Mars Hill Newspaper Vol 19 Issue 10

MARS’ HILL

ACTS ACTS17:19-20 17:19-20

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VOLUME VOLUME19,19,ISSUE ISSUE6 10

DISCOVERING POTENTIAL

DECEMBER 3, 2014 MARCH 11, 2015

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REESTABLISHING THE SELF

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SPARTANS MAKE HISTORY

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MARCH 11, 2015

FROM THE EDITOR

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MARS’ HILL 7600 Glover Rd. Langley, BC V2Y 1Y1 604 513 2109

THE TEAM

MARS’ HILL

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.

PETER WOEKEL

MISSION TO MARS

managing editor

AMY GOERTZEN

visual editor

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tara GORMAN

STEPHANIE REDEKOP

chief copy editor

COLTON MARTIN

layout editor

SIDSEL RICHMOND

illustration editor

ERIK DELANGE

web presence

REESE MARTIN

advertising & finance manager

OFFICE important events we couldn’t attend because of production weekend

In March of 2013, I was nearly done my first year of university. I had a great year. Living in dorms pushed me out of my shell and I was able to witness the vibrancy of the community in and outside of the classroom, making close friends along the way. My first year also had its difficulties.

I struggled with the increased work-load and the death of a close family member contributed an unexpected emotional turmoil to my time on campus that left me tired and forlorn. Needless to say, by that time, I wasn’t thinking about student leadership in the slightest. I was the recipient of community, not the facilitator.

In my dorm, however, many of my friends had applied for RA. I still remember the light in their eyes as they discussed and dreamed about being a part of such a unique and prestigious group of people. I was happy and excited for them, but I didn’t share that pressing desire. That position seemed frightening. In fact, all of the leadership positions were frightening. The thought of opening myself to be poked, prodded and deemed worthy was much too daunting. As I saw the resulting disappointment and the concurrent brainstorming of back-up leadership positions, I could not overcome the potential vulnerability that I had seen in my peers.

I wasn’t cut out for leadership and that was that.

Not many people knew, but in

SNA Upperclassmen Formal night Masquerade Ball Colton’s hot yoga class We do it all for you, TWU!

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the midst of the confusion of my first year, I was frequently on my computer, learning about design and how to operate various Adobe programs. Creating something beautiful out of pixels was calming yet exhilarating. I genuinely enjoyed the creative process and was proud of my work yet it was not something that I flaunted to others. I was developing a form of creative expression that I had not yet encountered and it was incredible to see that creativity take such a tangible form, but I didn’t need feedback in order to be fulfilled by the work.

So, I was surprised when I heard a knock on my door and opened it to find a TWUSA member asking me if I was interested in applying for a communications position on the council. I applied on Monday, was interviewed on Tuesday, got the position on Thursday, and had already designed my first ad on Saturday. Even after that, I was still surprised that I had gotten the position.

Then one thing led to another, I completed my year on TWUSA, and once again, put myself out there to then be hired as Editorin-Chief of this wonderful paper.

And now I am here, finishing my year in Mars’ Hill and entering my role as Vice President of Student Relations.

Throughout these experiences, I never thought of myself as a leader. Leadership was never something that I believed to be in my arsenal of individual skills and attributes.

However, the greatest lesson that I learned throughout my leadership experiences is that while God uses what you already have, he also pulls from potential.

None of us are leaders, but all of

us have qualities that have the potential to inspire, support, and uplift others, which is what leadership, at least in a Christian context, is all about. I was able to use and improve my budding design skills in my position on TWUSA. I was able to explore my managerial skills in Mars’ Hill. And now I will be able to fine-tune these skills to make a lasting impact on the greater student body.

It is amazing how a hobby has extended itself to so many opportunities. But that leads to another issue, what if I hadn’t been appointed to any of these positions?

What would I have done? Who would I have become?

While my leadership positions have given me many concrete skills, I honestly do not believe that my progression as an impactful and inspiring human being would have deviated. I think that some of the same skills and ambitions would have been fostered within me, but I also know that other paths would have opened themselves.

If I was not appointed to these leadership positions, I still would have been a leader.

I think that the major flaw in student leadership is the fact that students feel the urge to just do something. I have heard it so many times from people who did not receive a student leadership position - they sometimes feel useless and unimportant, they feel like they are not contributing.

But why should we rely on the decision of fallible human beings to determine if we are leaders or not? By living a good life, by respecting others, by pursuing truth and beauty, we are leading others We have always been leaders, and we always will be.

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m o c . l i a m g @

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.

EDITORIAL POLICY

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.

SENIOR EDITORS Tara Gorman Editor-in-Chief

Peter Woekel

Managing Editor

Amy Goertzen Visual Editor

SECTION EDITORS Sarah Grochowski News

Ellen Graham Academy

Mackenzie Cameron Arts & Culture

Connor Ewert Sports

Trevor McMahan Humour

PRODUCTION STAFF Sidsel Richmond Illustration Editor

Colton Martin Layout Editor

Stephanie Redekop Chief Copy Editor

OPERATIONS Reese Martin

Advertising & Finance Manager

Erik deLange Web Presence

CONTRIBUTORS Aline Bouwman David Brynjolfson Victoria Froehlich Mady Gallard Johnny Janzen Mackenzie Johnson Cheyanne Makelki Hannah Marrazzi Courtney Porra Jordan Schroeder Paige Siberry Diana Squires Jane Townsend Leanne Witten

SPECIAL THANKS

Kat Grabowski for the team photos

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOR Loranne Brown

www.marshillonline.com This issue brought to you by new engagements

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Genghis Kahn, because there’s a 1% chance we’re all related to him.” - Tobin Voth

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MARCH 11, 2015

NEWS

SARAH GROCHOWSKI

sarah.grochowski@mytwu.ca

THE REALITY OF

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An interview with David Punnamannil

by Sarah Grochowski Few of us acknowledge the safety risk that young women face every day in our world, and more specifically, the one that students face on university campuses all over the world. Last year, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden remarked, “If you knew your son had a 20% chance of being held at gunpoint at college, you’d think twice before dropping him off.” And we would, wouldn’t we? So how, then, have we come to turn a blind eye to the reality that so many women and men will face the pain of sexual assault in their lives? If you think Trinity Western – being a private Christian institution – is immune to the sheer brokenness of what this does to a human, you think wrong. Studies have shown that by the time students finish their undergrad degrees at Christian universities, 50% of females will have faced the loss of autonomy through sexual assault, whether it occurred before or while they were attending university.

The reality is that none of us are immune, not even men.

On February 17, TWU hosted a Gender Café specifically on Addressing Unwanted Sexual Encounters in a Covenant Community. Janelle Kwee (Psy.D.) hosted a night of learning and dialogue on the presence of sexual assault both in our world and on our university campus. An Assistant Professor in Counseling Psychology at TWU, she opened the night’s discussion with a question: “What holds TWU back from being able to adequately address the problem of sexual assault on campus?” Many of the room’s voices piped up. One woman

spoke that the Church itself has taken a “don’t ask, don’t tell” stance on premarital sex and that when people are hurt through sexual assault, the shame is much more isolating and debilitating. Kwee herself concluded that society has not taught men or women healthy approaches to sexuality; men are being taught to dominate the bedroom and women are taught to accommodate with their actions and desires – 50 Shades of Grey is an accurate representation of this. Kwee said that even the pornography industry depicts the normalization of sexual violence being done at the hands of humans to other humans, centered on a “masculine” – but not male – version of pleasure.

This divide between genders characterizes one of the major problems of sexual violence. Even on Trinity’s campus, a place that many might assume to have a healthier male presence in the discussion, only five men showed up to the Gender Café compared to 24 women. This lack of male presence, both at the event and in discussions all over the world, has made it quite easy to blame “men” as a whole for the realities of rape. This stigma has scared many males, at times even making them feel that the ones who do not rape women are a part of the problem. What Kwee emphasized, however, was the oppression that men often face at the hands of culture as they are pressured to dominate and objectify through sexuality. This so often hinders their experiences of love.

There is a need for all people – men, women, victims, and non-victims – to

join in on discussions of both what healthy sexuality is and the epidemic of sexual violence occurring in our world. Rape is often perceived as a women’s issue when it is really a human issue. When we assume that victims are all females who were drinking and scantily clad, we reinforce the untrue stigmas that further the pain victims endure. A human is not more prone to or deserving of such a violation just because they are dressed a certain way. We have to reevaluate the subtleties in both our culture’s news and how our own minds think of rape, or else we ourselves may remain a part of the problem. We need a culture shift in the way sexual violence and rape is approached.

To provide a more realistic understanding of rape and sexual assault, I sat down with David Punnamannil, a current Trinity student, in order to talk about the effect that sexual violence has had in his life: Sarah Grochowski: What has been your biggest struggle up to this point in telling the student body and your loved ones at home that you were raped?

DP: I don’t want to be looked at as a “victim” of this situation. I feel so often that it was my fault. I feel very dirty, I guess, and I do not want my parents to feel that they didn’t do a good job of raising me. I have been scared, embarrassed, and isolated. I have felt that I would not be good enough for even friendship if people found out about what happened to me – like it would be too much to bear for anyone to love me. For so long, I felt hopeless.

SG: Has God brought you to a place of healing?

DP: It is always, always a healing process. But God can use your story, no matter how broken you may feel it is. I have seen this happen in the brothels of India and I have seen this happen in the friendships I have here in Canada. For as long as I can remember, I wanted those who victimized me to say sorry, but God has helped me forgive them instead – even to the point where I have spoken to one of them about Christ. God loves us so much and he wants to heal us. Even right now, sharing my story in this interview is because of the extravagant grace of God. SG: What do you have to say to students who are currently facing the pain and trauma of sexual assault?

DP: To be holding it deep inside is one of the worst things I have ever done. It made me blame myself. I would say to them: do not hold your shame and pain inside. I encourage you to tell someone you trust and love, or at least someone who can offer you help and counsel. The nature of rape is something that isolates the victim and keeps them in a cycle of self-blame.

There are so many stigmas that keep people who have experienced this quiet, but when we do this, the pain inside grows to eventually become the very foundation we stand upon. So speak up, speak even about the shame you feel. Please let someone’s care be like water to your aching, burning heart.

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Nelson Mandela.” - Carter Perran

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MARCH 11, 2015

Prison death sparks debate

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sarah

GROCHOWSKI

The 2007 death of 19-year-old Ashley Smith in a Kitchener, Ontario prison has led to recent debate, lawsuits, and protests over solitary confinement within North American prisons. Smith was found dead in her cell from self-strangulation, an act she had attempted multiple times before.

In a surprising 2013 finding, the Coroners Inquest labeled her death a homicide as the jury determined that she was mentally unstable and thus not responsible

for her own death. She had spent around 1,000 days in solitary confinement. This has raised questions about the ethics of solitary confinement: should inmates who are potentially mentally ill be left on their own, and to their own devices? Who is responsible if a tragedy such as Smith’s occurs again?

In the U.S. state of Southern Carolina, the Department of Corrections initiated a cap of 60 days on stays in solitary confinement. This change was the result of class-action lawsuits filed on the behalf of mentally ill inmates, including cases where prisoners were sent to solitary for more than ten years. Former state Judge Michael Baxley published a

recent paper that indicts the use of solitary confinement in prison systems, concluding that it violates the constitutional rights of mentally ill inmates.

This January in Canada, two lawsuits were filed on the basis that solitary confinement is a cruel and unusual punishment, as well as unconstitutional. The John Howard Society of Canada argued “that the solitary confinement regime leads to prisoner suffering and deaths, deprives prisoners of fundamental procedural protections and is discriminatory against both mentally ill and Aboriginal prisoners.” The second lawsuit on behalf of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association claimed that “Canadian

prisons subject inmates to solitary confinement without any limit on duration, without any guarantee of independent review, and without any consideration of the frailties of the inmate, the ready, routine and prolonged use of solitary confinement in Canadian penitentiaries is unjustified, unethical, and ultimately, unconstitutional.”

These two advocacy groups have been battling against the government of Canada for the safety and rights of mentally ill prisoners.

TWU’s own Go Prison Mission works with both men and women in the regional correction centers of the Fraser Valley. They have been firsthand witnesses to Canada’s correctional system. This team’s hope is to come alongside

US Justice Dept. Report Finds Ferguson Police in Violation

Based on a six-month investigation of all of the city of Ferguson’s traffic stops, tickets, and arrests, the U.S. Justice Department concluded in the New York Times this week that “the Ferguson Police Department was routinely violating the constitutional rights of its black residents.” It was reported that black citizens accounted for 93% of arrests made, and in cases of jaywalkers prosecuted – which relies heavily upon police discretion – blacks accounted for 95% of arrests. This comes as a shock to those who hear that Ferguson’s population is a third white.

Bank of Canada Urges Citizens – “Stop Spocking Your Fives!”

Since Leonard Nimoy’s death on February 27, Canadians have been “Spocking” their five-dollar bills, ones that feature a portrait of Canada’s seventh Prime Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier. This means drawing a Vulcan haircut, eyebrows, and pointy ears, as well as words “long live and prosper” on the bill. The Bank of Canada responded to this non-illegal trend by stating that “markings on bank notes are inappropriate as they are a symbol of our country and a source of national pride.”

prisoners who are often forgotten, misunderstood by the correctional system and other areas of society. Many of these prisoners do suffer from mental illnesses, addictions, and other health issues. One of the team members, Johnny Janzen, weighed in: “So many of these men have been hurt by the circumstances life throws at them, they are really not set up for success by the correctional system. It is our hope that being with them and loving them can show, in some small way, that they are truly cared for – that they are not forgotten.”

TWU’s Break the Cycle Reaches $1,000 Goal

Delhi Bus Rapist’s Public Claims Stir Up Outrage

It was only three years ago that five men, including Mukesh Singh, violently raped a young college student on a moving bus and later left her on one of New Delhi’s streets in India. She died later in the hospital. This past week, Singh was interviewed on death row and his responses have shocked the world. When asked about the rape he said, “A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy,” and went on to say, “When being raped, she shouldn’t fight back. She should just be silent and allow the rape.” He still pleads his innocence. Indian lawyer M.L. Sharma concluded that the situation for women in India: “In our culture, there is no place for a woman.”

Between February 2 and February 20, T.W.U. students and faculty raised a total of $1006.80 for mental health initiatives in Canada. This means that the Break the Cycle event team reached their goal. The money was raised through a series of events aimed at breaking stigmas attached to mental illnesses and showcasing the resources available to those suffering at TWU. Participating student and faculty donors voted for The Canadian Mental Health Association organization to be given the money, and on March 6, a cheque was presented to the C.M.H.A. in Chapel.

Controversy over #TheDress Settles With a Campaign

One of the most viral memes to hit the Internet in recent weeks asked social media to decide whether a picture of a dress was black and blue or white and gold. After conclusions that it was a change in the brain that altered the colour for many of those who saw it as white and gold, the Salvation Army released a powerful ad campaign. Using a picture of a battered woman in a white and gold version of the dress, they posted, “Why is it so hard to see black and blue?” and “The only illusion is if you think it was her choice.” This picture has gone viral with the hopes of stopping the victim blaming that occurs against abused women.

Who was the greatest historical leader? “The man who discovered beer.” - Cam Thiessen

MARCH 11, 2015

Islamic rights in jeopardy

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jordan

SCHROEDER

February has been a revealing month for the state of religious freedom in Canada, and particularly for followers of Islam, in two separate court cases. The first case involves Zunera Ishaq, a devout Sunni Muslim who has almost completed the process of becoming a Canadian citizen. She was not able to complete the process because a law prohibited Ishaq from wearing her niqab (a full face covering with only a slit for the eyes) during the public ceremony where one is sworn in as a Canadian citizen. However, the law was struck down by the courts this month, because it was considered an undue limit to freedom of religion since the ceremony is mostly symbolic. And yet, Ishaq will have to face more controversy because the federal government has announced that it will appeal the ruling to strike down the law.

The second case involves a single mother in Québec who went to court to retrieve her car, which she stated was wrongfully impounded. However, the judge refused to hear her case because she was wearing a hijab (only a head covering), saying that she was “not suitably dressed.” He then went on to compare wearing a hi-

jab in court to wearing a hat or sunglasses.

Canada’s politicians have responded to these two cases in very different ways. In the first case, the federal government announced that it would appeal the court’s ruling to allow a niqab to be worn in the citizenship ceremony, as mentioned above.

Prime Minster Harper himself has entered the debate on this issue, defending the government’s policy by essentially saying that the niqab is the symbolic opposite of the Canadian identity.

He stated that Canada “is a society that is transparent, open, and where people are equal... I believe—and I think most Canadians believe—that it is offensive that someone would hide their identity at the moment where they are committing to join the Canadian family.” However, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau have opposed the government’s statement. Although they agree that removing the niqab may be necessary for things where confirma-

tion of identity is required – such as voting, drivers license pictures, crossing the border, testifying in a criminal case – they believe that the infringement of religious rights is not justified by the objectives of this law.

In contrast, the government

has responded to the second case by saying that the judge erred in her ruling and that the woman should be permitted to have her case heard: “If someone is not covering their face, they should be allowed to testify.”

Thomas Mulcair and Justin Trudeau have publicly stated their agreement on this issue.

The disparate reactions of the federal government and the opposition leaders have prompted some to say that the political parties are playing identity politics to win support.

The regulation that requires women to remove their niqab during the citizenship ceremony is a regulation of which hard-line Conservative Party supporters would be in favour, spurred on by fears of extreme Islam with which many people associate the niqab. The NDP and the Liberals, faithfully embracing their identity as the opposition, have been vocal about their dissent in order to win more of the anything-butHarper vote.

TWU student app Written by Johnny Janzen

Trinity Western now has an emerging mobile presence, with the launch of a student-developed app for iPhone. For the past several months, a team of TWU computer science students has been working on a mobile app, which includes features such as a campus map and access to news, chapel programming, and the Mars’ Hill newspaper.

This app was the term project for CMPT 385 taught by Dr. Herbert Tsang, a course in software engineering that covers the principles of effectively working in teams to produce software projects. The team hopes that

the app is used by anyone and everyone associated with TWU, whether they are visiting campus or a current student, alumni, faculty, staff, or parent. The team is currently continuing development by adding more features to the application, and would welcome constructive feedback at TWU.CMPT@gmail.com.

Developers for the app were: David Grypma, Caleb Guatama, Peter Woekel, Johnny Janzen, Joshua Weme, and Jackie Wang.

The TWU Student App is now available for free on the iTunes app store. Check it out!

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Wiz Khalifa.” - Brandon Bustard

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Pushing politicians aside, it is also disconcerting to hear that a judge—one of the people who are supposed to jealously guard the rights and freedoms of Canadian citizens—denied a woman the right to wear religious apparel that did not impede the judicial process in court. Certainly, there is a strong argument that says women should have to remove a full face covering while testifying in a criminal trial or while registering to vote. However, this case, which only involves a head covering, is clearly an instance of a judge imposing her own political values on the public. Indeed, the violation of justice was so clear in this instance that it prompted a rare exhibition of unanimous agreement from the three main political parties.

When examined together, these two cases paint an informative picture of the state of religious freedom in Canada. Those who are religious can often have their rights and freedoms endangered by fear or intolerance of those values. Regardless of whether one is analyzing the actions of the judge, the federal government, or the other politicians involved in these cases, the danger that is posed to our society is clear when politics are placed above religious freedom.

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MARCH 11, 2015

ACADEMY

ELLEN GRAHAM

ellen.graham@mytwu.ca

Who should judge the limits of free speech?

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aline BOUWMAN

Early in January 2015, the world was shocked by an armed assault on the Paris-based headquarters of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The notorious magazine publishes offensive comics targeting, among other religious groups, Islam, and provoking the wrath of Jihadists. The violence was met with public outrage, and the phrase “Je suis Charlie” became a slogan in defence of free speech.

The tragic event and subsequent public outrage was extensively covered by the media, and continually raised the question: “What is the limit on free speech, and who should be the judge thereof ?”

This question became the topic for a riveting debate on Freedom of Speech hosted by the TWU Philosophy Department this past Wednesday, March 4. The two speakers were Dr. Chris Morrissey and Dr. Grant Havers, who discussed free speech as it appears in the philosophical discourse of the pre-modern and modern age in an attempt to answer that question.

Dr. Morrissey, sporting his trademark perpetual grin, opened his presentation with the remark, “Je suis Thomist.” He then com-

menced his spiel on the Common Good, a topic hardly unfamiliar to those students who have taken a class with him. Morrissey’s thesis was that “error has no right” – that is to say, an erroneous understanding of free speech cannot make the claim to human right.

This erroneous understanding is found in the “secular gospel” of unlimited subjective free speech.

A Thomist, however, will argue that since “natural right” is derived from Natural Law, things must be measured by that objective standard. The idea derives from such Greeks as Aristotle, and has been baptized into Christianity by such thinkers as Aquinas. The result of this is the dogma of the “Seven Virtues,” an amalgamation of Greek and Christian virtues. To translate such lofty virtues to politics, however, required a few more slideshows with endearing images, ample sports analogies, and such rhetoric as is more familiar to the layman of TWU: the language of “building community.”

With Dr. Havers taking the stage, the Thomist perspective on free speech made way for a Spinozist one. Havers, in slightly po-

mould of the traditional charismatic leader. While the rest of us are talking about leadership, they are actually doing what needs to get done. The moment recognition begins to come their way, these individuals immediately redirect the focus of conversation. And so lately, I find myself turning to Nouwen, Vanier, L’Engle, Chesterton, and Lewis to discover how I myself must now lead if called upon.

The truth is that I have spent my life, if subconsciously at times, in search of individuals beside whom to work behind the scenes. The search often takes longer because they are not in the open; they are washing dishes, actively listening, a little shy of the spotlight, and burning the midnight oil when no one is watching. These individuals inspire me with the authenticity revealed in their work-chapped hands and lined faces. They take me aback with a leadership that is shown in reticence, tenderness, and humility. Perhaps the potency of these individuals’

very particular brand of leadership is that it reveals to me so clearly how far I have yet to go to become like them. They lead from a context in which they accept their brokenness, celebrate the ordinary, and reach for grace when being stepped on by others who are still scrambling their way to the proverbial “top of the heap.” Through their very act of avoiding the spotlight, they reveal that they are strong enough to adopt a kind of leadership that transcends the desire or need for recognition and affirmation.

These leaders shape their life’s work upon a recognized need, humility, and a tender care to make their little corner of the world better. They inspire me to be a better, quieter, and humbler version of myself: to flee rather than seek the spotlight, to retire modestly at the end of the day instead of highlighting my accomplishments. As graduation approaches, it is this brand of leadership that I find myself aspiring to.

lemical fashion, began by redeeming the Enlightenment from the accusations that are often placed upon it by modern Christians— including Thomists—by stating that every individual who believes in liberal democracy is indebted to the Enlightenment. After enlightening the audience thus— with lingering glance at the now-seated Morrissey—Havers provided a classical statement on freedom of speech as found in Spinoza’s Theologico-Political Treatise: “In a Free State every man may think what he likes, and say what he thinks.”

Is Freedom of Speech, then, an Absolute? Absolutely not. Havers explained that seditious speech under the pretext of basic human right is not to be condoned. Slanderous comics do not pass the “Test of Enlightenment”; a rational citizen, after all, does not seek to provoke anger or hatred. This will only result in a return to the state of nature, the Biblical concept of innate sinfulness. Spinoza outlines “Seven Dogmas” the rational citizen must adhere to, the first of which demands belief in the existence of God, for, he argues, only Christianity teaches

The road to graduation: quiet leadership

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hannah MARRAZZI

I couldn’t tell you when it began to happen but shortly after coming to university, I realized that the lights and the show and the crowds and the charismatic speeches of leadership weren’t for me anymore. This is not to say that charismatic leaders have not been used to bring about great change or are in some way less effective as leaders. Oh no. I would be the first to admit that the use of a good speech that moves people to action has always been a weakness of mine.

Give me a good speech and I will follow... or at least, I used to.

But I’ve come to realize that a remarkable number of the people whose leadership I’ve admired are behind-the-scenes leaders, low-key and self-deprecating in nature. They do not at all fit the

EMILY WELSH

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Wayne Gretzky. And Jesus.” - Josh Bustard

and explains Charity, which is the origin of individual freedom (unlike in Greek democracy) and the very root of liberal democracy.

The question period revolved around the inquiry of whether appealing to Biblical morality is effectual in a modern, secular state. This is a complication that both Thomists and Spinozists face, for the “Seven Virtues” and “Seven Dogmas” are grounded in Biblical morality. The Christian thinkers who invented Human Rights-politics lived in an age of normative Christianity.

But can the Christian foundation that supports their political framework be demanded of a world that is no longer defined

by Christendom? It is debatable whether the secular state has successfully transvaluated Christian ideas and no longer needs the religious foundation. But it should give one pause that we cannot return to a predominantly Christian world—and when churches are tombs and sepulchers, does the smell of decay linger also on formerly-Christian politics?

MARCH 11, 2015

Discovering potential |

victoria FROEHLICH

I have never thought of myself as a leader. I grew up the second of four kids, with my older sister our fearless trailblazer. She led us through games, dictated dress up, and taught us how to do our arts and crafts. She was a natural leader and I quickly became her biggest follower. I spent a good portion of my life with this attitude. To me, leaders were really wise and excessively spiritual people: the ones who God has on speed dial, with all their life’s problems sorted out.

I felt so far from attaining this perfect state of life, which made leadership both terrifying and intimidating. Being a follower was really comfortable and I was really good at it, so I decided that it was my calling.

I suppose I can count this as just another way that God has transformed my heart since becoming a student at this school. Trinity is a place that not only welcomes you as you are, but if you let it, it also pushes you to become more.

Living in community has played a huge role in this for me — it’s

funny how communal bathrooms can teach you so much about grace and unconditional love for other people. Without really intending to, or even realizing what was happening, I have discovered that I have potential. I have uncovered an ability to lead and influence by stepping into God’s grace and opening myself up to growth and challenge. I’m nowhere near an expert on leadership, and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m still a long way from having it all sorted out.

However, I’ve begun to understand what God’s invited me into, and that’s an incredibly beautiful thing. I think this is probably my favourite thing about Trinity: it’s a safe place to figure out who God has created you to be — a safe place to discover your abilities to lead and to change your little corner of the world.

I am astonished when I think about how far I have come from the Victoria that showed up on O-Day two years ago, so overwhelmed by the enthusiastic people and the terrifying reality that I had moved away from everything I knew. The way I see it, we have two choices when we encounter change: we can scramble to find a safe routine and rest in it, or embrace the change and be open to how it can shape us. Through student leadership, I have been handed the opportunity not only

to lead, but also to further explore who God is calling me to be.

When I reflect on how I’ve grown because of my participation in student leadership, I am amazed. And with that amazement comes a deep gratitude for the leaders that have impacted and challenged me to open myself up to change, self-discovery, and an ability to lead. And with that gratitude comes a desire to see other people step into experiences that are challenging and scary, experiences that will cause them to discover their own potential.

Student leadership is the most obvious way to discover this potential, and we are part of a school that gives students so many wonderful opportunities to lead. However, it is vital to understand that being a leader doesn’t require participation in student leadership.

The positions that we as students can fill are amazing and hold so much potential for growth, but they aren’t the be-all and end-all of growing as a person. You don’t need the title of SOS leader or RA in order to influence the lives of people on this campus or to experience growth in your own life.

Sure, it brings about growth and challenge, but it isn’t a requirement of leadership or of growing into who Christ has called you to be. Furthermore, I have come to realize that there is nothing wrong

with being a follower — we are all called to be followers of Christ.

In fact, one of the most admirable qualities I see in leaders is an ability to be led by others. At the end of the day, title or no title, follower or not, all that matters is that you are chasing after God’s heart and yearning to be shaped through the experiences you encounter.

I firmly believe that God has placed an ability to lead within each of us and that, student leader or not, we are in the perfect place to explore leadership and experience growth as we are challenged by the people around us. We need to be willing to put ourselves out there and point others towards Christ while walking in grace and actively seeking self-improvement, regardless of whether we have a position on a leadership team.

This requires an open mind and an open heart to how the Lord may desire to shape and transform you.

I urge you to search for opportunities outside of your comfort zone, and to open your heart to wholeheartedly embracing these experiences and the challenges that come with them. Take advantage of your time at Trinity as an opportunity to safely explore what you’re made of, because it’s the perfect place to do just that.

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Who’s that guy…. Ghandi?” - Molly Dawson

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MARCH 11, 2015

Faith and Death An evening with Rudy Wiebe

ANDREW RURAK

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leanne WITTEN

On Tuesday, March 5, acclaimed author Rudy Wiebe gave a lecture on Faith and Death, an event hosted by the AnabaptistMennonite Centre for Faith and Learning. Wiebe is a professor emeritus at the University of Alberta, where he has received an Honorary Doctor of Letters. He is a two-time winner of Governor General’s Award, as well as the Charles Taylor Prize, and is the author of numerous books. As a Saskatchewan-born Canadian author, Wiebe’s books take place

in the prairies, and often involve the culture of the native peoples.

The lecture focused on Wiebe’s latest novel Come Back, which follows the story of Hal Wiens, the eight-year old protagonist of his previous novel Peace Shall Destroy Many, who is now seventy-five. Wiebe read from Come Back, his vivid and descriptive narrative style drawing the reader into the story. In Come Back, Wiens is remembering his life and grieving over the death of his twenty-four year old son who recently committed suicide. Come Back follows Wiens’ experiences as he looks back on the events leading up to his son’s death with a poignant sense of regret and confusion, and goes through the painful process of grief.

Over the course of the evening, Wiebe discussed memory and its purpose in writing. Wiebe discussed the beauty of memory and how two people can share a memory of an event, but remember it differently. Wiebe said, “One of the delights of sharing memories is how they contradict each other. What is contained in those contradictions tells us something about ourselves.”

Wiebe also delved into the idea of re-memory, or the process of going back over memories of the past. He talked about using the past to tell us where we are in the present, and how he employs that technique when writing.

The event was followed by a talk-back period conducted by Dr. Myron Penner, standing in place

The Ottawa journal

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david BRYNJOLFSON

There are many inspirational people here in Ottawa, which makes sense considering that it’s our nation’s capital. One person I have met stands out in particular.

His name is Daniel Gilman, and he used to work as staff on Parliament Hill but is now a pastor. He is involved in a couple different churches, actually, and he is an activist for the issues of sex traffick-

ing and pornography – and he is only thirty. In short, he is a good leader. He voices his opinions in articulate ways that invite discussion while coming off as amiable and polite. Moreover, he knows what he believes, and he takes the initiative to start new projects, encouraging others to come along with him.

I mention him because he has confidence, and if the LLC is teaching me anything, it is that confidence is at the centre of leadership. There is a lot of truth in the saying “fake it until you make it,” because if we pretend we know what we’re doing, we can

learn the steps along the way. As true as the proverb may be, it is an old idea and I’m sure I am not the only who has heard it many times. What is new to me, however, is the other side of confidence: not the part about behaviours, but the part about opinions. Leaders know that their thoughts and ideas are worth expressing, and they show this attitude in their tone of voice. If someone does not create this sense of credibility, others are not going to listen to him, and though this concept is probably obvious, knowing it as a theory and putting it in practice are two different things. The LLC

of Professor Lynn Szabo who was unable to attend the event.

In response to a question on why he chose to fictionalize in Come Back what could easily have been a memoir, Wiebe said that there are many parallels between these characters and real life, if not his life specifically. He noted that remembering reality can be the basis for writing, but writing fiction rather than a memoir provides an element of freedom for an author to use their imagination and explore things that will make your writing more effective than the straight facts.

As he explored in his latest novel, Wiebe talked about death as a real event experienced by many people. He also talked about how his Mennonite heritage played a

central role in his faith and writing. Wiebe grew up Mennonite, and his Mennonite heritage has been a significant part of his own personal faith. Wiebe spoke about the challenges of facing opposition from the Mennonite church, who were at times at odds with his personal stance on faith. He also talked about how he deeply valued the strong sense of community within the Mennonite Brethren church. Wiebe’s lecture included both personal experiences as well as factual knowledge concerning faith and death, and explained how those elements have played a key role in shaping him as a writer.

provides me with the opportunity to have discussions with intelligent people, both in the mansion and through my internship, and these discussions nurture my confidence.

The funny thing about Trinity Western’s Laurentian Leadership Centre is that, contrary to what its name suggests, the classes do not directly teach leadership.

The professors do not offer tenstep formulas or hot tips for how to guide others, nor do students read corporate management classics like From Good to Great.

Instead, the classes focus on the lives of different Prime Ministers,

the creation of public policy, and the foundations of ethics. The truth is that confident leadership cannot be learned in a lecture hall, but can only be developed through the hands-on experience necessary for nurturing confidence. This is no reason to criticize the program, because I am gaining this experience through the work I do at Parliament, after all. The people I meet there and at receptions and events show me what leadership is, allowing me to take away lessons and memories that help shape me into a betterrounded person.

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Oda Nobunaga. He unified Japan.” - Matthew Tsoi

RELS 102 CP Intro to the New Testament, Sr. Gabriella Yi

RELS 224 CP New Testament Theology: Christology, Dr. Brook Herbert

PHIL 111 CP History of Philosophy: Ancient & Medieval, Dr. C.S. Morrissey

LATIN 211 CP Medieval Ecclesiastical Latin, Dr. C.S. Morrissey

RELS 465 CP Influential Thinkers in the Western Tradition, Sr. Gabriella Yi

PHIL 305 CP Philosophy of the Human Person, Dr. C.S. Morrissey

RELS 101 CP Intro to the Old Testament, Sr. Gabriella Yi

RELS 160 CP Introduction to Theology, Dr. Christophe Potworowski

ENGLISH 103 CP Intro to Fiction, Vic Cavalli

RELS 382 CP The Catholic Church: Theology & Practice, Dr. Brook Herbert

RELS 365 CP Christian Moral Theology, Dr. Christophe Potworowski

ART 215 CP Beauty and the Sacred Arts, Dr. Brook Herbert

Fall 2015 Courses COMM 120 CP Intro to Interpersonal Communications, Loranne Brown

Catholic Pacific College CatholicPacific.ca

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MARCH 11, 2015

self

reestablishing the

By Amy Goertzen Student leadership is a big part of the TWU community. It not only provides an amazing mentorship and support system, but it also contributes to the school’s overall well-being and amazing sense of community. The leaders at Trinity are warm and inviting, and my favourite part about them is that they are all different. You don’t meet two RAs that lead in the same way, there’s no one SOS leader that is the “perfect” SOS leader, and every leader you meet in this incredible community has a different idea of what being a leader is. That is amazing.

My first year, I applied for two student leadership positions. The first was RA and the second was SOS – and to be honest, when people asked me why I was passionate about these positions, I didn’t have a clear answer. At that time, I just knew that I had asked God what my next year would look like. Who I would be living with and what my role at Trinity would be was still undecided as I waited for an Almighty answer. Instead, radio silence. But that was okay! Do you know what I took that as?

Freedom to make a decision between the many options I had to choose from! My identity as an introvert had kept me from believing that I would suit the RA role, but my fellow introvert friend and then-RA assured me that the role became what the person made it. It had not one mold but many, and this idea surprised me. So I went ahead and applied for both RA and SOS, allowing every door of possibility to remain open and giving God the ability to shut the ones that he deemed fit.

Through the period of waiting on the unknown (I’m sure many have felt this and can relate), I wrestled with placing my identity in something I wanted so badly.

The RA position had become something I truly desired, and I felt like I could do well if given the chance. This in-between time was difficult even with the support of my friends. The “you would do such a good job”s and “how can they not pick you”s are things that you begin to say to yourself when feeling doubtful. It becomes so easy to claim those things you desire as your own and begin to place a higher value

on them, even though this may not be a healthy approach.

The waiting period passed and the day came when emails were being received. I checked my email like every other one of you faithful applicants did, hands probably shaking with nervousness, and my eyes raced over the email I opened entitled “Student Leadership.” (I mean, couldn’t they just put your acceptance status in the description?!? It would just make life a lot less stressful.) Dear Amy… Something about caring about the number of students who applied… Being encouraged so many would apply… “Reserve List.” There it was, smiling at me from my little iPhone. Waitlisted.

God had closed a door, but why did I feel disappointed? I didn’t care – or did I? The second email came the next morning for SOS and I received, for the second time, “Reserve List.” Both doors closed?

It’s interesting how easy it is to take it very, very personally when you aren’t chosen for something.

I felt shaken in my identity. Was I not a leader? Who, then, was I supposed to be in this Trinitorian society? Was it because I told the interviewers I was an introvert?

What did I answer in the wrong way, and what kind of energy was I missing that was somehow found in those who had been chosen? Along with the disappointment came embarrassment and doubt of my character. I saw my own lack in the strengths of others. Who wouldn’t compare themselves to the awesome people who got chosen for an elite task in the student leadership world of Trinity? The unreal mentorship that goes on in student leadership, particularly as an RA, was something that I had desired for the coming year.

Do you want to know what I learned from all this? The first thing is that it’s always good to open doors for God to shut.

Halfway through the summer, and halfway around the world, I got an email asking me to be an SOS leader. It was an answer to a financial prayer as well as a logistical one. I didn’t see that coming! Go God! I accepted and was excited for an opportunity to serve through Trinity’s leadership. O-week

was challenging for me, undoubtedly. I had constant – and I mean constant – interactions with people, trying to be intentional and warm with everyone I met, trying not to be awkward in new settings and to be outgoing when the situation called for it. It would have been easier if I’d been an extrovert and fed off these interactions. Instead they drained me and left me aching for even 10 minutes alone. I knew I couldn’t fake extroversion, so I would carve time out of my day to recharge. In the end, I was myself, or at least I tried my best to be.

The second thing I learned is that my identity as a leader is not defined by what roles I do and do not get at TWU. It’s just not. My identity is based on the fact that God created me with intentionality: with specific and particular gifts that are custom-fit for me. What a relief that I don’t have to feel any pressure to be a certain kind of person outside of being myself. 1 Corinthians 12:6 (NLT) states that, “God works in different ways, but is the same God who does the work in all of us,” so we are used differently depending on the way in which God chooses to use us. My version of leading could be different than yours because my skills are designed to teach and lead a specific type of person.

The opposite also applies, and the end result is this wonderful compilation of gifts that have been given to us to use and help one another. This same passage also states, “But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.

How strange a body would be if it had just one part!” (1 Cor. 12:18). Yes, how strange!

If we all had the same strengths, we would be rendered useless in our lacking!

So, my dear brothers and sisters, take heart! You are leaders, you just may not know of what variety yet. Through leadership you may be humbled, challenged, and sometimes feel defeated, but that shouldn’t stop you from believing that you have been placed in your specific position for a reason. Don’t discredit that by comparing your own leadership to someone else’s; take comfort in the fact that no one can be you as well as you can.

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Martin Luther King Jr.” - Karly Archibald

MARCH 11, 2015

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Winston Churchill.” - Mathew Kim

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MARCH 11, 2015

CREATIVE

inspired by

[spaces]

Literary Journal of Trinity Western University

[spaces] Launch Party Fort Langley Community Hall — Saturday, March 14 at 7:00pm

Featuring

k

Live music by TWU artists including Catherine Affleck and Sarah Williams Poetry readings Refreshments A performance of Graham Boldt’s play, Please, Pass the Damsel Hand and much more

The following is an excerpt from “Ode to an Atheist Pastor,” written by Aline Bouwman, set for publication in volume nine of [spaces] Literary Journal. To read and hear the full vision, come attend the [spaces] launch party on March 14! *** For nearly an hour I walked around the city in search of a church. When I did, my violent spiritual impetus suddenly sputtered out and died. There was no sign of the glorious cathedral that I had imagined— only a peel-painted, mouldwooded chapel lacking even the plainest steeple. It was surrounded by mud and litter.

My eye fell on a banana peel abandoned in a Styrofoam cup, its yellow tentacles growing out of the peppermint. I turned on my heels, deeply embarrassed by my shiny episode of religious fervour.

At that moment a blackcassocked, white-collared figure emerged from out of the dim shadows behind the church, and caught sight of me. Some men look like they never had a childhood, and the pastor was one of them. Perhaps it would be better to say that he was the sort of man one cannot imagine as a young child—I certainly could not imagine him as such. He was a heavy-set man with a beautiful, serene brow; but his eyes were scornful, as though he were

[spaces] Literary Journal Volume 9 on sale for $10 at the door Cash only

constantly forced to gaze upon something morally repugnant.

He was appalling and appealing all at the same time, and he looked like an angel to me.

I struck an air of humility, whipped up a quick smile, and approached him with somewhat contrived reverence. He waited for me to speak. I cleared my suddenly dry throat, and said: “I am searching for God.” Staring at my shoe-shod toes in the mud, I felt suddenly preposterous.

The pastor remained silent. I attempted to capture his eyes a few times, but each time quickly succumbed under the intensity of his glare.

All at once and without any sign of warning from either his posture or visage, he started to chuckle. The swelling noise seemed to rumble from deep down his being, and sounded raw as though he had never

broken out into the laughter before. Soon enough, he was shaking with the boisterous sound, rattling on his feet as though I had said something scathingly witty. Then abruptly he fell silent. He tipped his head backwards and surveyed me from on high. After a few long moments he concluded that I was not joking. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, and said: “I cannot help you with that.”

“Are you not a pastor?” I asked, bewildered.

He momentarily closed his eyes and gently tilted his chin sideways in a subtle gesture of affirmation. His eyes proclaimed all earnesty when he bore his gaze into mine once more, and sensing my subsequent question, he pre-emptively answered, “I am an atheist.”

What on earth— No, what in heaven— No, what the hell? He

took in my wide-eyed wonder with an exasperated sigh. “Being a pastor is just a job, my child,” he explained with the overintonation of one speaking to an impertinent youth. “I do not believe in God.” With a fatigued motion he rubbed his temples before he spoke again. “I deserted God from the moment I commenced my studies in divinity up until this point and ever-beyond. Only I ever broke from godforsaken sanctimoniousness among my colleagues. Only I ever escaped the self-induced blindness of the herd-animal.”

I was devastated, but he halted my spluttering objections with the simple gesture of a raised hand. “What are you expecting of me?” he asked, and jabbed a violent forefinger into the sky, “Did you really think the heavens would burst forth in glorious

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Steven Hicks.” - Kaia Nickel

revelation after speaking to me?”

He suddenly dropped down and slammed a spread palm face-down into the mud ground.

“This!” he proclaimed, digging each of his five digits into the muck individually. “Herein lies the divine: the wonder that you dig out of the womb.”

He drew his fingers out of the earth, and flicked the wet filth into my face. (I did not know then that this was but a gesture of sympathetic good humour, though it is startlingly self-evident to me as I write this now.) Shaking his head, the atheist pastor dug through his pockets for something. He drew out an ancient-looking fountain pen, unscrewed the cap to reveal a gold-tipped nib, and lurched forward to take a hold of my wrist.

I did not struggle as he cracked open my palm and dug the sharp nib into my tender skin.

“It Is All in the Palm of My Hand”, he wrote into the palm of my hand. He closed his large hand over mine, and clenched my hand into a fist so firmly that my nails sank into the ink. Then he let go. I opened my hand, and saw pristine skin marked with crimson crescents over dark scraggly lines.

Without casting a further look upon me, the atheist pastor theatrically turned on toes of his polished shoes, and dissolved into his dim-as-night aura. Exit Deus-ex-Machina.

ARTS & CULTURE

I dare you to move A leadership profile from the music industry

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leanne WITTEN

Thinking about successful artists who are leaders, I immediately thought of one of my favourite voices in the music industry, Jon Foreman. A talented musician and songwriter, Foreman has a voice in both the Christian and secular music scenes, but he is also an artist whose influence extends beyond his music.

Foreman is most famous as the lead singer, main songwriter, and guitarist of the alternative rock band Switchfoot, who have been steadily putting out albums since they became a band in 1996. He has also made numerous other contributions to the world of music and the arts. Foreman has contributed songs to the

soundtrack of A Walk To Remember, co-founded his side project Fiction Family, produced four solo EPs titled Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, featured in the song “Birthright” by Sleeping at Last, and written multiple articles for the Huffington Post.

Foreman’s voice is unique within the arts because he doesn’t only produce good art, but his art is also an expression of himself.

Throughout his career as a musician, Foreman has maintained a consistent personal voice. His lyrics are raw and real, with songs that reach out to others, expressing love, joy, faith, grief, or loneliness.

Foreman’s songs also speak about what he believes in. He has toured with To Write Love on Her Arms, a non-profit organization to help those with addiction and depression. As a Christian, many of Foreman’s lyrics encourage believers to take action.

In “The Sound” (Vice Verses), Foreman speaks about civil rights leader John M. Perkins, and in “Somebody’s Baby” (Winter) and “Instead of a Show” (Summer), he speaks about the need to look out for the marginalized within society.

With

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Lights up on a woman in a chair. She’s lonely, but she doesn’t know it. When she puts on her recording of The Drowsy Chaperone, a shimmering explosion of song, dance, and silliness lifts her out of her sadness and into the Roaring Twenties.

TWU’s spring musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, is as fun and glamorous as a bubbly glass of champagne. This 1920s spoof follows Janet, a Broadway star who wants to leave the spotlight for a storybook romance with her dashing fiancé. But Janet’s producer and a mischievous pair of gangsters-in-disguise won’t let their leading lady go without a fight! Enter a notorious Latin lothario, hired to seduce the bride.

With a chaperone who’s not too good at her job, will there be wedding bells... or scandal?

“This show pokes fun at the musical theatre world from a 21st-century perspective,” said director Angela Konrad.

“It celebrates all the things you love about musicals, while poking fun at the rest.

MARCH 11, 2015

MACKENZIE CAMERON

mackenzie.cameron@mytwu.ca

all of his accomplishments, Foreman has maintained an attitude of genuineness and humility; in his words, “without honesty, art is dead.” Those are powerful words from someone with an influence over so many listeners. Perhaps that is why he has not only found success in the world of music and the arts, but has maintained this successful career for close to twenty years now. Foreman has remained active, experimenting with new things within his music, but has maintained a genuineness in his lyrics that has been consistent throughout his entire career as a songwriter.

One of the most significant ways Foreman leads in the arts is simply by producing music that is not only artistic, but also lyrically meaningful. By writing lyrics that are honest and from the heart, Foreman breaks down the wall that often exists between artistically creative music and faithbased music. Foreman exemplifies the power of leadership and art joined hand-in-hand.

by Diana Squires

Mistaken identities, zany plot twists, catchy song and dance numbers – I dare anyone not to have a good time!”

Playing the drowsy chaperone is Julianna Towle, a second-year TWU student and Langley Secondary grad. “I think the beautiful thing about this story is that while it’s so ridiculous and hilarious, it still holds so much truth,” Towle said. “It speaks to the imperfections of life and the people around us, but it also shows the beauty and joy that can be found within them.”

With infectious tap-dance numbers, splashy jazz tunes, and even tonguein-cheek love ballads such as “I Put a Monkey on a Pedestal,” The Drowsy Chaperone does everything a musical is supposed to do. As the woman in the chair says, “It takes you to another world.”

The Drowsy Chaperone plays at TWU’s School of the Arts, Media + Culture (SAMC) from March 10 – 28. Onstage 7:30pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, with Saturday matinees at 2pm. Tuesdays are 2-for-1. For tickets and information, visit www.twu. ca/theatre or stop by the box office in RNT. You won’t want to miss this exhilarating show!

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Megan Raverty.” - Gerald Rosenau

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MARCH 11, 2015

The silent type

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courtney PORRA

In

a time known for charismatic leaders (think modern US elections), the silent leaders who express themselves through artistic means can get lost in the bustle. Although they are often missed, silent leaders have the ability and opportunity to influence and affect the masses in a poignant, meaningful, and oftentimes deeper way compared to the popularized ideal of a

“leader.” Maybe the leaders we put up on pedestals could learn a skill or two from the underrated introverts who lead in the background.

There is truth in silence. When you have a silent leader, there is more weight to the words they say; there is depth and thought behind each thing that leaves their mouth. As well, when the voice of a leader is lessened, the voice of their actions, their purpose, and the people they stand for have the opportunity to rise up and speak for their integrity and character as a leader more than anything they could say for themselves.

Silence brings community and

opportunity. Frequently, it is the leaders who stand for something outside their own desires that create the biggest waves and the longest-lasting movements – think Ghandi, Mother Theresa, and so forth. While silent leaders do not singularly cultivate selflessness and community, there is far more opportunity to find these genuine intentions in the leaders who aren’t focused on running the foreground.

Oftentimes, silent leaders operate in the background, shying away from the spotlight; these are the leaders who will do any job to serve without the recognition.

These leaders are allowing for

the needs of others to influence their actions before their own wants do. There is opportunity for leadership found in letting a community of people cultivate what you stand and fight for; a leader like this will be doing more for more people.

So, how does art play into all of this? Despite popular belief, art is one of the most influential mediums today: music, poetry, blogs, dance, performance pieces – all of these forms are integrated into our everyday lives. Think of how many shares a music video gets, the comment wars on a blog post, the views of a spoken word piece, or all the tickets

sold to performances daily. Each and every one of these examples carries someone’s opinion, and with each view, purchase, share, comment, thumbs up, or thumbs down, we’re taking a stand for or against what someone has created.

That’s exactly what leadership is: one person standing for the voice of many and influencing a community of people. And while many of the creators behind these works go without recognition, or rather, become secondary to their work, the artists behind the pieces that have such a poignant effect on us are the leaders of our generation. And often, we hardly notice it.

faces of the Portraits student album

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mackenzie CAMERON

Ty Hanlon: What musical artist would you take home to meet mom and dad?

Andrew Perrin.

What famous person do people tell you that you most resemble?

Morgan Freeman. It’s uncanny.

If you were in the circus, what would be your act?

I’d jump through some hoops.

What do you want your tombstone to say?

Ty Dyed.

Anna-Marie Ryan: Have you ever been in love?

With Jesus?

What’s your spirit animal?

Arabian horse.

What’s your favorite word?

Exuberance.

Why should people buy the Portraits album?

Because they just might learn something.

On March 6, the Portraits student album had it’s release party with a packed audience, a monstrosity of a cake, and too many talented musicians to count. All of these students wrote and performed their own songs for this album and their beautiful work can now be purchased on www. twuportraits.bandcamp.com or in the TWUSA office. I sat down with them before their release party, and they kindly answered my questions.

Please enjoy their words, faces, and marvelous music.

Catherine Affleck: Who inspires you musically?

Erin.

What’s your spirit animal?

Jared Leto.

What’s your favorite word?

Fungible.

What do you want your tombstone to say?

“See, I told you I was sick!”

Nathan Stein: Have you ever been in love?

Yup. Have you ever written a song about being in love?

Yup. What do you want your tombstone to say?

I kind of want to get cremated and just thrown to the sea.

Tarun Reddy: What’s your spirit animal?

A cross between a leprechaun and a dragon.

Instrument you’ve always wanted to learn how to play?

The bagpipes.

What do you want your tombstone to say?

Well, that was a whoopsie.

Why should people buy the Portraits album?

It’s the best $7 they’ll ever spend.

Andrew Perrin: Describe your song in three to five words.

Story. Growth. God. What’s your favorite word?

Cube.

What famous person do people tell you that you most resemble?

The guy from Wizards of Waverly Place.

What do you want your tombstone to say?

Live. Laugh. Lab.

Nate Kara: What do you want to be when you “grow up?”

I want to inform North Americans about different cultures and people groups.

If you were in the circus, what would be your act?

I would be the exotic beast.

What do you want your tombstone to say?

Attempted to his fullest to live the life that was worth dying for.

Alec Gloanec: Describe your song in three to five words.

Having things not work out.

Who inspires you musically?

Arcade Fire, The National, Josh Ritter.

What’s your favorite word?

Providential.

What famous person do people tell you that you most resemble?

Kevin Bacon.

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Hitler, because he killed Hitler.” - Jacob Rothenbush

Erin Avenant: What do you want to be when you “grow up?”

Mature.

Who inspires you musically?

Catherine.

If you were in the circus, what would be your act?

Lighting my sleeve on fire.

Why should people buy the Portraits album?

Because we know where you live.

Sarah Williams: Describe your song in three to five words.

Hope in dark times.

What do you want to be when you “grow up?”

An organizational consultant.

What musical artist would you take home to meet mom and dad?

I just want to give Sam Smith a hug (not really related to my parents).

Have you ever been in love?

Depends on your definition of love.

MARCH 11, 2015

15

GREGORY REESE

A conversation on leadership, media, and communications with Kevin Schut

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mackenzie CAMERON

Mars’ Hill: What is your involvement in the world of media, communications, and culture?

Kevin Schut: My area of study and publication is video game studies, but I’m interested in pop culture and media in general. With regard to video games, I’ve published a book called Of Games and God on video games and the Christian faith. I also teach some broader introductory courses on mass communication and pop culture.

MH: How do games help to develop leaders?

KS: The most obvious place that you would see a development of potential leadership is in the online games that involve large numbers of players. In the more established versions, there’s a genre of games called massively multiplayer online games. These are persistent imaginary worlds where people can log in and run around and interact with thousands of other people.

When you join a game like that, most of these games have what are called “guilds.” A guild is basically a team of players, although they can function on different levels. Some guilds play highly competitively, like a sports team, in which case it’s about organization and winning. Some guilds are more social in nature and it’s about meeting other people through playing games.

In both cases, people can become leaders of others without ever actually having met anyone in person, which is a very interesting phenomenon.

With the more social groups, they almost function as second families for some people. In some of these groups, people will organize meetings in person, plan birthday parties for each other, and other very social-oriented interactions. In that kind of a role, it’s a very different kind of lead-

ership that we’re talking about; people will step up and take a sort of social preeminence. Although it’s an unofficial leadership, it’s no less powerful. Of course, one of the biggest questions about video games is to ask how the activity in the virtual world maps onto real life.

MH: What does it take to be a leader of culture and communications in contemporary society? Does financial success establish a leader, or is it more about the skillset?

KS: Leading a group of people to financial success is certainly a form of leadership, although there are different kinds of leadership in pop culture. For a lot of the big pop culture corporations, that is the kind of leader that they care most about, with other forms of leadership being secondary.

From a Christian perspective, when financial success is the sole measure of your leadership capabilities, then I think that you can end up with some pretty terrible people.

They may be effective at bringing in money, but they engage in all kinds of other practices that are problematic or downright immoral. A really famous example of this is someone like Steve Jobs. By all accounts he was an absolutely terrible person to work for; he was extremely negative to people around him, and yet he was very effective. It’s not that people didn’t grow under his leadership at all, but there were certain aspects of humanity that he devalued and didn’t care about. I think that’s a deeply flawed form of leadership.

Another way of

measuring leadership within pop culture is through the relational aspect. As consumers, we don’t often pay attention to the people behind the scenes who keep things running. We often think about the people creating the text, the ones delivering it, or directing it, but we rarely focus on the background people who do a great deal with interpersonal leadership and who make a lot of impact in that regard.

The other kind of leadership we find in popular culture is the kind of stories that people tell. Success is measured not so much by the amount of money profited, but by the ways that your art more fully challenges and builds up our common understanding of humanity. A lot of blockbusters feed us the narrative of right vs. wrong being solved by the just application of violence. While I enjoy some of those block-

busters, when you digest a steady diet of those stories, I think that you end up with a twisted narrative about what is right and what is wrong and how we achieve those things. Movies and games that challenge that and help us to recognize another way of being human: those are movies and games that actually make a positive change in the world.

MH: Can you speak to the connection between games, leadership, and faith?

KS: I can talk about an absence of leadership and how that is starting to change. There’s an interesting history of evangelicals in popular culture. Evangelicals are typically early adopters of technologies, but they also struggle the most with how to relate to secular culture. That has a lot to do with the shift of the role of Christianity in culture as a whole.

The reason I’m saying all this is because Hollywood and global film is one of the first examples where the Christian evangelical community abdicated a role of leadership within the growth of a major popular culture sphere.

Film was first introduced as a popular medium in 1895, and by 1905 film was a global phenomenon. It had a very rapid uptake and the church had a really hard time trying to figure out how to fit into that. By the 1920s, the narrative feature film really came into its own, in a cultural atmosphere marked by a trem e n -

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Bob Kuhn!” - Dalen Ewald

dous break from traditions; what you saw was incredibly licentious filmmaking. Some powerful Christian organizations eventually forced the creation of motion picture codes, so they became an outside force to make sure that culture conformed to Christian standards. At the same time, all good Christians realized that they couldn’t work in the “dirty” industry and left the scene.

Hollywood is the driving force of the apex of culture. It is the one that tells us our stories. And Christians basically vacate the premises because it’s “immoral.”

It wasn’t until the 70s-80s that Christian communities finally started questioning their lack of influence. Basically it’s because there’s an abdication of leadership from the Christian community that Hollywood goes the way that it does. I’m not saying that everything would be perfect, but there would be a greater voice for redemptive stories, because those are the stories that Christians have an impetus to tell.

So that’s all really important history and context, because video games are in a similar situation. We’re past the infancy of video games at this point, but the medium is still relatively young.

What I’m hoping for is Christians who are actually making a different kind of art – something innovative in a way that reflects or demonstrates their faith.

That’s a hard thing to do, but I’m starting to see it. One game that I have tremendously high hopes for is a game called That Dragon Cancer. It’s a game about the experience of a father with a son diagnosed with terminal cancer as an infant. He made a game about the experience and is in the process of finishing it. It’s an amazing concept and emotionally it’s a very hard game to play, but it reveals the nature of humanity in a way that is profoundly Christian. They are very unapologetic about what they believe and they are very open about that. It’s all about the celebration of life and hope – it’s a really innovative kind of game.

16

MARCH 11, 2015

SPORTS

CONNOR EWERT

Let the madness begin!

connor.ewert1@mytwu.ca

Kentucky The Early Favorite in the 2015 NCAA Tournament

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connor EWERT

The annual NCAA Men’s Division 1 Basketball Tournament is set to begin on March 17. Out of the 334 eligible Division 1 teams, 68 will participate in the tournament.

As usual, 31 of the 32 automatic bids will be given to programs that win their conference tournaments. The remaining automatic bid will go to the Ivy League regular season champion, since the league does not hold a conference tournament. The remaining 36 bids will be granted on an “at large” basis, meaning they are extended by the NCAA Selection Committee to the teams it feels are the best 36 teams that did not receive automatic bids. Eight teams, the four lowest automatic

qualifiers and the four lowest at large teams, will play in the First Four, or the play-in games, where the winners will advance to the round of 64.

The clear front-runner this year is without a doubt the University of Kentucky Wildcats, who lost in the national title game last year to UConn. Kentucky is 30-0 this year as of last week, and they are looking to be the first undefeated NCAA champion since Indiana in 1976. Though they are young – 86% of their scoring comes from underclassmen – they remain the heavy favourite to return to the national championship and take home their ninth title in program history. They are led by the Harrison twins, Aaron and Andrew, as well as the veteran leadership of Willie Caulie-Stein. Other notable and possible number 1 seeds are Virginia, Duke, and Arizona.

Villanova and Wisconsin, led by all-star big man Frank Kaminsky, will be heavy favourites in

their draws as well. Two teams that have been shaky as of late are Kansas and Gonzaga, who are both coming off recent losses to unranked opponents. That being said, teams will be afraid to face them in any game, no matter what the stage is.

Every year, the NCAA tournament is filled with upsets, heartbreaks, and Cinderella stories.

Last year, Mercer defeated powerhouse and number 2 seeded Duke, knocking star guard Jabari Parker and his Blue Devils out of the tournament in the first round.

Look for another top 3 seed, possibly Kansas or Villanova, to be ousted in the first or second round.

If I had to choose a Final Four, I would select Kentucky, Gonzaga, Wisconsin, and Duke. Get your brackets ready on Selection Sunday (March 15), and get ready for some exciting college basketball in March – it never disappoints.

WHEELING AND DEALING Kentucky The Early Favorite in the 2015 NCAA Tournament

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connor EWERT

Winners

ANAHEIM DUCKS

Grade= A Key Arrivals: James Wisniewski, Tomas Fleischmann, Simon Depres, Jiri Sekac, third-round pick.

Key Departures: Devante SmithPelly, William Karlsson, Ben Lovejoy, Rene Bourque, Dany Heatley, second- and fifth-round picks.

Synopsis: The Ducks are a shoein for the Pacific division title, so their focus was on contending for the Stanley Cup. GM Bon Murray added four significant pieces, including a winger with history with coach Bruce Boudreau, as well as an offensive defenseman in Wisniewski. A bonus was getting rid of the dead weight of Bourque and Heatley.

ARIZONA COYOTES

Grade = AKey Arrivals: Anthony Duclair, Maxim Letunov, Klas Dahlbeck, two first-round picks and a second-round pick.

Key Departures: Antoine Vermette, Keith Yandle, Zbynek Michalek, fourth-round pick and a

third-round pick.

Synopsis: With the Coyotes well out of playoff contention, GM Don Maloney faced the challenge of restocking for the future while increasing their chances at landing phenom Connor McDavid.

He did both by moving three stars and receiving significant draft picks. Just imagining a line of Duclair, prospect Max Domi, and McDavid is already mindboggling.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Grade= A Key Arrivals: Braydon Coburn and two second-round picks.

Key Departures: Brett Connolly, Radko Gudas, first and thirdround picks.

Synopsis: Though they paid steeply for Coburn, sending Connolly to Boston for two picks was the best move. They got better in the present for a reasonable gain in the future, especially now that they got the picks for free with Connolly out for the remainder of the regular season.

Losers

EDMONTON OILERS

Grade= C Key Arrivals: Second- and fifthround picks.

Key Departures: Jeff Petry.

Synopsis: They had one piece to move and did so, but the return was less than ideal, not to men-

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Beyoncé.” - Alison Quiring

tion that they failed to move a star named like Taylor Hall or Jordan Eberle to get some future return and better their chances at getting Connor McDavid.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Grade = D+ Key Arrivals: David Clarkson, Willian Karlsson, Rene Bourque, Justin Falk, second- and fifthround picks.

Key Departures: James Wisniewski, Nathan Horton, Jordan Leopold, Adam Cracknell and a third-round pick.

Synopsis: They did well in the Clarkson deal getting an NHL player for the injured Horton, but the trade for Wisniewski brought back an average return, which included the dud of a player and contract in Rene Bourque.

BOSTON BRUINS

Grade = D Key Arrivals: Brett Connolly, Max Talbot, Paul Carey, and Zak Phillips.

Key Departures: Jordan Caron, Jared Knight and two secondround picks.

Synopsis: Connolly certainly made the Bruins better, but the cost for a guy who hasn’t come close to his draft pedigree was extreme. It also doesn’t help that he is now injured and out of the lineup until the playoffs. Talbot at center for Caron is a short-term upgrade at best.

MARCH 11, 2015

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Mars’ Hill: How did you hear about TWU and the Spartans?

Nick Del Bianco: I heard about TWU and the Spartans from members of the TWU Men’s Volleyball Team who were assistant coaches for my club volleyball team. My team was honoured to have Marc Howatson and Rudy Verhoeff as our team’s assistant coaches, and they were really the first to introduce me to TWU. MH: What does the CIS MVP award mean to you?

ND: Winning the CIS MVP was a huge honour and something that I will never forget. However, I believe the only reason I was even considered a nominee for this award was because of how easy my teammates made it for me to perform well. Volleyball is a team game, and unlike in other team sports, not one player can win the game on their own. This is why I think that it is my team and coaching staff that deserves the recognition, as without them, I would not be the player that I am today.

MH: What are some other accomplishments you have had in your volleyball career?

ND: I represented Canada in 2009-2010 at the Youth Beach Volleyball World Championships, I represented Canada in the 2011-2012 Junior Beach Volleyball World Championships, I was the BC high school volleyball provincial champion and MVP, and I was selected for

the Province Newspaper Head of Class award in 2010. I also represented Canada this past summer at the Pan-Am Cup with the National Senior “B” Indoor Volleyball team, have been a part of TWU’s last two mens volleyball CIS championship teams, and was a part of the all-rookie Canada West and CIS team. I was selected for the Canada West first team All-Star team the past three years, and I have received 2 CIS first-team All-Canadians and 1 CIS second-team All-Canadian.

MH: What will you miss most about TWU and being a Spartan?

ND: I will miss coming into pre-season training camp in September, seeing all the guys on the team again, and just thinking how exciting the upcoming season is going to be.

MH: Who is one person in your life who has been a mentor to you?

ND: My coach here at TWU, Ben Josephson. He was a huge reason I chose to come to TWU as he had such a positive impact on me when I was 16 that I wanted to be around him more. He has been a part of my growth as a volleyball player and as a man for the past eight years. He is a genius in the sport of volleyball, but it is the care and support that he has shown me off the court that has really lead me to follow him. With his mentorship I have developed a healthier view on volleyball and life. Before, I believed volleyball was life and that happiness was found through success in volleyball. That was obviously an unhealthy view, as it put an immense amount of pressure on the sport and made losing far worse than it really was. He has shown me how to find happiness in your teammates, family, and friends

and not just from success in a sport.

The best example of how he has changed me into the man I am today is the thoughts that came into my mind after losing in the national championship this past weekend. Earlier in my career, I would have been upset for weeks that we didn’t win, and so angry after the game that I wouldn’t be able to talk to anyone for a few days. However, after losing this national championship, I was obviously upset about losing, but more tears came to my eyes because I realized that was the last game I was ever going to play with this group of brothers that has formed throughout the year.

My thoughts were not about failure, but about how much I love this team and program that I have been a part of for the past five years and how much I will miss being a part of it. I do not know if this would have been my mentality if I were coached by anyone else. It is Ben’s continual demonstration of care and love for his family and this team that has allowed me to be upset about leaving this team rather than about losing one game. If I have learned one thing at TWU, it is that volleyball is a game; it is fun to play and I love it, but to find true happiness, I must invest in the relationships with those around me.

MH: In five years when you look back on this past season, what will you remember most? Will you have any regrets?

ND: I will remember the morning after our loss to Brandon University in the first semester.

We met as a team that day without coaches, and spoke openly to each other to better find out what we need and what others need

Mars’ Hill: Why did you choose to come to TWU and become a Spartan?

Nikki Cornwall: I had been going to Spartan camps and watching their games since grade 7. I loved the girls on the team, and I really liked Ryan Hofer’s coaching style MH: How did you hear about TWU and the Spartans?

NC: Through the Spartan volleyball camps.

MH: How have you changed in the couple years you have been a Spartan? How have you grown since you were a freshman?

NC: I have learnt to become more vulnerable and confident as a player.

MH: Where does TWU’s first Women’s CIS National Championship mean to you and your teammates? Where does this rank in the top moments of your life?

NC: It’s an honour to be a part of our first National Championship, but we would not have been able to do it without all of our alumni that put in hard hours on

and off the court to make our program what it has become today. I would say that as an accomplishment, it is definitely ranked #1, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to surpass it.

MH: What does the MVP award mean to you? What was your initial reaction to being named the MVP of the tournament?

NC: It was just a cherry on top.

It was nice to be recognized for all the hard work I put in, but if it weren’t for my competitive and hardworking team, I wouldn’t have been able to get such an awesome accolade. It truly was a humbling experience. My initial reaction was tears, for anyone who didn’t see the award ceremony.

MH: What are some other accomplishments you have had in your volleyball career?

NC: 18U Provincial Gold & tournament MVP, 18U National Bronze & tournament All-Star, 20U Canada Games Silver, Female Athlete of the Year 20092013, and Rookie of the Year.

MH: Who is one person in your

life who has been a mentor to you?

NC: Bala Pavananthan. In grade 12, he took me under his wing and molded my setting skills so that I would be ready for Trinity. He is also someone that I go to for advice on a personal level.

MH: Where do you see yourself when you are done your time here at TWU? NC: Well, hopefully by then, I will have figured out my major. So working full-time wherever that may be, hopefully in a serious relationship, or maybe I’ll travel and play pro for a year or two.

connor EWERT

from us in order to perform. That is the first time in my career that I have been a part of such an open conversation where speaking your mind was not only encouraged, but also necessary for the success of our team. After that discussion, I believe we went on to win the next 16 games until losing in the Can-West finals to Alberta.

Something special happened that Saturday that turned a group of 20 guys into a team of brothers.

MH: Now that you are graduating, what is next? Are you playing professionally? What are your future plans?

ND: My future plans include pursuing my dream of playing volleyball professionally and of playing for Team Canada. I will

Name: Vanessa Nicole Cornwall Place of Birth/Where are you from?

Coquitlam, BC Year of Schooling: First Year Major/Program: Who Kows!

Sport/Club/Team: Women’s Volleyball Position: Setter

Who was the greatest historical leader? “The Queen?” - Victoria Froehlich What do you envy most about the opposite gender? “They get more attention.” - Naomi

17

attempt to chase my dreams for as long as I am able to, and then I will see where life takes me from there.

Name: Nick Del Bianco Place of Birth/Where are you from?

Langley, BC Year of Schooling: Fifth Year Major/Program: Sports and Leisure Management Sport/Club/Team: Men’s Volleyball Position: Outside

18

MARCH 11, 2015

186 Number of dunks made out of 279 total FG by Clippers forward DeAndre Jordan. That is more than 14 NBA teams.

29

Number of career multi-goal games for Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks are undefeated when he scores two or more goals (23-0-5).

6155 Number of rushing yards by LeSean 2973 Number of three-point field McCoy over the past five years, placing him first goals made in Ray Allen’s career. That is 413 in the NFL. The Philadelphia Eagles traded the all-star running back to the Bills last week.

more than anyone else in NBA history.

History made!

Spartan athletics making history all over the board

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connor EWERT

Women’s Volleyball Just a couple of weeks ago, our own Spartans Women’s Volleyball team made program and school history by winning their first ever CIS championship. After being down 2-0 to Alberta in the final, the Spartans rallied off three sets to win the match in the fifth and deciding set (22-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-15, 15-11). It was the second week in a row that they won in this fashion versus the rival Pandas.

The Spartans become the 11th CIS School to capture the banner.

The team capped off their season on a 12-game winning streak, dropping only nine sets in that span.

Second year setter Nikki Cornwall, who tallied 53 assists in the final and led the team with 20 digs, was awarded the tournament’s MVP. The Spartans were led by trans-

fer and 3rd year outside hitter Elizabeth Wendel, who had 16 kills, 3 aces and 2.5 blocks, while the senior Royal Richardson had 16 kills, 11 digs, and 2 blocks. Sophie Carpentier added 15 kills in the final, while team captain and leader Alicia Perrin had 11 kills and 7 digs. Cornwall, Perrin, and Wendel were also named to the tournament all-star team.

It was certainly fun to watch the tournament and final from start to finish, and it will be a long summer for Spartan fans to wait and see the banner lifted up to the LEC rafters in the Fall. Congratulations, Spartans!

Men’s Volleyball After being beaten in the Canada West title match a week earlier, the Spartans Men’s Volleyball team lost in the CIS title match to Alberta (25-19, 25-17, 25-15).

The silver medal is their third in program history and eighth medal overall, including three gold, three silver and two bronze.

The Spartans were led all year by the CIS MVP Nick Del Bianco. Del Bianco added to his already-impressive resume of two previous all-star honours and be-

ing on the CIS All-Rookie team in 2011. He is the third player to receive the honour, after setters Josh Howatson in 2006-07 and Ben Ball in 2011-12. He is also the second Spartans athlete to be named CIS Player of the Year this year, as women’s soccer star striker Jessica King earned the honour last Fall.

The Spartans also boasted an impressive supporting cast with outside hitter Ryan Sclater taking home a Canada West second team all-star award, Tyler Koslowsky earning Libero of the Year in Canada West, and middle Danny Grant tying the CIS record in blocks in a season.

With key departures for next season in both middles, Grant and Branden Schmidt, as well as Del Bianco, the Spartans have some big shoes to fill, but it is without a doubt that we will see the men’s volleyball team back at the top of the CIS rankings come this Fall.

Men’s Track and Field The TWU Men’s Track and Field team earned three silver medals and broke a Spartans relay record to help them to a third

place finish overall at the Canada West Championships.

The Spartans’ Declan White picked up a silver medal in the 1500m and Nathan Dunford won silver in the pole vault competition. The 4x400m relay team also took second place with a TWU program record of 3:18.92.

The men finished the weekend with 11 total medals, including one gold, four silver, and six bronze. The 11 total medals is the most ever by the Spartans at the Canada West Championships.

Congratulations to the men on their accomplishments and record-breaking performances.

Women’s Track and Field For the second year in a row, the Spartans Women’s Track and Field team won the Canada West Championship with an impressive performance, finishing first overall by 39 points.

The Spartans collected 100 points over the two-day meet and finished ahead of the second place Calgary, who finished with 61 total points.

Sarah Inglis led the Spartans by breaking the 1500m conference and TWU record with a gold

March 11, 1986 - New York Islanders Hall of Famer Mike Bossy becomes the first NHLer to score 50 goals in nine straight seasons.

March 11, 1892 - The first ever public basketball game is held in Springfield, Massachusetts.

March 13, 1960 - NFL’s Chicago Cardinals officially move to St. Louis.

March 15, 1912 - Legendary pitcher Cy Young retires from baseball with 511 wins. Pitcher of the Year award later named after him.

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY Who was the greatest historical leader? “Gandalf. The white, not the grey.” - Ryan Natwick

medal winning time of 3:16.84, which smashed the previous mark of 3:19.96, set in 1981. Inglis was also awarded the Female Performance of the Meet award.

The 1500m podium was also swept by TWU with Fiona Benson and Regan Yee earning silver and bronze, respectively.

Sabrina Nettey also won gold in the triple-jump with a school record of 12.20m, while Claudette Allen earned the silver. Emma Nuttall also won gold in the high jump, where she had a clearance of 1.73m. TWU’s 4x400m team took home the gold with at TWU record of 3:49.42.

Alongside Inglis’ award, TWU also saw Allen earn Rookie of the Year, Yee take the Community Service Award, and Laurier Primeau and his staff win the Canada West Coach of the Year.

The Spartans are now preparing for the CIS Championships being held in Windsor, Ontario running tomorrow through Saturday afternoon. Be sure to follow the Spartans on twitter @TWUSpartans for up-to-date coverage on their success. On behalf of all Spartans fans, we wish you the best of luck.

MARCH 11, 2015

HUMOUR

19

TREVOR MCMAHAN

trevor.mcmahan@mytwu.ca

Your bi-weekly dose of LOLs and guffaws

MackJ & MadyG Master Munching Menchie’s

By Mackenzie Johnson & Mady Gallard Trinity students love frozen yogurt as much as they hate geese, so it’s no surprise that Menchie’s has become a staple of TWU student culture. We, the authors, have been to Menchie’s at least three times, so we’re pretty much Menchie’s experts at this point. At the very least, we like telling you how you’re doing it wrong. Here are five tips for making the most of your Menchie’s experience: 1. Drench it in Sauce Definitely put lots of sauce on top. What you want is one mouthful of pretty much nothing but sauce, making the rest of your Menchie’s extremely plain and tasteless in comparison. No sauce between layers – just one sickeningly sweet gloopy blop of sauce.

Make sure to avoid the peanut butter sauce.

We recommend the bland, waxy chocolate sauce, which is not only allergen-free, but also appeals to the tastes of most middleclass white people.

2. Top it With A Brownie The Menchie’s store layout is a textbook case of superior design, so why deviate from it? Get your froyo, get your toppings,

then top it all off with a nice big square of brownie (or Nanaimo Bar, if you’re of that inclination). This is why you came to Menchie’s in the first place – baked goods!

Of course, you shouldn’t eat it right away, so just push the awkward chocolate rectangle off to the side of your bowl to save it for later. Don’t even think about cutting ahead in line to put the brownie on the bottom.

That’s almost like cheating! And cheaters never prosper.

3. Confuse the Masses Take someone you are not dating to Menchie’s. First off, you get delicious Menchie’s; second, you get to confuse the TWU community, because everyone assumes Menchie’s dates are real dates. This is entertaining.

(And no, we are NOT dating. We clear?

Stop asking.)

4. Use Your hands, Not the Bin Spoons.

You are the mixologist here, T-Dubbs, There are more combinations and options at Menchie’s than there are laws in Canada, which means anything is fair-game. So go ahead. Use your hands. Take clasping fists of Oreo pieces and Smartie crumbs. Bin

*Note: this comic was made in September, before the coffee was good. It’s better now.

Thanks Dave.

Please don’t take away our coffee.

spoons are for the weak. Eat as you go; in fact, ingest froyo right from the dispenser.

Cover yourself in toppings and hop up onto the scale. You always take too much anyways; the price won’t be that different.

Menchie’s is YOURS, Trinity Western.

Don’t be afraid to mark your territory.

5. Regarding Red Velvet Why are you getting Red Velvet? What is wrong with you? Why are you even at

Menchie’s? Just go home and make cupcakes. Like, we know you want to be hardcore, but Red Velvet is not hardcore. It’s Classic Tart or nothing, kids. You really only have two options.

By Paige Siberry & Cheyanne Makelki

A letter concerning fire alarms Dear students of TWU, It has come to our attention that many of you have been complaining about the number of false fire alarms in our residence buildings.

You might assume that these alarms are caused by spiders, regrettable toast-making experiences, or makeshift indoor saunas; however, this is not the case!

The true reasoning behind these fire alarms is that we, the vigilante leaders of Trinity, are very concerned with the wellbeing of our students. We have noticed that most students do not exercise enough. Yes, some of you may respond “but I’ve been exercising my relationship with JESUS.” To you we say, “That is not

the same thing, but nice try.”

In addition, you all have high stress levels because of midterms and term papers. Thus, we have decided to help you without your permission.

Sure, you may be severely P.O.’d that you must leave your nice warm bed in the early hours of the morning. Yes, we know your important midterm is tomorrow morning at 8 AM; however, in the authoritative words of Cameron Thiessen, “One measly midterm is a mere blip on the radar compared physical and mental health which will last your lifetime.” As you are schlepping along from your room to the atrium, rubbing the sleep from your eyes, just think: you are receiving the ultimate deal!

You get to breathe in the fresh

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Buzz Lightyear.“ - Emily Babineau

midnight air AND enjoy a nice midnight stroll, both of which are important factors in the reduction of stress and the increase of physical wellbeing. This is why we have arranged for frequent and random fire alarms that will keep you on your toes. We know you think they are simply false alarms or accidents, but we assure you that none of this is accidental.

We do what we must to ensure your health. While students from other universities are getting their full eight hours, YOU are getting a UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. Unlike your university education, that is priceless.

Best regards, Vigilante leaders who care

20

MARCH 11, 2015

DE-CLASSIFIEDS

marshillonline.com/de-classifieds

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. *my little brother asking me* “What’s a midterm?”

Oh you sweet innocent child you will know, you will know

I won a staring contest with a Trinity Goose and I’m really proud of myself but also afraid of geese retaliation

“Hey I got those mittens you asked for” “Thanks” “Why do you need them?”

“For this” *I take off one and slap them with it*

If your name begins with a letter of the alphabet, you’re awesome!

If anybody else gets engaged this spring I’m going to barf...

IN HAPPINESS OMG I LOVE WEDDINGS!!!!

Thou shalt not kill, but you stole my cookie Golly gee whiz I sure like sports, I sports all the time uh dribble basket goal unit score touchdown! Yeah I sports Tdubstories.WordPress.com Tell your friends.

THE HIMNAL

It is your brain that goes through the headship of love not the heart. Heart is just a messy clot of muscle which pumps blood.

Atrium renovation idea: BATHROOMS!!!

Atrium renovation idea: extend the rug another two feet so I have more time to wipe the moisture off my shoes so it doesn’t squeak as I cross the atrium.

To celebrate TWU’s 52nd year an anonymous donor has agreed to plant 52 trees in the atrium

I hate when people ask me what I will be doing in 5 years time, I don’t have 2020 vision!

Joel DeSchiffart

Question for next year’s TWUSA execs: What is your stance on the Atrium?

It doesn’t make cents This flower doesn’t make any scents

year: 3

The fact that the editor of the Mars Hill prefers 1% milk to Skim, really makes me question the validity of all the content.

Hi just writing to express my gratitude for this publication.

Sincerely Long-time-reader-firsttime-poster

90% of all declassifieds are made up on the spot.

Audrey Herold, you rock the pastels.

RT If you are currently crying Pomeranians think they are lions, and they sort of look a little like them I guess but they forget that they tiny as heck “Ring by Spring” child’s play. Try asking for her hand during the O-week.

Joel Austin you are my heart sparkle Hello cello

age: 20

major: Kinesiology

So pumped for #drowsytwu No offence, but sometimes I think my classes are pretty hard.

No offence but sometimes, I don’t really understand some of the MH articles No offence but sometimes people aren’t intentional about community.

Fraser Apartments third floor: Nunnery 2.0

height: 5’9 TARA GORMAN

Age limit (max/min)? I’m not sure what this question means, so if it refers to the max difference in age between me and potential datee, then probably Idea of a perfect date? Bike ride around 8 years.

How will you make up after the first fight?

Hometown: Nanaimo, BC

Fave way to worship God?

Stanley Park, Dinner downtown, then a walk on the beach as the sunsets Views on courtship? Let’s just cut to the chase

Hiking in the outback

Best place for a first kiss?

Denomination: Christian Reformed

Fave Christian (non-worship) song?

Brother by Needtobreathe

Pillow fight, great way to relieve stress.

What makes you the one?

Ready to listen anytime, and I’m as loyal as they come

On the peak of a mountain at sunrise

Top quality in a future mate?

Biggest deal breaker:

Someone loving and caring but someone fun and adventurous

Can’t handle running split shorts

Who was the greatest historical leader? “Machiavelli. Can you put anonymous by my name?” - Jocelyn Tanton