALAN INDEPENDENCE: ANYTHING BUT BREAKING NEWS ANDREW DICK Separatist movements have swept through Europe as of late. In fact, twenty-six European countries have at least one active independence movement.

Spain alone contains sixteen secessionist claims. Catalonia’s movement signed their declaration on October 10th and have suspended independence until

October 24th. This is nothing new in Catalonian history. In fact, their desire

DEFACING OUR STORY A MEMBER OF ONETWU On the weekend of September 23-24th, OneTWU put up posters on campus.

The posters featured four TWU alumni who identify as LGBTQ+, along with the phrase “We went here, too,” our group’s logo, mission statement, and contact info.

Due to our wariness to interact with Student Life based on previous experience, the posters were initially put up without approval. However, Student Life contacted OneTWU on September 27th to express that their removal of posters was not to be misconstrued as a statement against LGBTQ+ students, but should rather be understood as TWU staff following long-established protocol. OneTWU was unaware that campus staff are instructed to remove any posters not previously approved by Student Life. They offered to stamp the posters, which fellow members did the next morning.

Even so, over the course of the next week, many of the newly stamped post-

for autonomy goes back centuries.

During the Franco-Spanish war from 1635-59, the Catalans asked for military help from France to challenge the Spanish forces. In yet another effort, Catalonia declared independence from the Spanish Hapsburg monarchy in 1641.

Later, during the Spanish Wars of Succession, the Bourbon king, Philip V, reconquered Catalonia. Philip’s “Nueva Planta decree” punished Catalonia by abolishing their constitution, parliament, and the use of Catalan language in administration and schools. Miguel Primo De Rivera and Francisco Franco also repressed Catalonian autonomy and culture.

Since Franco’s death forty years ago,

in July 2010, when the Constitutional Court in Madrid overruled part of the 2006 autonomy statute, stating that there is no legal basis for recognizing Catalonia as a nation within Spain. Furthermore, the economic crisis in Spain has only served to magnify calls for Catalan independence. As one of Spain’s wealthier regions, many Catalan citizens believe Spain disproportionately benefits from their relationship. However, some argue Catalonia prospers due to loans from the Spanish Government.

In 2014, a referendum deemed an 81% vote in favour of an independent Catalonia, but the turnout was only 42%. This action was considered to be illegal by the Spanish government. On October 1st of 2017, another referendum for independence was held. It resulted in a 43% turnout, with 90% in favour of independence. However, the Spanish government deemed the referendum illegal because Spain’s Constitution maintains Spain as indivisible. The referendum was a violent affair, because Spanish police attempted to shut down polling stations. On October 20th, Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy declared his intent to invoke Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution which allows the Spanish government to take control of an autonomous region in times of crisis. Therefore, Catalonia will no longer hold autonomy in the area for a period of time.

Catalonia has become a semi-autonomous region in Spain. The Catalan government has worked to increase their autonomy by gaining their administrative powers. Calls for complete independence rose immensely starting

Can we call this a case of history repeating itself? Does Catalonia require independence from Spain to protect its culture and autonomy? I would argue no.

Since the fall of Franco’s regime, Spain has allowed Catalonia to enjoy auton-

ers were removed from the majority of campus buildings.

community or affirm our experiences, destroying a printed representation of a lived experience is an act of intense, personal violence. We are not having a debate over Biblical passages, this is defacing of a human being.

In one instance, a student from OneTWU removed a poster from a Robson recycling bin and replaced it on the wall four times in one weekend before the recycling was taken out on Monday.

A few stamped posters were found torn and defaced in recycling bins around campus. Some of these posters have been rescued, reassembled, and reposted. Even some of these resurrected posters have been removed. The troubling factor in these aggressions is their purposeful, deliberate nature. On a lesser, but still troubling note, the transgressors were not above the act of defacing our posters, but they still chose to be kind to the Earth and recycle the remains.

Though these actions hurt, frustrate, and anger us, as members of OneTWU, they do not surprise us. LGBTQ+ students at TWU have been historically and are presently degraded, judged, harassed, and excluded. But this aggression is clearly documented in the tear marks of the discarded posters.

We want to emphasize the difference between debating an ideology and ripping up a poster with someone’s face on it. Whether or not you agree with our

In the weeks since, many current students including TWUSA and alumni, have spoken out on Facebook condemning this behaviour. If anything good is to come out of this situation, it is the mass realization by current students and alumni that homophobia and active oppression do indeed exist, and not just outside of the Trinity bubble.

This past week, of October 23rd through 27th, a second wave of posters were put up to replace the ones which had been removed, or defaced. These new posters were paid for by supportive alumni.

Unfortunately, while these posters were stamped, some were taken down within the hour. Representatives from OneTWU are working closely with Student Life to ensure that our resources will remain intact.

Our beloved TWU community has further to go before we can honestly describe ourselves as a community where all are welcome. We don’t think that’s too much to ask of a Christian community. We implore you, the reader, to speak love and listen to our stories.

“trump being the president” – Joey Schweitzer

omy and independence. They may desire more administrative autonomy, but Spain poses no threat to their language or culture. However, constitutionally, Spain will always be opposed to Catalan independence. Furthermore, despite the referendum, it has not been proven that a majority of Catalans are in favour of succession. First, a voter turnout of 43% is not a majority. Second, most who oppose secession boycotted the ballot.

In order for Catalonia to achieve national self-determination, and earn recognition in the interstate system, a post-colonial construct, requires that a majority of citizens choose independence.

However, again, on Friday, October 27th, the Catalan parliament declared its intention to “create a Catalan republic as an independent state.” The Spanish Senate immediately affirmed their intention to implement article 155, which removes all of Catalonia’s devolved powers.

As Friday’s proceedings advanced, it became increasingly clear how fragile the secessionist party’s hold is on the much needed majority. The New York Times cited average Catalan people who perceived the referendum to be illegal, and an inaccurate representation of the best interests of the average Catalan population. These citizens, like their lawmakers, are concerned that continuing to insist on sovereignty and independence will result in Catalonia losing any and all cultural, social and administrative autonomy and facing oppression once more.

For more information on OneTWU or to contact us, please visit our website OneTWU.com.

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TWU RISE:

A NEW RESOURCE TO COMBAT ADVERSITY SIENNA BONTORIN As a Christian community, Trinity claims to be supportive of people from all groups, backgrounds and walks of life. But, as a student who has been a part of the Trinity community for the past year, I feel one group has gone relatively unnoticed.

These, our fellow students, wake up every morning and face adversity.

The students with disabilities on our campus deserve to know they are loved and cherished members of our community.

When you face chronic struggles, it makes everything more difficult.

When I look around this campus, I can point out several issues—a lack of wheelchair accessibility, academic equity and the community’s general tendency to ignore the needs of people with disabilities—which need to be addressed. Trinity does not currently have all the needed support systems for students with disabilities, and that is a problem. Students with disabilities need to feel accepted and supported through the trials they may face.

As a student who uses the disability resources on campus, I came to school knowing it would be a challenge. However, I was not prepared for the fact that every day I would encounter tasks that while almost automatic for other people, require an excessive amount of effort for me.

I was especially not ready for the level of frustration I would feel sitting through university classes, not being able to process information the same way as everyone else. Going through school when life is constantly giving me hurdles to overcome is very difficult. Many days I question whether the whole process is worth it and yet, I still wake up every morning and do the whole thing all over again. I am finally getting to the point where I feel I can rely on God’s strength when my own is not enough. But there are times when I feel like no one gets it, and there have been times when I feel like I face these particular struggles alone.

Even in Trinity’s supportive community, the majority of our fellow stu-

dents and professors struggle to be supportive. Some ask invasive and inappropriate questions, community events exclude students with disabilities, and in extreme cases, some professors are not held accountable to equity policies. The members of Trinity’s community of students with disabilities should not be made to feel ashamed, or like they need to hide.

If you are a fellow member of this community, I want you to know that you do not have to figure it all out on your own. As students, and as faculty, we need to change the way we act towards those who have unique struggles. Students with disabilities need to be given a voice and we, as their brothers and sisters in Christ, need to be prepared to listen.

be ready to support these students in whatever ways they need.

The program is currently in need of someone who would be interested in managing social media accounts, as well as someone to take on the role of treasurer.

I want desperately for everyone on this campus to feel loved and accepted and I think that together we can make it happen. We just have to be willing to help people who face struggles realize they are not alone.

If you want to join us, contact us at twurise@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

I, along with others, am currently working towards the ratification of a resource called TWU Rise. TWU Rise will be a support network to allow students with disabilities, or ongoing medical conditions to come together and support each other in a neutral environment.

Our group will also promote much-needed community awareness of issues of equity and accessibility on campus.

We are reaching out to the TWU community and asking students with disabilities to prepare their hearts to step up and support each other. We are also asking the rest of the community to have open ears and open minds, and to

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“Fire alarms” – Andrew Kimball

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PREVALENCE OF POWERFUL ABUSERS CLAYTON ANDRES Hollywood producers and co-founders of Miramax and The Weinstein Company, Bob, and Harvey Weinstein, have both found themselves under public scrutiny over the past few weeks. Following reports in The New York Times and The New Yorker accusing Weinstein of more than a dozen cases of alleged sexual harassment, assault, and rape, the elder Weinstein was ousted from his own company and expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts.

Shortly after this, Weinstein’s younger brother Bob was accused not only of knowing of Harvey’s misconduct but sexually harassing a female colleague as well.

The future for both men remains unclear, as investigations continue in both New York and Los Angeles. Judging from similar incidents at Fox News involving two other high-profile men accused by multiple women of sexual harassment and assault, it seems unlikely the Weinsteins will ever go to trial.

Ailes for as long as their misconduct remained unknown to the public.

In her recently published biography, Settle for More, former Fox anchor Megyn Kelly claimed Ailes had made inappropriate advances on her in a private meeting, only to have the company pressure her to defend Ailes on her show years later.

Meanwhile, recently leaked documents obtained by The New York Times allege Fox News settled with one of O’Reilly’s accusers for upwards of $30 million—three times the amount of O’Reilly’s next largest settlement— an unheard-of amount for sexual assault cases, even for wealthier defendants like O’Reilly.

of course, most Canadians haven’t forgotten how the CBC fired Jian Ghomeshi, the host of Q, only after allegations of his nonconsensual beating of women became public knowledge. According to an investigation by The Toronto Star, CBC executives had known about Ghomeshi’s history of violence against women, but he was only removed from his position once public opinion on him shifted.

This is why it’s a bit surprising how fast The Weinstein Company (who, reports indicate, will soon be changing their name) acted in firing Weinstein.

The company had been defending Weinstein’s alleged actions and paying off accus-

And

Roger Ailes, the CEO of Fox News, and Bill O’Reilly, Fox News’ top-rated pundit, were both dismissed from the company less than a year apart, with both men taking tens of millions of dollars in severance pay. Not only were both men paid handsomely despite being ousted under scandalous circumstances, but it also appears Fox News was happy to continue covering for O’Reilly and

ers for decades, with many Hollywood insiders calling the elder Weinstein’s history of abuse and assault an “open secret.” Both Weinsteins were alleged to have done horrible things to women but faced any consequences or follow-up for decades thanks in large part to the efforts of their company and its massive influence in Hollywood.

This pattern of companies defending and protecting powerful men from due process is not only limited to the media and entertainment industries. US President Donald Trump has no fewer than twenty litigious and non-litigious accusations ranging from non consensual groping to sexual assault and rape, including one claim of rape from one of his former wives. Many of these cases settled out of court, but Trump still has a number of unaddressed accusations that his company and loyal supporters are willing to dismiss as irrelevant.

And if this is the case for some of the most influential men in North America, it’s not hard to imagine that similar circumstances are happening in many other organizations across the continent.

If anyone has ever been to a municipal council meeting for a small town, they will know that even when small amounts of power are given out, people will show up to abuse it.

How many more companies, religious organizations, schools, political parties, families, and groups of friends are trying to defend abusers in their midsts?

How many men in power are abusing and assaulting women while their allies leap to justify their heinous behaviour?

#HASHTAG TRENDS

CHRISALEEN CIRO

On August 23rd, 2017, the Twitter hashtag turned ten years old. Over the past ten years it has evolved into a powerful tool of communication. In fact, many Twitter users employ the hashtag for activism.

Despite concerns that these movements, deemed hashtag activism, are often superficial, and arguments that the discourse is often inflammatory and reductive, they have continued to be a staple of online life. Individuals use these movements to express their experience under the protection of solidarity.

Many of these movements, as they involve people being disruptively honest about their personal experience, challenge most people’s norms.

For example, the most prominent response to the recent “me too” campaign was shock. Many people responded with surprised grief as their close family members, teachers, friends and even distant acquaintances shared their experiences. My response, however, was déjà vu. I found significant similarities quickly emerge from previous awareness-raising efforts on Twitter.

However, some can only tolerate this brand of honesty for so long. Factions emerge to point out inevitable generalizations towards specific communities, individuals, classes and ethnicities.

These movements exist to express experiences of oppression. Inherently, these experiences are deeply personal, yet have implications on our social construction of specific communities or, in

this case, genders.

As a result of this arisen consciousness, some argue we have begun to regard specific individuals who fit a certain description as oppressors. For example, Black Lives Matter eventually received the now infamous response, All Lives Matter. Similarly, the Yes All Women hashtag, which invited women to share their stories of the harassment and objectification which the hashtag argues are part of inherently feminine experience, prompted the response: Not All Men. New tensions emerging as factions, generally with a progressive leaning, begin questioning whether the moment goes far enough. Some argue participants of the MeToo campaign are disproportion-

“Fort week” – Andrew Richmond

ately white and middle-class. Other factions are concerned that the movement perpetuates the idea that victims owe their story to society.

Finally, these narratives unfold predictably, and result in little observable change. As a result of the all consuming emotion and controversy associated with these movements, we briefly allow ourselves to imagine change must not be far behind. Despite President Trump’s best effort, as of yet, no policy has been written and enacted on Twitter. Perhaps we ought to change our expectations for these movements. Instead of expecting Twitter to be a medium for institutional change, we should respect people’s stories for their value in creating community and empathy.

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ACADEMY L O S T I N T R A N S L A T I O N : HOW TO PICK AN ENGLISH BIBLE TRANSLATION CAM THIESSEN If you’re enrolled in a Biblical Studies course at Trinity, it’s unlikely that you will be expected to use a specific translation of the Bible in class; in the past, the New Revised Standard Version was often considered one of the more accurate “word-for-word” translations, and is still sometimes recommended to students.

However, with the welcomed application of post-modernism to the academic field of Biblical Studies, the concept of a “superior” English translation seems to be less relevant. Students in Trinity’s Biblical Studies program are often encouraged in their paper-writing process to read their passage in multiple different versions in order to create a more thorough exegesis.

This does not mean that there are no superior translations; it’s just that we have often been given the wrong rubric for choosing the best translation. It is always important, in the same way as it is for studying original-language manuscripts of the Bible, that the reader never loses sight of the context in which a text arose.

SQUAD GOALS: FEMALE PHILOSOPHERS CHRISALEEN CIRO According to Pinterest, every woman should have five types of friends: inspired, passionate, motivated, grateful and open-minded. The purpose of this article is to create the ultimate “squad” of female intellectuals. As a fangirl of feminist scholarship, I have spent countless hours reading everything from myths, to legends, to the private musings and peer reviewed journal articles of the feminist “it girls.”

From my findings, and an arbitrary list from Pinterest, I have compiled the ultimate squad!

The inspired friend: You love her. She makes the world seem welcoming and full of opportunities. She might not be an idealist — for her, pain is very real — but change and progress don’t threaten her. She believes events, ideas, words, and throw-away comments to be connected, and sometimes (usually around three in the morning), you can almost believe her.

Hypatia was an astronomer, a mathematician, and an educator. Therefore, a good summary of her accomplishments would be inspiring. Even her death, at the hands of hostile Christian zealots, was inspiring. Her death is an inspiration

For example, the King James Version represents the biases of its time. It was also translated from a far more limited supply of original-language manuscripts than what has become available to modern translators. We now have the privilege of being in the wake of a vast surge of text-critical research on the Bible, and choosing the right manuscripts to most closely represent the “original” Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic autographs (all of which are lost to history), is a daunting task rigorously carried out by biblical scholars.

The Revised Standard Version is the first successful modern attempt at a translation that seeks to be as close as possible to the original language, a feat which is often still easier said than done. The New American Standard Bible was developed as a response to the RSV’s alleged Catholic bias. Both are quite similar and indeed follow word-for-word as much as they probably could, but often will leave certain concepts and terms unexplained.

The updated NRSV and the NASB are great tools for students who want more accurate translations that allow for more precise study, but they may cause con-

because she was murdered on the merits of her own work, not as a condemnation of her gender.

The passionate friend: You need her.

But she frustrates you, although you are also in awe of her. She holds herself to a certain standard, and she holds those around her to it as well. Sometimes she doesn’t allow space around her, but you know it is because your community isn’t quite ready for her potent intellect and the power of her empathy.

Mary Wollstonecraft fits this definition perfectly. Without her, we would not have modern feminism. However, as often follows that type of phrase, she is frustrating to many modern feminists.

While her rigid definition of femininity has gone out of style, her passionate defense of female value is inspiring.

The motivated friend: You advocate for her. You seek her advice when you need to be reminded the reason for your actions. She convicts you with the sheer force of her energy. You respect her and want her to succeed because you trust the reasons for her actions.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the most impressive woman of the 21st century - Amal Clooney. I would be alone in describing Amal Clooney as a philosopher. Frankly, I would argue that she qualifies for the squad solely on the virtue of her wardrobe. However, her legal trendsetting is what truly sets her apart. She has set precedents in cases such as, the defense of the former President of the Maldives, the recognition of the Armenian genocide, and the defense of Canadian Al Jazeera journal-

fusion and even misinterpretation if read without further knowledge or study.

Another translation that arose in reaction to the RSV was the New International Version, now the best-selling English Bible translation. The NIV attempts to merge the translational accuracy of the more literal versions with a smoother readability. However, the NIV is notorious for its incorporation of Evangelical and Baptist biases, and the readability is less improved than a reader should hope. Regardless, translations with denominational biases should be used with cautious attention and responsible treatment of those biases.

Translations that account for contextual nuance implying a gender-inclusive translation of a masculine word should not be avoided, especially in non-academic reading, as these translations are usually more true to the original spirit of the texts. For example, Paul often uses the term ἀδελφούς to refer to a body of believers. Translators now will often translate it to “friends,” or “fellow believers,” rather than “brethren” or “brothers,” despite the latter two being the more consistently “literal” English glosses of the term.

ist, Mohamed Fahmy. However, Trinity Western philosopher, Chase Moloney, rejects the notion that she could be described as a philosopher, claiming: “not when she spouts neoliberal trash!”

The grateful friend: You don’t know where she came from. Truly grateful people are hard to find. She convicts you; she makes you uncomfortably aware of your blessings. She has no patience for your witty lament of cafeteria food, while reminding you of real evil that exists.

Hannah Arendt, a political philosopher and Holocaust refugee, is best known for her work on totalitarianism. She argued against the idea of “inalienable” human rights, because totalitarian regimes threaten the rights of their citizens. Therefore, she argues, human rights are a reward for the virtue of patriotism. In other words, she believed rights and comforts should not be taken for granted. The presence of someone as engaged and intimately aware of suffering would put squad drama in perspective.

The open-minded friend: You know her. Likely, she is the one you will find sometime tonight to discuss this article. With her, conversations just sort of wander into profound topics you would be frightened to talk about with anyone else. She is not

“Falling into a koi pond” – Manny Dewsbury

For devotional or introductory academic reading, do not feel guilty for picking a translation that has been tailored for easier readability. The Good News Bible is a translation that both accommodates for easier reading, and takes into account modern scholarly discussions surrounding particular translations, while keeping in mind exegetical and text-critical research.

This means that the complex terminology associated with intricate exegesis and research is adequately explained in simpler language so as to supply the reader with a text that bears the correct contextual implications. It is, like the NRSV or even the NASB, biased (for the most part) toward honest scholarship, and this is the defining mark of a helpful translation of the Bible.

Theological commentaries are always available at Trinity’s library, and these help contextualize the Scriptures for readers with certain theological leanings. However, denominational and theological inclinations of modern individuals should not be imposed onto the text, as has been the crime of some translations.

afraid of your mind.

Simone de Beauvoir is best known for two things: her work, The Second Sex, and her boyfriend, Sartre. Exhibiting her creativity, she did no small thing and invented feminist existentialism. de Beauvoir lives to test the hypothesis: “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” Therefore, she radically questions all attempts to influence her towards feminine “otherness.” While her radical perspective might be inconvenient when you shop for bridesmaid dresses (particularly because her relationship status transcends “complicated”), it comes in handy when the patriarchy challenges your bodily autonomy.

In sum, as four out of five of these women have passed away, I must learn to content myself with a squad comprised of fellow misfits and fangirls. While we rest in the reality of our mediocre group, we will seek to grow in our roles as inspirational, passionate, motivated, grateful and open-minded people.

8

THE CALL FOR CONTEMPLATION MATTHEW TUCKER The call for contemplation is loud and clear in our evangelical circles. It echoes from youth groups, pulpits and stages. It spills over in discussions and discipleship groups. Reasons are given, stories are shared, and gradually our subconscious accepts this new gateway to God. We are told that it strengthens our relationship with the Almighty, that it gives us space to reflect on Him, among other nonsense.

Yet, as is often the case, the reason given for contemplation in this grimy bubble is not the original version. Any trend within this place has its origins from outside, and contemplation is no exception. Evangelicalism, the driving force behind Trinity, is the Zara and Dollar Store of religion. Its remarkable success is built on flexibility and plagiarism – the ability to quickly adapt to cultural shifts and utilize them as marketing opportunities to draw larger crowds.

So it is with contemplation. As the West has begun its postmodern awakening to the idea that consumerism might not be the gateway to happiness, Evangelicalism has been quick to offer an alternative product. For only $9.99 a month, you can access Fulfilment and Joy, both renewable conscriptions.

Or simply subscribe to the premium package that offers a lifetime guarantee of His presence. I have spent enough time drowning in non-denominationalism to know this is no satire.

This copy and paste culture is a typical one. Find a popular white label product, apply a Jesus Inc. label and mark up the price for the Lord’s profits. Like most foundational beliefs of modern Christianity, hasty plagiarism came first; thoughtful reasons came much later.

But contemplation is no longer a foundation of this faith. Like a salad, it has become an optional extra. We know which option is healthy for us, but as it is not mandatory, we overlook it for more exciting options like hot dogs or stadium-packed worship services.

The call for contemplation goes much deeper than the shallowness of contemporary Christianity, though. The call is no fictitious feeling or useful marketing tool; it is a tortured scream rising from our souls, strangling itself in its desperation to be heard. Our soul is crying out to us: Stop your madness, stop your hype. Stop attending overcrowded noise-festivals called chapel to “grow in Christ.” Stop your gaming, your addiction to the blue-screen glow. Stop spreading yourself thin in your search for popularity and acceptance. Stop hiding your true self and have integrity for a change. Stop your obsessive texting and Facebook messaging. Stop feeding yourself to the machine and wake up!

And we, with our diseased souls, will not. We cannot, for we are unable to even hear this feeble cry. Our headphones on, speakers turned up, and eyes glued to a malevolent glow - we shuffle away, like living dead.

working lungs and a beating heart is not life, any more than furiously highlighting textbooks is awareness. Both terms belong to the metaphysical, a concept alien to many on this campus. Awareness, to use a cliché, is like the wind. You cannot see it or touch it, but you can see it in action and feel its effects.

Life, awareness, awakening, contemplation. Call it what you will, but the meaning is the same. All positive terms, all anticipating terms, all terms brimming with hope.

That hope, however, is now dying as we move on to adulthood. After all, life is serious business and mustn’t be frivolously wasted on childish pursuits.

We have greatly changed, for contemplation is no longer a word used on our lips. A few years ago, we contemplated the hell out of existence in our teenage angst.

Now, we laugh at those days with our equally naïve certainty. For contemplation brings doubt, and we lost that art a long time ago.

Contemplation gives way to uncertainty; uncertainty leads to self-examination; and self-examination creates a better self. Perhaps the best reason for contemplation is positive transformation.

(And yes, I know you thought of it as well. From Contemplation to Transformation: welcome to horri-

Death is our status quo, for Life requires what we cannot presently attain: a certain level of contemplation, and most importantly, awareness.

It should be made clear that a set of

“Getting hit with a blue shell in Mario kart” – Nyssa Morgan

blyclichedchristianslogans.com.)

Meister Eckhart, the thirteenth century German philosopher and mystic, reminds us – if we are so inclined to listen – that, “What a man takes in by contemplation, that he pours out in love.” If only this were lived out by my peers and me.

As I write this, like so many, I am transfixed by the blue glow of my monitors as I have been for the past several hours. There is little sign of life here, much less contemplation.

I rise, move to the hallway and encounter several dorm members. Encounter is a loose term, but in this instance, it consists of greeting faces lit by a strangely familiar blue glow, receiving a few moments of recognition, then being abandoned for a more entertaining reality. Life is absent here too, amidst “community.”

I walk outside and wander the pathways alone, looking for something more than hollow laughs, practiced smiles and dollar bills. There are only dead leaves here blowing amidst the trees, apt metaphors for many souls that I know.

I glance up at what C.S Lewis would call that hideous strength, “administration,” and see iron cages hovering over the future.

Here is anti-life, here is bloated irony, here lies the medieval church’s successor. Here, contemplation is so far past death it has reached the absurd, the final resting place of all things.

To hear contemplation’s call requires ears that are ready to listen and in that I recognize that I am preaching to the choir. But to ask the dead who earnestly study corporate structure to listen to this call would be futile.

No, we who are able must stop our death first.

Only then can we start our life in silence and serenity.

9

Spring 2018

SECTIONS OF TWU COURSES AT CATHOLIC PACIFIC COLLEGE

ART 215 CP Beauty & the Sacred Arts Dr. Brook Herbert Mon. & Wed., 2:35 to 3:50 pm

PHIL 304 CP, Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas Fr. David Bellusci, O.P. Mondays, 6 pm to 9 pm

ENGL 104 CP Intro to Poetry and Drama Vic Cavalli Tues. & Thurs., 9:25 am to 10:40 am

HIST 302 CP, Greece and Rome: Leadership in the Ancient World Dr. Andrew Klager Fridays, 11:40 am to 2:25 pm

RELS 102 CP Intro to New Testament Studies Sr. Gabriella Yi, O.P. Tues. & Thurs., 1:10 pm to 2:25 pm

PHIL 333 CP Philosophy of Literature Dr. Andrew Kaethler Tues. & Thurs., 4 pm to 5:15 pm

RELS 101 CP Intro to Old Testament Studies Sr. Gabriella Yi, O.P. Tues. & Thurs., 11:40 am to 1 pm

Catholic Pacific College’s motto: Omnia proba, quod bonum est tene.

Sift everything, hold on to what is good.

RELS 160 CP Intro to Theology David Baird Mon. & Wed., 1:10 pm to 2:25 pm

RELS 224 CP New Testament Theology David Baird Wednesdays, 6 pm to 9 pm

RELS 366 CP Theology of the Body Dr. Brook Herbert Mon. & Wed., 4 pm to 5:15 pm

RELS 365 CP Christian Moral Theology Dr. Germain McKenzie Mon. & Wed., 9:25 am to 10:40 am

RELS 382 CP The Catholic Church: Theology & Practice Dr. Germain McKenzie Mon. & Wed., 11:40 am to 1 pm

RELS 465 CP Influential Thinkers in Western Christian Tradition Dr. Andrew Kaethler Tues. & Thurs.

2:35 pm to 3:50 pm

MCOM 172 CP Intro to Interpersonal Communication Loranne Brown Tuesdays, 6 pm to 9 pm

CatholicPacific.ca “parking tickets” – Ere Santos

10

TEMPLIF Y

I

M A DISO N F R IE SE N

walk down the gravel hill, and for a moment, I escape suburbia. The sky beams azure and the wind embraces breath and I sigh: this is eternity. This is the little white lambs aglow in the sun as they flit among the brush; this is the stooks at summer’s dusk hinting at autumn in their pallid yellow. And this is me, walking, my brown leather boots pacing me forth as the grey ground humbles me.

Internal critic: “Get real. Scrap the lyrical rhapsodizing – this is me taking a walk.”

Yes. And this is me contemplating.

Contemplation. The word conjures up images of ethereal hermits and rapturous nuns, but I stake my claim: contemplation is for all of us. Denise Levertov points out what you might be able to see in this word contemplation. The word contains within it the root templum, or temple; this gives us a clue as to what contemplation is all about.1 If a temple is where we become aware of the bigger picture – nature and its rhythms; the larger community around me; God – then contemplation is the ‘templifying’ of our lives, the re-conception of our everyday existence as grounds for divine action. Everyone has an ordinary, workaday, “justputting-in-the-hours” life. As this is the case, everyone can contemplate. It simply requires imagination – and this will take some getting used to.

We live in a technological, consumerist age and, as we let it, this landscape of light-speed information and cheap commodities threatens to erode our imaginative capacities. In the warp and whirl of our society’s addiction to the “next

best thing,” we feel un-placed, and un-practiced; we fail to see how our quotidian particularities could ever be avenues for grace and glory. In a frenzy, we occupy ourselves with things “too great and too marvelous” (Ps. 131:1), and forget that the dog needs a walk, and that our roommate needs help with the dishes. How will we learn to attend to these everyday details with contemplative imagination – seeing the walk with the dog as a chance to get outside and breathe in “God’s grandeur,”2 and the dish-washing as a precious rehearsal of fidelity? What will steady us, enough to notice this place, these things, and these people?

In the Christian tradition, the saints have identified the biblical Scriptures as the fuel for this contemplative imagination. Far from isolating proof-texts or extracting theological propositions, through a contemplative lens, Scripture is approached as a narrative into which we enter, and find ourselves participants. “Your sins are forgiven” – we hear these words of Jesus spoken over a Palestinian woman in the house of a Pharisee, and we look up from the page and notice that staring back at us, in the mirror and among our friends, are others in need of forgiveness. Or, lest we sentimentalize the contemplative practice, we read along with the psalmist, “How long, O Lord, will you hide your face from me?” and find ourselves asking the same question. We realize that not much has changed; we still inhabit a world in which God’s activity is confusing as all get-out, a world in which, nevertheless, we are invited to voice our doubts and our pain. In any case, we engage in a kind of communal “deep memory” that,3 perplexingly, deigns to touch our seemingly mundane circumstances. Read and look around.

And then, repeat.

“Gettin a lil sad sometimes” – Trevor McMahan

11

Yes, repeat. Repetition is key. Whether it be the reading of Scripture or not, partaking of practices that we commit to over time has the cumulative effect of sharpening our perceptions, readying us to notice connections that we hadn’t seen before, intimations of the divine that we previously missed.

For me, repetition means walking down the gravel road by my house to 64th Avenue as often as I can, listening to the wind and to the birds and, indeed, to my life.

It occurred to me, one day out walking, that an essential part of contemplation is engaging memory. Contemplation occurs when I slow myself down enough to cease from simply “doing,” and take time to consider what has been done, what has occurred, and how that might have an impact on what can or will be done in the future. When I engage my memory in this way – going over moments from the day in my head, for example – I find myself seeing connections everywhere. One experience resonates with a thought I had elsewhere, or a thought that didn’t make sense becomes understandable when I relate it to some other occurrence, and eventually, I find myself experiencing something that is hard to put to words: a sense of coherence, of congruence, of wholeness, of “being.”4

Walking, reading, remembering, seeing. These are everyday things. These are loci of contemplation. The world around us would readily have us discard such activities, in favor of the spectacle of screens and the amusements of the shopping mall. And while iPhones and retail outlets are not irredeemable, we must be on our alert: in what ways might the richness of these things seduce us away from seeing the even greater abundance in our own neighborhoods? The resplendent YouTube clips; the neon billboards; the charming Netflix series; these have a way of convincing us that the “pizzazz” of life – the good stuff – is all located “out there,” in the hyperreality of a media-saturated life. In contrast, the austerity of a book (black squiggles on paper!) and the immediacy of a walk invite us to look closer to home, for glory: “It is here. We are on it. It is under our feet.”5 What’s stopping you? Pick up the book, put on your runners, and enter the temple. This is holy ground.

Quoted in Peterson, Eugene, Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading, p. 111.

Hopkins, Gerard Manley, “God’s Grandeur” in The Major Works, p. 128.

3 The term is Walter Brueggemann’s. See his Deep Memory, Exuberant Hope: Contested Truth in a Post-Christian World (Augsburg Fortress 2000).

4 This paragraph was adapted from a submitted assignment for my English class, completed in Spring 2017.

5 Siegel, Robert “Looking for Mt. Monadnock”. Quoted in Peterson, Eugene, Practice Resurrection: A Conversation on Growing Up in Christ, p. 87.

1 2

“Skidmore Hall” - Sam Rosenau

12

ARTS & CULTURE EAST AND WEST CULTURE 101: AN INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KOREA AND CANANDA ALICE JUN Being educated on different cultures opens a door for communication, and unveils the understanding that was concealed by prejudice and judgement. Being an expat in Canada for around seven years has influenced my perspective to understand the cultural differences between Korea and Canada. Here are some differences that I have noticed over the years: In Korean culture, humility is highly emphasized. It is normal for Koreans to be very quiet in lecture halls, high school classrooms or when they are interacting with someone for the first time. Because humility is something that Koreans hold in high regard, it is somewhat discouraged when

someone is answering questions in class or interacting with the instructor during class in front of others. Revealing one’s knowledge connotes that one is not humble enough, so it is not a cultural norm to express yourself to the fullest. It is more acceptable to be reserved unless you know someone well. On the other hand, Canadians value self-expression and confidence. In Canadian culture, speaking up for yourself is something of value. In classroom settings, people normally ask questions and interact with the instructor whereas a Korean classroom setting is more static.

point it out if you are fat or ugly, but the honesty is out of comfort, a comfort that is expressed based on considering yourself as part of their family. Sometimes Koreans seem pushy when they are stating things that they think are the best regardless of your interest. This is also a behavior out of love – they want what is best for you in their point of view. It is like a dog giving a bone back to his owner, knowing that the bone is what he considers as the most important thing in his world, and contributing it to the owner with assurance that he is going to be content with what he gave to him.

Korean culture is community-based, although, Koreans can still be brutally honest and straightforward. However, it is because they treat the people around them like family. They will

Inversely, Canadian culture is individualistic, allowing people to see each other as unique, while encouraging people to respect others. Canadian culture respects privacy, and

THOUGHTFULNESS ON TWITTER?!

ISABELLA HAMM Wait, since when do people put thought into tweets? Isn’t that a paradox? Well, not necessarily, though it certainly appears to be a justifiable generalization. It would be impossible to deny that there are some people who tweet rude, incorrect, or outright ridiculous things. However, if you know where to look, it’s possible to find serious, even insightful discourse.

Well, what about the character limit? 140 characters or less: that’s not enough, is it? In actuality, the restriction on characters doesn’t have to restrict the message. How to best utilize the character limit comes with a learning curve, to be sure. But it also forces people to distill their ideas down to what’s most important, as there’s less room for fluff or fillers. No worries about meeting the word count here. People need to make every word matter if they want to say something significant. In a way, Twitter is to social media as hai-

ku is to poetry; constructed well, few syllables – or characters – can carry a lot of weight.

Knowing that tweets are more than how many characters they contain, it’s hardly surprising to find a plethora of opportunities for intelligent dialogue. For example, I recently engaged in a Twitter conversation on what makes a joke “appropriate.” It wasn’t a very lengthy conversation, but we briefly covered universal versus contextual impropriety, whether someone’s perspective factors in, and what the function of a joke is, or

should be, in the first place. All the statements we made fit within the character limit, and the conversation wasn’t lesser for it. Yet most people would expect none of this because of Twitter’s negative reputation.

To find people making the most of the limit, discernment is essential; check the quality of someone’s tweets before clicking “follow.” The right people do express thought and discussion-provoking ideas. Lilly Singh, for example, a YouTuber whose tweets are full of wisdom and motivation, such as: “You can’t con-

“Getting a +4 in uno” – Jared La Mar

the opinions that differ from other opinions. Contrary to Korean culture, even though people are making decisions that might not seem plausible in your standards, people let them make decisions because they value their decision. People in Canada are sensitive to feelings and emotions, which is comforting, as you are less vulnerable to being criticized or offended.

It is important to be educated about cultures other than one’s own, and the depth of the cultural knowledge they contain will merge the society as a whole with empathy and understanding. Though Korea may seem a world away, learning about a different culture can make your own world feel just a little bit bigger.

trol the world, but you can control your role in it. Make it count.” Hank Green, an entrepreneur, musician, and author, frequently tweets about social problems, as when he said, “Working yourself to unhealthiness is not admirable. I do not do it. No one should ask it of you, including yourself.” There are even Christians using Twitter to share short, but profound Biblical truths, like Jefferson Bethke when he posted that, “Jesus isn’t unique when he asks everything of us. Sex and power do, too. But he is unique in that he sacrificed first before asking us to.” And this is just a small sampling of the community of people who have figured out how to maximize their words.

At first glance, Twitter seems shallow, and sometimes this is the case.

But those instances don’t discount the possibility, and indeed reality, of substantial discussion on the platform. As with any form of communication, the keys to finding these discussions are ignoring mundane or meaningless tweets, and carefully choosing whom to follow. Twitter is just like any other tool. It isn’t inherently good or bad, but simply depends on how it’s used.

13

THE LOVE OF THE LOBSTER

tances fakes nosebleeds by covertly smashing his face into things so that he can attract the attention of a woman who frequently gets them.

HANNAH AHRENDT [Spoilers Ahead] Some may see Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Lobster as just another pseudo-indie film that warns its audience of thoughtlessly falling into a “socially acceptable” pattern of life. It is more than that: what makes it so unique is its incredible use of disturbing imagery and a bleak storyline to deliver the message with indelible poignancy.

The movie opens with the protagonist, David, being escorted to a hotel after being recently divorced. The manager informs him that he has 45 days to find a romantic match, or he’ll be turned into the animal of his choice (he chooses a lobster), where he’ll have a second chance at finding love.

During their stay, David and the other guests are subjected to awkward parties reminiscent of middle school dances to get the singles to meet, as well as regular hunting trips where they tranquilize and capture the “loners” who live outside the hotel in the woods in exchange for extra time to find love at the hotel.

As the central characters’ days to find love count down, each becomes more and more desperate to find a partner. Each match made over the course of the film is based on a superficial commonality between two characters. For example, one of David’s acquain-

It’s in moments like this where the film asks us to analyze and contemplate the nature of love, and the role that it should play in our lives. By the very fact that if any of the singles fail to find love in their allotted 45 days they are turned into an animal, the hotel management (and presumably the leaders of this absurd, dystopian society) are insinuating that personhood depends on romantic love. Love is what makes us human.

Even after David escapes from the hotel to join the loners in the woods, he still sees the need to find superficial shared traits to forge a deeper connection with a romantic partner (he ends up with a woman who, like him, has near-sightedness). However, when she loses her eyesight, he begins to doubt their relationship. Once he realizes she can no longer see, David becomes so worried their connection will shatter that he goes to drastic, even harmful, lengths to ensure they stay together. Perhaps Lanthimos is underestimating humanity here; is true love really this fragile?

The Lobster makes you sit back and contemplate the role of love in your own life, and the clashing views that secular society and Christian culture have on love. If we don’t take the time to think, observe, and reflect Retrieved from: www.metacritic.com/movie/the-lobster/details on the ways that culture influences us, we too can become like David, always searching for value in the wrong places.

THE SONG OF SILENCE SABINE HENDERSON We were greeted in several languages and with bowls of hot tea in the quiet of the evening that day.

The endless kilometers of French countryside were left far behind in the wake of our borrowed camper van. I was sleepy, and perhaps a lit-

tle grumpy, my seven-year-old self not in the least bit disillusioned by the dreamy notion of the nomadic, free-spirit lifestyle that the summer presented.

One stop of many in those months on the road, spending a weekend at the monastic community of Taizé

was not particularly high on my wishlist—especially when informed of the not one, but three prayer services a day. That thought, however, did not last for long.

Founded in the 1940s by Brother Roger as a haven for refugees escaping the brutality of the ongoing war, what started as a few homes gradually developed into an ecumenical monastic order, welcoming young people from all over the world for one to several weeks at a time to meet God in the peace and silence of contemplation, song, and prayer.

It is a place that provides space for discussion and change, for listening for His voice in the midst of chaos; for serving one another, reconciling the divide between Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism; for coming to know people from a wide variety of cultural and Christian backgrounds, all the while surrounded by the peaceful glory of the rural countryside.

Over 100,000 young adults make the pilgrimage to Taizé each year to engage in the rhythm of life in this community for a week: sleeping in tents, eating three simple meals per day, attending three prayer services, discussing together in Bible study groups, and working in the kitchen or around the community. As dull as such routine might sound, I, even as a child, was struck with awe at the pure beauty found in this quiet encounter with God and man.

“Production weekend – Brooke Pattyn

Within the structured pattern of daily life, the Brothers of the Taizé Community developed a contemplative liturgy, and composed music to be sung together in the three daily candle-lit prayer services—beautifully simple songs, comprised of short phrases, repeated over and over again, intermixed with scripture readings, always including ten minutes of silence for reflection and prayer. The peace of such a service allows the heart to give space for God to enter in, and creates the social solidarity binding this community together.

When distracting ourselves with chatter is no longer an option, when silence is all that remains, we are faced with the beauty of life, the depths of our darkness, and the incomprehensible grace that surrounds us.

In our everyday lives, we might sing out our praises for what Christ has done in chapel, strive to be authentic in the way we love people, prioritize reading the Bible, pray for our friends, and get involved in ministry—but when do we engage in stillness? When do we give our time to contemplation, together or alone?

Simply being before God, together: that is the true challenge, and one we mustn’t shy away from it if we hope to grow as a community.

14

CONSUMED BY...

HANNAH DEVRIES We are all familiar with the clichéd expression, “You are what you eat.” Odds are that your mom, dad or coach have probably said this to you after you grab a bag of chips, referring to you as a greasy couch potato. But this tired phrase has another meaning besides the suggestion of you actually emulating a food.

You are a reflection of what you consume. This thought occurred to me when I sat down to read my devotions and Bryson Tiller’s “Self-Made” started playing from my Spotify. I don’t need to tell you that the narcissistic lyrics did not bounce around well inside my head as I was trying to read about who I am as God’s creation. I hit ‘next,’ prompting a Bethel song. I immediately felt my shoulders fall, releasing the tension I didn’t even realize I was holding.

We are all reflections of the media we consume. Whether it is music, movies or TV shows, we all imitate that with which we surround ourselves. Many times, I have been sucked into viewing brutal

horror movies, and listening to the brazen beats from Tyler, The Creator. These possibly detrimental forms of media can enrapture one’s thoughts and feelings, which can then be translated into actions.

piece of music, participants were more likely to interpret a neutral expression as happy or sad, to match the tone of music they heard.” Apparently, music can even remain in our sub-conscious, influencing our thoughts of others around us.

Because we as humans are such imitative beings, we echo everything we take in.

A song with damaging lyrics can greatly influence our thoughts and opinions about ourselves. Listening to artists who repeatedly show off their lifestyles in their lyrics or music videos, often leads the listener to believe that his or her own life is insufficient and doesn’t measure up to what society says it should look like. Replacing these destructive messages with uplifting lyrics feeds truth and positivity into our psyche.

So, where does this leave us? Obviously as young adults in this generation, it is nearly impossible to avoid media consumption.

In general, we pursue like-minded people when we choose our friends. Is it the same with music?

Do we choose music that matches our mood or is our mood fed by the music? The music and media around you may be pushing your mood a certain direction. If you don’t like the direction you are moving, try skipping to the next playlist.

Unfortunately, we as consumers may not even notice the toll it can take on our minds. I constantly catch myself feeling irritated or egotistical when I listen to rap, or irrationally disheartened when sad indie music is playing. By replacing these tunes with music that has substance, such as worship or classical music, I notice an immediate difference in my mood and even my outlook on life.

Fast Company magazine says, “One study showed that after hearing a short

ingly “unfulfilling” media you are about to consume, consider the song list below that I personally find particularly uplifting.

- Warm Glow – Hippo Campus - Blessings – Chance the Rapper - Mountaintop – Relient K - Born Again – Josh Garrels

If you ever find yourself wanting to replace the seem-

...WHAT’S IN A MIRROR?

either embody what it means to be “set apart” from the rest of the world, or, as we try to embody the standards we set for ourselves, we can get lost in a tension of figuring out who we are.

COURTNEY BRIDGE

The world of copycat that we’re living in today is unique to our era of social media: there’s an emphasis on being current, replicating what’s popular, and being on trend. However, I also can’t count how many times I’ve seen posts about how overwhelming bloggers are finding it to constantly come up with new, yet currently wanted, material. This extends beyond just popular influencers and into our own spheres as peers face the similar stress of “keeping their aesthetic.”

This is when these mirrors become dangerous: when we lose the art of human connection and settle for sheer replication.

I collect words and passages like treasures, clinging to anything that can express for my soul what my mind can’t quite articulate. There’s something about the commonality of seeing ourselves in someone else’s words, in a character, or in hearing our feelings captured in the lyrics of a song; it’s the feeling that comes with knowing we’re not alone.

I truly think that we use these words, movies, songs, and so forth as sorts of mirrors: processing how we see ourselves and contemplating what it means to be us. I fill my home with these things: lyrics from Jon Foreman songs that speak hope into my marriage, TV shows that my husband and I watch, subsequently discussing how closely tied we feel to characters we’ll never personally know (This is Us is always on). Words from others are scribbled into journals as reminders of how I’m seen, how I’m known.

Where’s the balance? What’s the sweet spot in being an individual, not being afraid to embrace our similarities, but also not placing unwarranted expectations on ourselves and those around us? It comes down to remembering that commonalities are the essence of human connection.

So, go, be an individual, seek out new, unheard of artists, interests, ideas, but do it because you want to. There’s a dangerous line we can cross in these pursuits in thinking that our individual hearts are misunderstood by those different from us.

In visualizing ourselves in this way, are we shutting out what uniquely makes us individuals? Are we putting on identities that we were never meant to wear? In actuality, adapting things that we witness is a part of communicating what our reality is: sometimes the work of others summarizes what we can’t express for ourselves.

The truth is that we are all individuals, yet all so similar at the same time. It’s what allows us to have drastically different styles but love the same TV shows, what allows us to love completely opposite genres of music but love the same books, what allows us to be so different yet so much the same. We all see ourselves differently, but often we’re all seeing ourselves using the same mirrors.

So, while we’re living in a world of copycats (take a look at Instagram), I think danger lies in either of two struggles: total replication or being too focused on individual pursuits. It’s a tension that can become all too apparent, especially in Christian “bubbles.” As we strive to

“100 notifications from the bottom question group chat” – Jacob Kern

15

STORIES FROM THE NATIONS This issue’s topic is: Rituals of Contemplation

Imagine yourself on a tiled veranda of a wooden house overlooking hills and valleys of wheat, corn, and beans, with a path going down to another small farm surrounded by palm trees and pineapple plants. Over the hill, a wire and wooden fence holds dairy cows whose milk is sold to neighbours and made into queijo fresco (white cheese). The sun is slowly setting, it seems to linger because you can see it beyond the many hills of southern Brazil. The birds sing, the frogs and crickets call to each other, the neighbourhood dogs lie down, protecting their territory. Life on the outskirts of a small rural Brazilian town is fertile ground for peaceful contemplation. Time is a pathway to further contemplation; it is a gift we take for granted and at the same time, make the most of by being with others. Time is not what we plan our lives around in this town; instead, life is at a slower pace and made up of the small things. Yet, at the same time, life is vibrantly racing.

Friends and acquaintances could stop by at any time and I’ll offer them a cafezinho, (a small black coffee), and cake or crackers or anything else I may have. And as we sit together at the kitchen table or veranda, we’ll talk about family, the weather, the townspeople, stories from years ago or from yesterday. Over our cups of sweet black coffee, we commune, we bond, sharing the small things and thoughts of life in a small rural Brazilian town.

I could be washing a pile of dishes. Or out in the sun at noon, hanging clothes on the clothesline. Or listening to the neighbourhood dogs barking at a man on his bicycle selling homemade brooms. Contemplation comes to us, spurring thoughts about the people in our lives and the feelings we have for them.

In the town square, the older men play cards, drink, talk, and contemplate life; the good, the bad, the mistakes, the regrets, and the loved ones who may have gotten lost along the way.

I contemplate the corrupted politics and state of the nation; the government that doesn’t care about the lineups at the hospital or the patients on the floor in the hallways. I wonder how we’ll pay rent, buy gas cylinders for our gas stoves, pay the water bill, the electricity bill, and buy food all with one meager salary.

BRAZIL

EVA DE SOUZA

Yes, we have beaches, waterfalls, dancing, music, and the lyrical language of Portuguese. But the most beautiful thing found in southern Brazil is the spontaneous swing in our way of life; the deep and intense flavor of our food and passions; the warm blood that runs through the hearts on our sleeves. We pause, think, hope, take time to hold hands, and kiss each other on the cheek. It’s the small and simple tasks and pleasures of life in this small Brazilian town that cultivate a mindful and contemplative mindset.

In Honduras, contemplation isn’t often done alone. Where I live, there’s a hike that some people do when they want to think.

Early in the morning, they walk to the top of a nearby mountain where they can see most of the city.

It’s very beautiful, and a great place to think.

Whether you do this or not depends a lot on where you are living in the country. Going for walks alone can be dangerous in some neighborhoods. For this reason, there is a tendency to do a lot of internal and verbal processing. Family in Honduras plays a huge role in one’s process of answering big questions. If you have any doubts or questions after internally processing, you usually go to your family.

The way that we process or contemplate things is commonly more through discussion with other people than through personal thinking. It tends to be more interactive than individualistic.

Coming to Canada was weird for me in that sense. When people would tell me that they just wanted to go for a walk and spend some time alone, and didn’t want to talk stuff through, I thought they were crazy. But now that I’ve been here for so long, I do see the value in doing that.

Honduran families also typically have strong opinions and things. The family’s opinion is usually stronger than an dividual’s opinion – which is kind of expected. This may cause family members to be more reluctant in asking for advice, in fear of how their family might react.

views on certain in-

In this way, family members will undoubtedly always have an influence on a decision they’ll either help you with it, or them disagreeing with it might even sway your own opinion.

HONDURAS

RAMON CARRANZA “MYTWU” – Elise Powell

16

SPORTS DO WE HAVE A DISADVANTAGE PLAYING SPORTS AT A SMALL UNIVERSITY? TESSA RATZLAFF TWU’s population: 4,000 people. UBC’s population: 50,000 people.

Although TWU is a small university, there are Spartan basketball, soccer, volleyball, hockey, track & field, and cross-country programs. We’ve broken records, made history, and won numerous national championships. If you think about it, that’s pretty crazy for being a small university.

Recently, the Spartans men’s soccer team beat the UBC men’s soccer team.

This was the first time since 2009.

Maybe it was just a mental block in their heads, or maybe UBC just has a more developed soccer program.

“For us and recruiting, the things that work against us are the fact that we don’t have engineering and some guys aren’t interested in coming to a Christian University,” men’s soccer Head Coach Mike Shearon says.

So yes, there are disadvantages playing at a university like TWU. Looking at it from the outside, we shouldn’t even

have a chance to compete with larger universities. But, is this something we even think about while attending TWU, playing on or supporting a Spartan team?

“We don’t feel sorry for ourselves for playing against big schools,” says Women’s Basketball coach Cheryl JeanPaul. “Our advantage is that we are trying to create a great culture, a great environment, and we have athletes fighting for their faith or something bigger than just the average game.”

more for each other,” Golubic says, “and when I played against TWU, I noticed that you guys always respected and supported each other on the court.

Now,” she continues, “I realize there is something more than just the game of basketball…we have a family around us, who are willing to support each other.”

In some ways, TWU playing bigger schools mirrors David fighting Goliath.

David, however, started to look at his situation as an advantage rather than a disadvantage. He had God to fight alongside with. Spartan Athletics also

looks at its situation as an advantage. As a fourth year student on the basketball team, I now realize how valuable and unique TWU is as a university.

My team is like a family. Though we face different battles, we know we are there to encourage and support each other. I’ve been pushed outside my comfort zone, and have been a part of some extremely rewarding experiences.

I’ve started to develop a stronger faith, stronger leadership roles, stronger academic habits, and hopefully, I’ve gotten a bit better at basketball.

Spartan athletics is committed to the “Complete Champion Approach,” which includes academic, athletic, leadership, personal, and spiritual development. This is something unique, something many schools don’t have.

“Because we are small, we have to be very selective,” says Shearon. “There is a big family feel. These men are willing to work for each other, and we are building a tight knit team.”

Lucy Golubic recently transferred from University of Winnipeg (2014-2016) and Red River College (2016-2017) to the Spartan Women’s Basketball team this year. “I noticed that we are playing

CONFESSIONS OF A (RECOVERING) SNEAKERHOLIC

JAMISON DERKSEN I love shoes. I have always been mesmerized by footwear. I also love sports, and the link between the two is clear to me.

Beyond obviously needing to wear footwear to participate in most sports, many professional athletes have their own “signature” sneaker lines. Some of these shoes remain successful long enough to outlive the athlete they were made for and they may not even be recognized as a sport shoe anymore.

The two most obvious examples of these timeless classics are Adidas “Stan Smiths” (that were originally tennis shoes), and Converse “Chuck Taylor AllStars” (that were originally basketball shoes). Major shoe companies know

that if they can get a star athlete to endorse their shoe, it will likely sell. The sport where this is most obvious and prevalent is basketball.

Until recent years, Nike had a stranglehold on the sneaker world. They had the best sneakers and the best athletes to endorse them. Beyond the Jordan brand, Nike had basketball stars such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James each with his own line.

Every year, a new edition of the athlete’s shoe is released, outfitted with the newest technology and a fancy design.

Throughout the year, that sneaker would be released in a dozen different “colourways,” some common while others extremely limited, giving them more value. This means a pair of shoes could run you anywhere from a couple

hundred dollars to a couple thousand.

For a teenager with no significant expenses, working twenty-ish hours a week in high school, it was quite dangerous. I went a few years where I bought one or two pairs of sneakers almost every month. And often after I bought the pair I would not even wear them for a few months. Why? I can’t tell you, other than the fact that I just wanted to preserve their perfection for as long as possible. (Actually, I can’t even claim this was only in high school - I definitely got a pair of shoes last June that I didn’t wear until September.)

Not only would I take forever to wear them for the first time, I often would wear my favourite shoes the least, because I was worried I would scuff them or get them dirty. Yes, I would try

“Death” – June Na

to wear a different pair of shoes every day, and I’m sure nobody really noticed other than me.

What was the long-term result of the shoe collecting? Well, as much as I hate to admit it, my dad was right when he told me I did not need all those shoes.

Now I have about forty pairs, yet I only wear a quarter of them. I have dozens of basketball shoes sitting in storage at my parents’ place, and I haven’t played basketball since elementary school.

Do I regret it? My wallet definitely does.

But it was an exciting hobby, and I really enjoyed it. If you think spending thousands of dollars on a pair of sneakers is crazy, I can see where you’re coming from; that being said, there is something special about rocking a fresh pair of kicks.

17

RETIREMENT BAILEY BROADBENT It’s 7:00PM on a warm October night in Los Angeles, and more than 18,000 roaring fans at the Staples Center are watching a goat skate around the ice.

Well okay, maybe not an actual goat, but quite possibly the closest thing to one – Jaromir Jagr donning a Calgary Flames jersey.

six months, finishing without a shot on net and just over 13 minutes of time on ice, his reputation within the league remains unchanged.

The 45-year old Czech forward signed a contract with the Flames just a week earlier, his ninth NHL team, and played in game number 1,712 of his career. While Jagr struggled in his first game in nearly

The living legend, currently sporting a mullet despite being in his mid40’s, has earned a reputation across the league as the “GOAT”, or Greatest of All Time, for his continued success in his nearly three decades of professional hockey. No stranger to the record books, Jagr is currently second all-time in NHL points, third in goals, fifth in assists, and fourth in games played.

Jagr acknowledges that he is not the player he once was with the Pittsburgh Penguins over the first decade of his career.

“I know very well I’m not the same player [I was] 10 or 15 years ago,” Jagr recently told NHL.com. “[Back then] I was able to win games by myself.” Because of this steady decline of production from age, the idea of retirement from hockey is something that Jagr very openly contemplated within the media.

After a press conference where he and the Flames announced their one-year deal, he put a percentage of “99.9%” as this being his final season in the league.

Retirement can be a tough pill to

Recent

Some players ride off into the sunset and into retirement gracefully. Take, for example, the NFL great, Peyton Manning. In 2015 the hall-of-fame quarterback retired after his fourth and final Super Bowl appearance, a 24-10 win against the Carolina Panthers. Other athletes just can’t seem to grasp the concept.

Brett Favre, another former NFL quarterback, retired once from the Green Bay Packers in 2008, only to come out of retirement twice more in the following seasons.

Whether retirement is caused by injury, age, or the simple chance to pursue other opportunities, take the time to appreciate legendary sporting performances by our favorite (or even least favorite) athletes. You never know what game might be their last.

WOMEN’S SOCCER Recent

6-2 W vs Calgary (Oct. 28) 1-0 W vs UFV (Oct. 28)

Upcoming

Upcoming

vs Alberta (at UBC) (5:00PM, Nov. 3)

vs UBC (5:30PM, Nov. 3)

MEN’S BASKETBALL

93-52 L vs Alberta (Oct. 28)

Growing up and watching players excel in sport can be beautiful, but as players age, so does their ability to succeed. In a blink of an eye, Father Time catches up and retirement becomes a real possibility.

GAME STATS

MEN’S SOCCER

Recent

swallow for both fans and players alike. For a player like Jagr, his whole life has largely been defined by his ability to put the puck in the net. A future without hockey for Jagr is full of uncertainty, one that would be hard to accept.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Spartans have opened the regular season 0-2, currently sitting at the bottom of the Canada West standings.

Recent 63-62 W vs Alberta (Oct. 28) Upcoming

Upcoming

vs UNBC (6:00PM, Nov. 3) and (5:00PM, Nov.4)

vs UNBC (8:00PM, Nov. 3) and (7:00PM, Nov.4)

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Recent

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL Recent 3-0 W vs UBC Okanagan (Oct. 28)

The Spartans are 4-0 so far in the regular season, and are currently tied for 1st in the Canada West standings.

WOMEN Regan Yee finished 5th, and was the only Spartan with a Top 10 finish.

BC Cross Country Championships (Oct. 28)

Caleb De Jong finished 4th, Declan White (7th) also had a Top 10 finish.

Upcoming

Upcoming

at Brandon (5:45PM, Nov. 10) and (4:45PM, Nov. 11)

U Sports Championships (Nov. 12, 2:00PM at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria)

MEN’S HOCKEY Recent

BCIHL Standings (W-L-T-OTL)

7-0 W vs Eastern Wash. (Oct. 28)

1 Selkirk (2-0-0-0)

MEN

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Recent 3-1 L vs UBC Okanagan (Oct. 28)

The Spartans are 1-3 so far in the regular season, and are currently tied for 8th in the Canada West standings.

Upcoming

2 TWU (2-1-0-0)

Upcoming

vs Van. Island (5:00PM, Nov. 4)

3 SFU (1-1-0-0)

at Brandon (4:00PM, Nov. 10) and (3:00PM, Nov. 11)

LOOKING FOR MORE STATS? Head to gospartans.ca “sleeping in on course registration” – Rees Morgan

18

HUMOUR DEAR FIFTH YEAR

Dear Fifth Year,

Pls help! I feel so isolated. I have noticed that there are only about 3 forms of acceptable footwear on campus. Why is this? My footwear don’t fit in. How do I find a pair of shoes that reflect my vibrant individuality, whilst blending into the crowd like everyone else?

Sincerely,

Is that REALLY Boyfriend Material?

CATHY SHIELDS So, you’re looking to find yourself a man.

Great! There are, of course, many ways to decide with whom to start a relationship, such as common interests or love… but I propose to you a simpler solution: clothing. Everything else? It’s on the inside. Clothing is a simple way to judge at a glance and determine if he’s the right fit for you.

A condensed guide on judging the quality of a man by the quality of his clothes

Sweaters. The most common and most easily “borrowed” article of boyfriend clothing.

How to assess a man’s sweater for potential theft style points:

Confused by The Shoes

Firstly, size. Large, oversized sweaters are scientifically proven to be the most comfortable. As your local sweater-collecting expert, you can trust me on this. You want sleeves long enough to be used as fabric nun chucks without being swallowed alive.

Dear Vibrant Individual, This question perplexes me, so I passed it on to my friend, whose legal name is Shoe Wizard Jones.

Here’s what she wrote back: Hey Abe— There are, in fact, six-trillion varieties of shoes on Earth; and two-trillion of those are intergalactic crimes. I’m sure wearing the wrong shoes won’t get you locked away in Mars Prison, where I spent the last seventy years of my life.

I imagine this student is referring to Birks, Blunds, and Cons, the holy trinity of shoes with more character than the wearer. What is stopping you from wearing these shoes? Do your feet fit in these shoes? Do you

know your shoe size?

What about your feet is abnormal? Does it hurt to walk? Is there any discoloration?

Finally, isn’t blending into the crowd with your choice of shoes the exact opposite of being a vibrant individual? If given a choice between individuality and conformity, I would choose rainbowknee-length-zip-up-theback-boots any day of the week (which are, in fact, an intergalactic crime).

Best, Shoe Wizard Jones Hopefully that helps. I’m no shoe wizard, but I generally recommend Crocs.

Sincerely, Abe, A Fifth-Year Need advice? Submit your questions and pleas for help at marshill.ca

Secondly, style. Zip-up hoodies may be more convenient, but pullovers, (known by their scientific classification, lepus amplector, literally “bunny hug”), are guaranteed to feel like a warm embrace. Wool sweaters look cute but probably won’t have pockets. Hoods are ideal face-concealers to help you elope with their precious clothing.

Lastly, quantity. If your chosen suitor owns three or fewer sweaters, then the chance of subtly adding one to your own closet is slim.

However, if they keep a month’s worth of sweaters on rotation, they surely won’t notice if one or fourteen of their lepus amplectori go missing.

Suits. Everyone looks good in a suit. This is another scientifically proven fact. The drawback of a suit is that it isn’t an article of clothing you want to steal from someone else. Get your own. Trust me, you’ll look great. When considering if a man is an equally worthwhile investment, you’ll want to observe how often he’s wearing a suit. If he wears one only to special occasions, then there’s a good chance there’s a nice stock of other “steal-able” items for you to choose from. If he’s wearing a suit every day, however, then procuring things to add to your own closet may prove to be a bit of a challenge.

Plaids. Any Canadian male or female should own at least one plaid shirt. It’s actually in the contract they make you sign in order to become a Canadian citizen. A plaid shirt strikes a happy medium between “looks good on anyone” and “can be stolen.” Depending on size, you can just roll up the sleeves, wear it over a t-shirt, and nobody will ever notice it’s not yours. Plaids come in an infinite combination of colours, patterns, and weights, leaving almost no restriction on your personal choice.

Whether you’re looking for the traditional red-black checkerboard or something more unique, like rust orange-yellow-brown, it’s out there somewhere! Just keep a sharp eye out for the clothing of your dreams.

Of course, there are many other details to consider when evaluating a man. Leather jackets, sweatpants, toques… But, out of every clothing option out there, these three items are absolutely critical to examine when you’re asking yourself, is it REALLY boyfriend material?

“Being stopped by the traffic guard when the person in front of you got to go through” – Sam Schroeder

19

OVER THE HILL Interview with Two of Send Noods Co-Founders, Jared La Mar and Josh Lim Written by Hannah DeVries

MH: First and foremost, can you explain what your business is?

La Mar: Send Noods is a noodle delivery business.

Get your mind out of the gutter. We deliver from 8pm onwards for those who like late night noods. (However, we are flexible with these times.)

MH: How did your inspiration to start this business come about?

La Mar: Riley Voth. His original idea was to make a big pot of noodles that was cooking all the time, but we figured that was unrealistic.

It was his idea, but he wasn’t going to start it, so I took it on.

MH: Where did Voth’s inspiration come from?

La Mar: Riley just being Riley.

Lim: We were all hanging out and it just came into being.

It started with a conversation about podcasts, and then we landed on the idea of “Send Noods.”

MH: How many “employees” are there? And who takes on the most responsibility?

Lim: There are four of us.

There were five but we fired one of them.

La Mar: Well, someone anonymous left the business.

Lim: Riley Shad.

La Mar: Okay, secret’s out.

So now it’s Josh Lim, Thomas Kasteel, Riley Voth and me.

The responsibilities are all pretty evenly spread. I manage the Instagram posts, Thomas usually works the late night shifts, and Riley is our back-up noodle deliverer.

Lim: And I bring the hype.

La Mar: That’s not true.

Lim: Yes, I do! Do you know how hard I work to spread the word of the business?

MH: What has the reaction from Trinity been like?

Lim: The CF’s love it. They regularly order from us.

There has been a really positive reaction from the students, which makes us a reputable business.

La Mar: Our biggest clients are Skidmore and Douglas. Fraser doesn’t order as much surprisingly. Hit us up Fraser. Sales are consistent among upperclassmen in Macmillan and Robson too.

Generally the same people order from us. Shout out Macmillan 102.

MH: Is this business cost effective? What is your plan to overcome slow business days?

La Mar: I think that releasing new products every other week and creating hype will help the longevity of the business.

Lim: We’re planning on releasing a commercial in the future, courtesy of Matt Hayashi, to help spread the word. So look out for that.

But we take the slow days to study, which is probably a good thing.

La Mar: In the first week of opening, we received about 150 orders throughout the week. Now, we are averaging about twenty orders a day, most of those orders come in at night. And, we just had our first payday yesterday! We don’t really

“Being single” – Alex Gust

make any money doing this.

Each noodle order gives us a profit of 95 cents, which we split four ways. We really appreciate tips, just saying.

We do this for the people.

MH: What do you think your future looks like?

Do you see yourselves expanding into other areas?

La Mar: We can’t discuss that; it’s a secret. But, expect something big in the future.

MH: How can students contact you to place an order?

Lim: Slide into our DMs. Our Instagram account is @ send_noods_twu. Please include your location and the flavour you want. Flavours and prices are listed in our bio, and watch our posts for new additions!

MH: Anything you can tell me about the business that no one knows about?

Lim: One time, we got an order at 2am. We were both in bed already, but because we are for the people, we got up and delivered.

La Mar: Fun fact: we only wash our hands half the time.

Would you like to read more about the “Send Noods” phenomena? Go to www.marshill.ca to read about a new perspective on the controver-

ALEX’S ANNEX CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE - CHAPTER 4 ed white ink, you see the words LIFETECH SE-58. On the other side of the grate, a large white arrow points away from the grate.

Beside it, the word “MAIN” is written. There’s nothing else.

You land in a crouch in a pile of sand, puffs of dust rising from your feet like smoke from a fire.

You’re hit with a wave of heat and light from above. You’re in a pit.

It’s not very wide, but very deep.

It reminds you of a well.

An hour later, you’re starting to feel the heat as you sit on the grate, thinking through your next move. On the bright side, the sun has started to drop below the horizon, and it’s cooling down.

From the position of the sun, you can tell that the white arrow is pointing east. Now that it isn’t so bright out, you can see the outline of mountains to the north as well. They don’t look that far away.

the ground rises slowly. It’s a met- empty, flat space. Sand, as far as al grate. A service elevator. you can see. A desert.

DO YOU:

You rise to the surface and your eyes adjust. You remember the threat that was close behind you.

As you rise to the surface level, disorientated, you turn, searchYou shade your eyes, the bright ing for the beast. light from causes you to wince in pain. Suddenly, with a rumble, Nothing but hot, dry air and the the ground begins to move. The blaze of a golden sun meets you. sand filters through the floor as There’s no door, no building. Just

THE Holly SHEVANGELIST Gust

Five minutes later, you’re still trying to figure out where you are. There aren’t any discernable landmarks that you can see, and the desert stretches infinitely into the distance. The bright sun makes it nearly impossible to discern anything, other than the horizon line. You scrape away the sand covering the grate. In fad-

1. Follow the arrow toward the east 2. Head toward the mountains 3. Stay put for the night Cast Your Vote by Nov. 8 marshill.ca See what happens next ... in Issue 5, out Nov. 22/17!

year: Second height: 5’9’’ Major: HKIN Hometown: Freelton, Ontario

age: 19

Age limit (max/min)?

I’m not sure what this question means, so if it refers toHow the max diff erence inup ageafter between me and potential datee, then probably 8 would you make Favourite Christian (non-worship) What theme do you envision for the What is your favourite flower? years. your first fight? song? wedding?

Skip the flowers, just bring food VeggieTales theme song

I don’t care as long as we don’t have to eat sodexo curry

Favourite woman in the Bible?

Emma Hansen (Newest Testament)

Best place for a first kiss?

At the altar

How do you know it’s love?

When he says I love you?

How long before you propose?

Gotta wait till spring to get the cherry blossom pics

Idea of a perfect date?

December 25th

What is your love language?

Butter chicken

Memes

Skill that makes you “the one?”

I know all the words to the Doxology

What is your signature dish?

A bowl

Favourite preacher?

Bree Simes

Domestic talents?

Making toast without setting off the fire alarm

Your favourite band?

My roommate’s mad ukulele skills How many kids do you want?

I’m more of a dog person...

“The Shevangelist” – Holly Gust

Best pick-up line?

“I like my men like I like my Microsoft Word documents…saved.”

at