THE TEAM FROM THE EDITOR

In Yosemite National Park, there is a waterfall called Staircase Falls. Located on the side of a rather unassuming rockface in the park, Staircase Falls only flows for a few weeks every year from the height of the snow melt to when it dries up in the early days of summer, usually between May and June. Staircase Falls is an ephemeral source of water, meaning that it inhabits a state of impermanence. If you happen to be in Yosemite during the right season, you might just see Staircase Falls. But for the majority of visitors, it will be just another cliff.

The definition of the word “ephemeral” itself is as prone to change as the word would suggest. The word is often used to describe fleeting moments, where only memory might preserve them—performances, vacations, intimate moments with friends and family, and others of the like. It takes on a broader connotation when we think of nature, society, and culture as ephemeral things: time brings many changes and the things we take for granted now will fade into memory.

Or, in the words of an old Persian adage, “This too shall pass.”

The threads of the ephemeral are felt throughout this issue. In Opinions, Sadie McDonald, in a rather “meta” piece, discusses how our own work as a part of Mars’ Hill exists in a state of ephemerality. In Humour, contributor Marissa Welch writes an interesting piece about how she uses a pair of shoes to capture the fleeting, ephemeral moments of her life.

Our feature, “Closed Eyes Behind Rose-Coloured Glasses” by Ava Gili, touches on the idea of the ephemeral. The article is a reflection of the memories and legacy of TWU’s once-mandatory Community Covenant and its impact on queer students and alumni. The article shows that, even when something has passed into memory, it does not mean that its impact has gone.

As always, this issue of Mars’ Hill is loaded with fantastic articles from the opening headline of News to the last words of Humour. In News, contributor Sophie Holland writes an excellent analysis of seasonal affective disorder in university students. In Sports, Bailey Froese makes their section debut with a breakdown of Super Bowl LII. Lastly, in Humour, contributor James Vandermuelen introduces a new chapel subscription service being rolled out by the administration.

This issue was a joy to craft with this team. I cannot wait for you to read it.

Mission To Mars

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.

Contributors

WRITERS

Hannah Gallandt

Sophie Holland

Bret van den Brink

James Vandermuelen

Marissa Welch

PHOTOS

Grace Schouten, pg. 1

Kristen Washburn/TWUSA, pg. 6

Spartans Athletics, pg. 15

MARS’ HILL

Mars’ Hill is a student publication of Trinity Western University located on the traditional ancestral territory of the Stó:lō people. 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

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, the Statement of Faith, the Student Handbook, 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.