Volume 26 Issue 9: Ritual

Mars Hill

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Stop Using OCD as an Adjective PG. 14

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ISSUE 09

VOLUME 26

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Texas Targets T ran sY ou th

MAKENA WARDLE Editor-in-Chief

CARTER SAWATZKY Managing Editor

RACHEL WEGNER Visual Editor

GILLIAN SCOTT Copy Editor

Dear Reader,

MARITHA LOUW News Editor

KYLE PENNER Opinions Editor

SOPHIE HOLLAND Arts & Culture Editor

SCOTT BOWERS Sports Editor

BRAEDON GROVER SUNNES Humour Editor

LEX DIERSCH Staff Writer

DIEGO BASCUR Staff Writer

ZACHARY SIMONYI-GINDELE Illustrator

The theme for this issue of Mars’ Hill newspaper is “Ritual.” When our team decided on this theme, we were reflecting on the daily, weekly, or monthly practices that help add meaning and consistency to our day to day lives. With the unpredictability of our current global climate—the introduction of new anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the U.S., the continuation of COVID-19 restrictions, and the tragedy currently taking place in Ukraine—we all need something to ground us.

I have many little rituals in my life that help me feel like myself, even through the more difficult times. From almost daily check-in phone calls with my mom, to weekly Bachelor viewing nights with my friends, these little habits help me stay in community with the people who matter to me. One ritual that is just for myself is the practice of mornings spent outside. On days where I wake up to sunshine outside my window, I like to take my morning coffee with me outdoors, and spend time in meditation and reflection.

MARS’ HILL

CATE TSO Layout Editor

MACKENNA WILSON Photographer & Social Media Manager

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.

MISSION TO MARS

JARED KLASSEN Web Editor

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.

MEDIA ADVISOR: Loranne Brown

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For our feature article, we put out a survey to our TWU community through social media, “in order to learn from each other about the rituals that ground us.” The rest of this issue explores rituals in a variety of other ways. In “Maddy’s Guide to the Spotify Deep Dive,” Madalyn McMillan takes the reader through her practice of discovering new music. Andrew Bouchard gives us a “TWUSA Update” and explains the yearly campaign season.

And in “Take Me To Church,” Staff Writer Diego Bascur explores the benefits of learning from other’s spiritual practices by venturing into a Church of Scientology.

We hope you enjoy this issue, and take time to reflect on the rituals you have in your own life, as well as the ones you may care to add in.

Cheers,

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.

CONTRIBUTORS

Lorin Scaiano Lani-Marie Carbonel Andrew Bouchard Christa Lyford Syd Dvorak Rees Morgan Berk Berkeliev Erik Niebuhr Madalyn McMillan Josh Woolgar Laura Witzke David Witzke Kelvin Gartly Bailey Froese Grey Zander

DECLASSIFIEDS SUBMIT YOUR OWN AT MARSHILLNEWSPAPER.COM/DECLASSIFIEDS

Bros here will talk to you for 45 minutes on the topic of himself and then hit you with a “God bless you.” Onto his next victim

My sister always tells me that my colored hair is gay. Is it...? Can you be straight with pink hair?

Blue hair? Is it possible?

chad they have mango bubly now

I have a friend crush on diego what do I do

“First rule of a Cal Townsend class; don’t put anything I say in the declassifieds” - Cal Townsend

Bailey from 11:07 requests that whoever sent in that lovely Declassified about her come to the bookstore caf at 4:39 PM to receive a free hug.

The mars’hillian urge to submit a declassified in response to a declassified you saw in the submissions before it was even published in an issue Maintenance, when will u be hosting a mario kart race with those golf carts of yours? pls respond i only go to class to see the girlies fight Hopped into a BUIS 176 session and CAN WE TAKE A MOMENT TO ADMIRE JACELYN EK? I saw douglas garbage squirrel being pest controlled :’( goodbye my friendly morning breakfast muncher Bring back Kevin Chai for twusa president When was the last time you gave thanks for your mitochondria? ~ Todd Dutka

One of my profs put up a picture of ripped shrek on the PowerPoint and now I have to carry that image with my for the rest of my life It is time for the silent majority of people who are against mandates to speak up.

Sarah Demian gives me Olivia Rodrigo vibes... slay girlllll Since leaving TWU and joining the workforce, I have not yet come across my late assignment/ work orders causing as much discontent and scorn as late work for professors, let’s take a second look at them late policies and chill out. if ur such a silent majority then why r u talking all the time

I am really really glad the theatre department is closing. - Current theatre major

Christianity isn’t a low-tier religion. But the short sighted, individualistic, and narcissistic people that improperly use it are giving it a bad name. Where are my Eastern Orthodox peeps at?

TWUSA’s night with the stars event was seriously awesome.

Everyone was super friendly and I had a great time meeting new people. Thumbs up TWUSA :)

It is insane how many supporters the petition to end mandates has gotten. Way to go Sam, Adam, Luke and Lucas who have been standing up for our rights.

Jesse Elser is an absolute prince!

the literal only thing that gives me anxiety is the jacobson fire alarm. it is truly my worst rational fear.

6mid is the most accurate name for them bc they r mid Vote no candidate for president Careful, you might be dating a Tinder Swindler!

What’s up with science teachers trying to adopt an ‘innovative’ pedagogy where everything is super abstract and you don’t actually learn anything.

when u get to friday and realize, oh s#!t! i skipped all of my classes this week o_o Exploromann’s real name is sean i can’t wait to never hear “just to go off that” again

Santiago has cool hair ngl

The twu memes guy needs to stop being so political. We want to see memes, not see you support privileged white people who have never been told no in their life. You have no idea what real oppression is. Do what you do best and stick to making memes plz and ty.

Dawson makes the best pancakes. Sorry, mom.

I don’t want to live on this planet anymore

When mole gen isn’t actually anything to do with mol gen but I can tell you all about how God can also be referred to as mother…

I enjoy the Shamrock Shake

zippopotamus

To whoever said I seem kind thanks so much but have you met me?

So are we just going to ignore the 3 plastic containers floating upside down in the pond or....

To whoever wrote that there are a million sides of history, there is no guarantee yours is the right one: I’m sure people during the most influential times in history knew that they were on the right side of history, which is defined as for or against certain governing action.

stop co-opting the word freedom

Time will tell which side is on the right side of history, but its typically not those who oppress and use excessive force against a powerless group.

“People shouldn’t be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.”

-Alan Moore Jason Rodriguez could definitely seduce your mother and he’s so nice you wouldn’t even be mad I wish Mark Husbands would feed the theatre department money with as much glee as he fed the Chinese New Year tiger lettuce Xelian has had a crazy Trinity story arc honestly my only political stance is anti-business major To the person who feels guilty about the faulty car battery/ alarm: Everyone makes mistakes.

It’s okay. The fact that you feel guilty about waking people up means that you are a considerate person. Inconsiderate people wouldn’t even feel sorry about it.

Wikipedia is a lot of fun. It’s cool that you delve into unique topics.

You could incorporate the information you learn from Wikipedia for writing essays.

The film crew on campus can be little troublesome. It feels like they are invading our space :/ I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH MY TRINITY PEEPS Why is everyone here either horny or mad? I laughed so hard at this. 100% relatable.

Some people at this school do not understand nuance. The campus freedom petition was literally started by vaccinated people.

You can be pro-vax and pro-freedom at the same time.

Guys be wearing tighter jeans than girls these days. SMH hippopotamus

Is anybody else excited for cold hot chocolates for the summer? ​​ being queer at twu is really hard but i stayed primarily because i made a few really really good friends Just 30 more days of emergency war powers. You know, to flatten the curve.

I am aware of and appreciative of every food group there is: grapfruit, creamcheese, and sourdough bread

Awksausted: the state of being exhausted of your own awkwardness I have Bartholomew cysts Thanks to GlobalEduco and One TWU for that amazing discussion on homophobia in the church we need more events like that.

Yall give me hope for twu FATHER! wHeN cAn i LeAvE tO bE oN mY oWn? *walks around pond* “I am marsh ill“ *faints dramatically* Why do bookstore caf paninis always go so hard?

The Trinity equivalent to sleeping with your prof for grades is laughing at all their jokes

Jacobson elevator chair person: reveal your motive

You know what’s good? Extra cow and strangled eggs

So you’re telling me I have to follow a million different trinity Instagram pages, but then when I need to find actual information about an event I won’t be able to find it because by the time I go through said Instagram accounts the story expired

only 7 weeks until grad bb

egg

Pray for Ukraine You look like you smoke macaroons Ring by spring? More like summer fling

To the girl in my rels class that wears overalls and has shortish hair. You kinda cute

Ngl not having to stress about applying to student leadership this year because I’m graduating is kinda amazing

lesbians and dr.husbands love mary oliver

every trinity girl is either named jenna or grace and this is a fact

Can we stop calling vaccinated people “anti-vax” just because they’re pro-freedom?

Cool, thanks.

#bringbackjosh to 11:07

“You’ll never have enough money to have a child” ~ Todd Dutka the pro-convoyers love to post about ukraine don’t they. your struggles are not in the same league lol

Theatre closing… other programs on the verge of closing… nobody running for TWUSA…is TWU slowing fading away?

Shout out to Abby for being an actual legend and battling the rotten pumpkin guts behind Twusa

Shrek > egg Line ‘em up, SEND IT!!!!

Might just have to put a small black toque on my head and call it a year I hope no one hates me as much as I hate my ENGL 103 experience. That class is cursed.

The Well is the silent collegium.

To the people who live above me.

I need not drink your tea. Eat your soup. There will be a day in which I will steal your food

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.

LORIN SCAIANO

CONTRIBUTOR OF THE ISSUE What is your major?

History, with a focus on clownish activities.

Where are you from?

Born in Canada! There were those five years I lived in Puerto Rico, but that was before I fully gained sentience and moved to Toronto.

What is something you’re passionate about and want to share with the world?

I’m passionate about being a little bit funny. Having a laugh on occasion, and being silly when I can. I have a number of outlets for this humour, the first of which I believe everyone should try: improv. Doing improv every week with 11:07 allows me a chance to have fun and make people laugh while being given myself a good laugh. Keeping life light and goofy is important to enjoying it as much as possible.

Who is your favourite (fictional) character and why?

Harley Quinn. Can’t really get better than that. She’s a harlequin clown (my absolute favourite type of clown), and she’s just a little bit crazy. She always finds ways to enjoy herself and have fun through bad situations, making jokes and jabs the whole way.

Why do you write for Mars’ Hill?

I write for Mars’ Hill because it brings me joy. I like putting ideas from my head onto paper, but never had a real outlet for them until now. Saying the silly little thoughts in my silly little head is good fun, with the added bonus that people read it! Everytime I write something for Mars’ Hill, I cut it out and tape it to my wall. I like to see that collection grow, and know that others are reading it too. Hopefully, it brings them some joy too.

What is your favourite article you’ve written for Mars’ Hill and why is it important?

Riots: What to Wear is by far my favourite Mars’ Hill article.

It’s funny, light, and humorous, but has some tones of truth to it. It is actually important to wear certain types of clothes to riots. I feel that even through the funnies, it gives important information without being overbearing.

What is your favourite article of clothing?

Definitely my Battle Jacket. It’s not some bulletproof or military thing, it’s just my punk vest. I’ve invested a lot of time into the patches, and making it look nice, making it my goto piece of outerwear.

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TEXAS TARGETS TRANS YOUTH CARTER SAWATZKY

Texas is pushing to criminalize gender-affirming care for trans and nonbinary youth.

On February 22, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to “conduct a prompt and thorough investigation” of any reported instances of minors undergoing gender-affirming care in the state. Despite these medical treatments being widely considered to be the standard of care in medicine, Gov. Abbott called for gender-affirming health care to be categorized as “child abuse” under Texas law.

In 2021 alone, more than 40 bills in Texas targeted trans and nonbinary youth. Several other states––at least 17 so far in 2022––have introduced bills that either prohibit or criminalize gender-affirming care for trans youth, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Gender-affirming care is when trans or non-binary people make changes to their lives in accordance with their gender identity. This can be done through a change of clothing, hairstyles, mannerisms, names, and pronouns.

Gender affirmation can also come in the form of hormone therapy or surgeries to alter one’s physical characteristics.

Across Canada, trans and gender-diverse youth are entitled to public health insurance coverage for gender or transition-related medical procedures (except in Nunavut). Most healthcare plans cover hormone therapy and basic surgical procedures for transitioning.

Gov. Abbott’s statements come on the heels of Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton’s recent legal opinion on February 18 where he declared that gender-affirming health care providing certain medical treatments for trans teenagers, such as puberty-suppressing drugs or hormones, should be investigated as child abuse.

In his letter to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Gov. Abbott specifically called upon professionals––including doctors, nurses, and teachers–– to report parents who give their child gender-affirming care. Abbott added that there will be reporting requirements for the general public and similar “criminal penalties” for those who fail to report on their neighbours.

“In 2021 alone, more than 40 bills in Texas targeted trans and nonbinary youth. Several other states––at least 17 so far in 2022–– have introduced bills that either prohibit or criminalize gender-affirming care for trans youth.”

Attorney General Paxton says the Governor’s announcement “comes at a critical time” when “Texans are seeing the horrors that flow from the merging of medicine and misguided ideology.”

The White House has since condemned Texas Gov. Abbott’s decision calling for formal investigations of trans youth. “The Texas Attorney General’s attack on loving parents who seek medical care for their transgender children is dangerous to the health of kids in Texas and part of much larger trend of conservative officials cynically attacking LGBTQI+ youth to score political points,” said the White House spokesperson.

“Families should have the right to seek health care that will enable young people to live healthy and fulfilled lives,” the statement continued. “Conservative officials in Texas and other states across the country should stop inserting themselves into health care decisions that create needless tension between pediatricians and their patients. And no parent should face the agony of a politician standing in the way of accessing life-saving care for their child.”

While Attorney General Paxton and Gov. Abbott’s opinions are influential, they are ultimately nonbinding. Trans youth and their families’ rights to health care still stand.

It remains unclear how the orders, which do not alter Texas law, would be enforced. The opinions of attorneys general do not have the force of law, but agency leaders are typically expected to follow them. While the state’s child welfare agency has said that it will inquire into such claims, some county and district attorneys have said that they will not enforce the opinion. The state attorney general’s office could take over cases from local attorneys who refuse to investigate them.

Mr. Menefee, the Harris County attorney, said that the Governor and Attorney General’s stance could have a chilling effect. “It’s designed to make parents scared,” he said. “It’s designed to make doctors scared for even facilitating gender-affirming health care.”

TWUSA UPDATE: EVENTS, ELECTIONS, AND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ANDREW BOUCHARD, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT This year, TWUSA has been defined by unique challenges and new opportunities. Although we have had to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of regulation and policy, we are still relentlessly striving to serve you and to ensure that your student experience is enriched.

As TWUSA can sometimes operate discreetly, we would love to share what we have been up to lately!

We are excited to continue serving you through incredible events this year as restrictions continue to be revised and as the campus approaches a more open state. TWUSA will be hosting one of our biggest events of the year, the Hootenanny talent show and theatrical production, on Saturday, March 12. We are also holding our Annual Grad Banquet on Friday, April 8. We can’t wait to see you there.

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Elections for the 2022/2023 TWUSA team are in full swing and we would love for you to be involved. TWUSA is hosting candidate speeches and a Q&A session in the Neufeld Science Center’s Block Hall at 7:00 p.m. on March 9. Voting will open as soon as speeches have concluded and will close on March 12 at 11:59 p.m., so make sure to cast your vote and have your voice heard. Hiring for TWUSA’s appointed positions will commence shortly after elections, facilitated by the newly elected team.

If you are interested in TWUSA positions in the areas of Operations, Events, Marketing, or Media, please visit our website at twusa.ca/apply or reach out to a current TWUSA member to learn more.

We are once again engaging in student-led task force teams to address physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional needs on campus. Last year, TWUSA’s task force teams addressed these needs in the tangible areas of campus improvements, wellness, and financial aid. They

were able to invest in new lighting on the path between the Robson parking lot and CanIL, new water fountains and bottle fillers in dorms, upgrades to The Well, and TWUSA scholarships. TWUSA’s task forces are currently in the research phase, so please reach out to us if you are passionate about an area of need on campus.

TWUSA is responsible for the stewardship of a large sum of student funds each year. If you are interested in where your money is being directed, our March finance review will be occuring in our TWUSA Business Meeting on Tuesday, March 29 at 1:30 p.m. Email us at twusateam@ gmail.com to reserve a spot and learn more about what TWUSA is doing with your student fee.

Finally, make sure you are following @twusa on instagram to stay informed about campus life and everything TWUSA. We are passionate about enriching your experience here at TWU!

FEMINIST NEWS GREEN WAVE, GREEN LIGHT: COLOMBIA DECRIMINALIZES ABORTION SYD DVORAK

THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PUTIN’S WAR BERK BERKELIEV

Despite the fact that Western intelligence had predicted the Russian deployment into Ukraine since December, Russia’s aggressive military action and subsequent violation of international law has put the world into a state of shock. To penalize Putin, the United States and its European allies are implementing a variety of sanctions on Russia that will block its major banks and restrict its imports and exports.

The sanctions are meant to cripple the Russian economy with immediate effect.

“Beyond the countless Ukrainian and Russian lives lost to Putin’s war, the economic aftershocks of the conflict are likely to reach beyond Europe as more countries impose sanctions on Russia and offer financial or military support to Ukraine.”

So far, the sanctions have had enormous effect, as the Russian stock market has collapsed and the ruble has hit an all-time low. The European Union spends more than $1 trillion per year on its energy sector, and since Russia is its main supplier of oil and gas, it is inevitable that the sanctions placed on Russia will have negative

effects on European nations as well. The cost of oil increased to $105 per barrel and gas prices have risen worldwide with some European nations experiencing a 60 percent price increase at the fuel pumps.

The Russian economy has suffered immensely since its annexation of Crimea in 2014. According to Visual Capitalist, the nation’s GDP has fallen from being worth 2 percent of the global total, to 1.76 percent.

Additionally, the monthly minimum wage for Russians has plummeted by 25 percent, now amounting to roughly $175. The worth of major Russian companies in the oil and gas industry dropped significantly as well. Gazprom, whose market value was listed at over $300 billion, fell to under $100 billion in 2014.

As far as the humanitarian costs of the conflict, the European Union estimates that as many as 7 million Ukrainians will be seeking refuge in neighbouring European countries. This situation is similar to 2015, when Russian and Western intervention in the Syrian Civil War caused the migration of over 500,000 Syrians to Europe.

Although the European countries initially spend around 0.2 percent of their GDP on incorporating asylum seekers, the longterm data shows that refugee-accepting nations raised their GDP as the newcomers became engaged in the workforce and boosted the economy.

Beyond the countless Ukrainian and Russian lives lost to Putin’s war, the economic aftershocks of the conflict are likely to reach beyond Europe as more countries impose sanctions on Russia and offer financial or military support to Ukraine. The Russia-Ukraine war deserves readers’ attention because it is far more than a violation of international law. It is the result of years of growing hostility between Western and Eastern ideological and economic interests, and is affecting global economic trends to a considerable degree.

Abortion in Colombia is now legal up to 24 weeks of gestation. On February 21, the Constitutional Court decided to decriminalize abortion during the first five months of pregnancy. This historic victory for women in Colombia comes on the heels of rulings in Mexico and Argentina that similarly improve access to abortion.

For the last 15 years, abortion in Colombia was only allowed if there was a risk to the life of the mother or fetus, if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest, or if the pregnancy was the result of non-consensual insemination. After 24 weeks, these exceptions still apply.

“In 2020 alone, it is estimated that 26,223 unsafe, illegal abortions were carried out across Colombia.”

For years, the Constitutional Court decided not to rule on the matter. Meanwhile, women and girls have had to resort to unsafe abortions. “There’s not a single woman in Colombia who doesn’t know someone who has had to get a clandestine abortion,” one protestor advocating for abortion told Aljazeera.

In 2020 alone, it is estimated that 26,223 unsafe, illegal abortions were carried out across Colombia.

Hundreds of Colombian women and girls have been convicted for illegal abortions since 2006, facing 16 to 54 months in prison.

“Women, girls and people able to bear children are the only ones who should make decisions about their bodies.”

The Green Wave, made up of abortion rights groups and Colombian women, celebrate this decision and hope that it will influence progress in other Latin American countries, such as Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras, where abortion is still completely prohibited.

“Women, girls and people able to bear children are the only ones who should make decisions about their bodies,” Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International, stated. “Now, instead of punishing [women], the Colombian authorities will have to recognize their autonomy over their bodies and their life plans.”

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VIP

JUSTICE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON MARITHA LOUW

President Biden has named his nominee for the Supreme Court as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a 51-year-old Harvard-educated judge who had previously clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer, the man she would succeed. Through the nomination, Biden is fulfilling his pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the United States’ highest judicial court.

“Out of the 113 Supreme Court justices who have served on the bench, 107 have been white men.”

Ms. Jackson was born in Washington, DC, and raised in Miami, Florida, by a high school principal and Board of Education lawyer. In an interview with The New York Times, Ms. Jackson recalled one of her earliest memories of “sitting side by side in the evenings with her father when he was in law school—him with law books, her with coloring books.” Ms. Jackson attended Miami Palmetto Senior High, the alma mater of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, where she excelled on the school’s speech and debate team. And in her senior yearbook, she mentioned how she hoped someday to be appointed as a federal judge.

Ms. Jackson graduated from Harvard in 1992 after which she spent a year as a reporter at Time magazine. In 1996, she graduated from Harvard Law School and married her husband, a general surgeon at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. From 1996-2005, Ms. Jackson flitted between private and public law, clerking for several judges and also spending some time in the realm of private legal practice. From 2005-2007, she was an assistant federal public defender in Washington, D.C., handling cases on behalf of several prisoners who were being detained indefinitely at Guantànamo Bay, Cuba.

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In 2012, Ms. Jackson was confirmed to the Sentencing Commission.

Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan had testified in her support at the confirmation hearing, saying: “Our politics may differ, but my praise for Ketanji’s intellect, for her character, for her integrity, it is unequivocal.” His endorsement echoed the consistent review of Ms. Jackson’s work as being a moderate and fair judge, skilled at finding common ground between Democrat and Republican lawmakers.

Before Ms. Jackson can fulfill a historic place in the Supreme Court, she faces a confirmation process that is expected to become highly politicized. U.S. Senators will make competing cases on Ms. Jackson’s professional record and personal history. Democrats are hoping to see Ms. Jackson confirmed in early April. Republicans are wary, however, of confirming a liberal-leaning judge. Out of the nine seats on the Supreme Court, six are filled by Republican appointees, and three by Democrats. Because Ms. Jackson is not replacing a Republican judge, the balance between left- and rightwing politics will not be shifted.

A deeply polarized Senate will force Ms. Jackson to navigate a series of partisan criticisms of her judicial record. She has already been subject to attacks on her education, with some conservative news outlets attempting to brand Ms. Jackson as an “out-of-touch elitist” because of her dual Harvard degrees. Four other Supreme Court justices have degrees from Harvard, however, including two who were appointed by Republican presidents. Additionally, out of the 113 Supreme Court justices who have served on the bench, 107 have been white men.

If confirmed, Ms. Jackson would join the doubly-elite group of four female justices and two African American justices. It would be the first time there are two sitting African-American justices in the nation’s highest legal court.

“DON’T SAY GAY” SYD DVORAK

The LGBTQ+ community has faced an intensified crisis over the last year, as dozens of bills are being filed across the U.S. to restrict LGBTQ+ rights.

2021 was the worst year in history for the number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills signed into law, and 2022 is not shaping up to be much better.

A majority of the legislation passed in America in 2021 were anti-trans and anti-intersex bills, which were designed to ban trans youth from school sports and criminalize the healthcare they need.

Ten states have signed sports bans into law. South Dakota was the latest, officially passing the first anti-LGBTQ+ of 2022 on January 19.

If you are interested in reading more about recent anti-trans legislation, read Carter Sawatzky’s article, “Texas Targets Trans Youth.”

A more recent trend in anti-LGBTQ+ bills are those designed to “protect the rights’’ of parents to control what is taught in the public school system. Perhaps the most well-known of these is Florida’s HB 1557/SB 1834, popularly known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

The “Don’t Say Gay” bill prohibits any teaching about sexuality or gender in schools up to the third grade. In addition, it would guarantee that schools notify parents “if there is a change in the student’s services or monitoring related to the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being and the school’s ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student.”

Those opposed to the bill are especially in protest against a recent amendment to the bill that would require schools

to “out” (disclose someone’s sexual orientation) children to their parents within six weeks.

Another “parental rights” bill making its way through state government is South Carolina’s H455, which would force schools to inform parents about school clubs, especially Gay Straight Alliances and LGBTQ+ clubs. It also allows parents to opt their children out of sex education or “any instruction regarding sexuality.”

“2021 was the worst year in history for the number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills signed into law, and 2022 is not shaping up to be much better.”

Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill goes even further, giving parents the right to sue schools if they believe an educator has broken the law. “Breaking the law” would include refusing to out a student to their parents or mentioning gender or sexuality in class.

Legislators on both sides of the aisle can agree that parents should be involved in their children’s education, but not when it could put children in the crosshairs of homophobic attacks at home or risk their mental or physical wellbeing.

ENCANTO WELCOMES YOU TO THE FAMILY MADRIGAL LAURA WITZKE

Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Disney’s Encanto (2021).

In late November, a new Disney movie came out in theatres––a little film called Encanto. It came and went with very little fanfare. It had a modest opening weekend and decent box office return, before it disappeared from the public’s attention. It was simply another film in a long string of pandemic-era movies that has failed to capture the public’s attention. So when Encanto came to Disney+ on Christmas Day, it seemed as if it was destined to be another Disney movie that comes and goes with very little impact.

However, in the early weeks of 2022, Encanto mania exploded across the internet. Suddenly, it seemed as if everyone had seen this film that only a few months before had come and gone completely unnoticed. Streaming had given this movie new life as word of mouth spread. With songs by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, the music of Encanto overtook TikTok, with creators lip synching to songs, learning the dance moves and imitating the characters.

But it was not just the songs that seemed to have captured the heart of the public, as the story has struck a nerve with audiences everywhere. So what makes Encanto so appealing? What about Encanto has captured the public’s attention in a way that has not been seen since the movie Frozen?

Encanto circles around the family Madrigal, a magical family living in a fantasy version of Colombia.

Each member of the Madrigal family is given a magical gift once they turn of age, such as controlling the weather, super-strength, seeing the future or magically growing flora and fauna. The story focuses on the 15-year-old Mirabel, the first Madrigal to not be given a gift. Following a prophecy left by her outcast Uncle Bruno (who no one talks about), it is up to Mirabel to save her family’s miracle before it is too late. As she tries to save her family’s miracle, she discovers truths about her family that she has never realized before.

One of the first characters explored in the film is Mirabel’s older sister, Luisa. Given the gift of super strength, she constantly feels the weight of her family’s burdens on her back, literally and meta-

phorically. In her song “Surface Pressure,” she sings to Mirabel of having a constant pressure, a “drip that will never stop.” She describes how she struggles to carry every burden and every pressure her family gives her, but she loves her family too much to let anything go. Her story arc has exploded over the internet as older siblings and middle siblings alike have lamented the fact that they are constantly feeling the pressures of other people regarding the choices in their life. It is a storyline you seldom see in film, and an exploration of a feeling people know so well.

Isabella is the oldest of the Madrigal sisters. Disliked by Mirabel for seemingly being perfect all of the time, the song “What Else Can I Do” highlights the fact that Isabella has felt her entire life that she needs to be perfect in everything she does, so much so that she is willing to marry a man she does not love to better the life of her family. It takes the love of a sister, and one catchy musical number, for her to embrace her true self.

“It’s not symmetrical or perfect / but it’s beautiful,” she sings, “and it’s mine.” Striving towards being perfect is something many can relate to. Being too hard on ourselves when we fail, and longing to just be accepted for who we are, is also a universal experience. Both of Mirabel’s sisters struggle to find their self worth outside of what they can do for others. How often have we sacrificed our own self worth for the apparent happiness of others?

This, at last, leads us to the most unexceptional, exceptional Madrigal––Mirabel.

Mirabel seems like the most unlikely protagonist, the sibling without any magical powers. Especially with the popularity of Elsa and her magic powers in recent years, it would seem more likely that Isabella or Luisa would be the protagonist of the story. Instead it is Mirabel, who heals the family without a gift, simply with her listening ear, observing eye, and her heart from her family.

Despite the heartbreak she has endured, she remains her family’s biggest fan and is still loving and caring towards everyone that she meets. Mirabel reminds us that even in the moments where we do not feel special, where we cannot move mountains or make flowers grow––we can still make change and impact others in a way that we might not understand or know.

What is unique about Encanto is that there is no personified villain in the story. There is no evil stepmother or an egotistical man doing anything to grasp onto power.

The conflict in the story lies in the family dynamics: a matriarch desperate to keep her family’s miracle alive, a daughter falling amongst the pressure of her family, a young woman so desperate to please others that she is willingly sacrificing her own happiness, and Mirabel, the ungifted Madrigal, struggling to find where she belongs in her family.

When our gifts disappear, when we are no longer useful to others, who are we?

Encanto leaves its viewers with a simple message: “The miracle is not some magic that you’ve got / The miracle is you, not some gift, just you.” It is in that simple message wherein Encanto’s magic lies, our miracle is simply in our being, not the roles we play in others lives.

The miracle is you. Not some gift. Just you.

It would be easy to make Abuela, Mirabel’s grandmother, the villain in this story. Her demand for her descendants to “earn” the miraculous gifts they have been given takes a toll on her family. Her high expectations are ultimately what causes her only son, Bruno, to leave, and her grandchildren to feel inadequate, causing strife within her family.

However, the writers of Encanto take a different, more personal, more painful turn by instead exploring the complications, heartbreak, and grief of Abuela’s past and the trauma she continues to carry. It takes Mirabel, and a family reckoning, to realize that she was so afraid of losing their gift, that she forgot the miracle in front of her, her family.

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Photo by Jef Gibbons, Costume Design by Kerri Norris

BRIGHT STAR: KEEP SHININ’ FOR ME BRAEDON GROVER SUNNES This semester, the School of Arts Media and Culture’s (SAMC) Theatre department will be putting up the new Broadway musical, Bright Star, by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. This bluegrass musical, set in North Carolina, tells the sweeping tale of Alice Murphy (Lani-Marie Carbonel) as she lives through love and loss. Following her story, we get to see heartache through Mayor Dobb’s (Mathias Bergendahl) son Jimmy Ray (Alex Walker), and a spark of hope in a young writer, Billy Cane (Braedon Grover Sunnes).

The timeliness of this show could not be more appreciated; as the Theatre Department faces a great, impending darkness, it can be hard to see the light in it all. As well as being relevant to the department closure, it also reflects the state of the world as a whole.

Audience members will get to see that grief can bear down on us, and it can seem like an endless night with no hope in sight. Bright Star embrac-

es this grief, and showcases it with stellar performances and gut-wrenching music. Not only does the musical allow for hurt and pain to have a place in the room, but it also gives us hope showing that there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel.

This production has been a long time coming for the SAMC Theatre Department, as it was originally announced in 2020 for the Spring of 2021.

After two years of cancelled shows and altered seasons, director Kate Muchmore Woo––with the help of the SAMC Music Department faculty, Allan Thorpe and Joel Tranquilla––has finally been able to find the time and place for this musical to belong.

The process of the show as a whole, from casting to closing, will be just about a full year of Bright Star for the cast and crew, including a live band made up of students and community members.

The work put into this production, in all aspects,

shines through the performance and gives the room an electric feel, whether it is through its signature music, or witty dialogue. Being just a week away from opening, we as a department are eager to share with you what is the culmination of a year’s worth of singing, dancing, rehearsing, and working on Bright Star.

Come to be shocked and be amazed, and leave with a good story to tell.

Bright Star runs from March 15-April 2 at the SAMC Theatre.

Tickets available through the TWU Website at: “Current Show.”

Proof of vaccination and government-issued ID are required for entrance to the theatre. All audience members must wear masks.

MADDY’S GUIDE TO THE SPOTIFY DEEP DIVE MADALYN MCMILLAN

If you were to weed through my Spotify search history, you would find the most intensely eclectic mix of music out there. My tastes range from Taylor Swift to Billy Joel to Paramore and back again.

However, my true love lies in the deep cut indie sphere.

If you peek into my room and see me aimlessly scrolling through my phone with my AirPods locked in, I am not down the TikTok rabbit hole. I am on a Spotify deep dive.

The art of Spotify deep diving is a new skill that I acquired at the beginning of the quarantine in the spring of 2020. In fact, I remember the exact moment I fell in love with the sport. I was in the middle of the downtown Portland Anthropologie, picking my way through the sale rack when I heard the grooviest rendition of “Get Together” by The Youngbloods. I pulled out my Shazam with haste and discovered that the cover was from the duo Bahari. I drove home listening to a curated Anthropologie playlist wondering how deep into a musical spiral I could truly go.

I am about to take you on a step-by-step tutorial on how to proceed in your Spotify deep dive.

Step 1: Find your playlist.

This is honestly the scariest step of this process.

Sometimes it can take a little while to find a solid

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playlist to work with. I personally love Anthropologie vibes in the spring and summertime, so I look for playlists from Anthropologie workers that are professional Shazamers. From here, you go about your day listening to your new playlist, do something productive, dance around a little bit, feel it out. Then suddenly it hits you. This is the perfect song.

“This is the burden that we Spotify deep divers must bear: we cannot keep this ear candy to ourselves.”

Step 2: Do not panic.

You have a solid three minutes to click that heart and find the three little dots in the top right corner. This is where things get exciting! My song is “Golden” by Holley Maher. Within mere seconds, I had already added it to my sunny drive playlist.

That is the sign of a darn good song.

Step 3: Choose your player.

The possibilities are endless here. My personal favourite is going to the song radio. The song radio is the magical world of similar songs. It is Spotify’s

way of figuring out what you like and creating an entire hub full of songs and bands. Another great option is viewing the artist. This is another place where the deep dive starts. I found a few fantastic tunes on the radio and decided to turn around and head back to my original artist.

Step 4: Dive deep!

This is where you go crazy, my friends. After you view your first artist, you scroll down to the “Fans also like” section. My process is to click on an artist and listen to their top song to catch the vibe. I thought “Daydream” by Jane’s Party was a bop, so I added it to my library. I repeat this process until I get music-ed out or my AirPods die.

Step 5: Share your findings with your friends.

Do not be a gatekeeper of music. Last issue’s article titled “The Rise Of The Casual Fan” by Makena Wardle told us this much. I know it is hard, but I believe in you. That band that only has 200 listeners?

They need you. This is the burden that we Spotify deep divers must bear: we cannot keep this ear candy to ourselves. Go, my children! I release you into the world to discover good music and share it with the world. You are ready.

AN ANTI-COUNTRY MUSIC ENTHUSIAST REACTS TO COWBOY CULTURE MARITHA LOUW

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a country music fan. The closest I get is Taylor Swift’s Speak Now album, and even that is daringly close to pop. However, free tickets to a concert on a Saturday night that would have otherwise been spent on the couch watching television led me to attend the Chris Lane “Fill Them Boots” Tour in Abbotsford on February 19. It was, in a word, entertaining.

Besides the amount of plaid I was forced to witness, what really caught me off-guard was the apparent group-think in the arena. Face masks dangled from wrists or stuck out of back pockets, the floor was sticky with spilled beer and cosmos, and cowboy hats were artfully worn askew. I felt as if I had walked into a social experiment, or some type of National Geographic special. And this was before the music began.

Now, I do not want to generalize those who love this genre. I know that there are outliers and exceptions to every stereotype. However, I will argue that every single song performed either talked about liquor, the Bible, a girl who got away, or a combination of all three. Songs such as “More Than My Hometown,” “This Bible’s Not Dead,” “Tequila on the Water,” all glorified the American South and the simpler times their forefathers were living in.

Country music began in America in the 1920s as a genre drawing on the experiences of those on the fringe of American urbanization, who did not relate to falling in love in New York, but preferred to bag the childhood sweetheart who sat in the front pew at Sunday church service. As the world continued to modernize, however, country music became the long-standing soundtrack of conservatism. According to Vanity Fair, blues and African-American gospel genres were the origins of

country, but racial and ethnic diversity is a rare exception in the genre today (Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” proved the rare exception in 2019 before Billboard removed the song from its country chart).

A field dominated by white men has not expanded its audience by much over the last hundred years.

“In the same way that the Reagan and Clinton administration used the War on Drugs to attribute blame to the Black artists in R&B and rap genres, we can argue that country music plays a large role in the proliferation of extremist conservative perspectives today.”

Perhaps there is no need for a musical genre to be compared to politics. However, if one considers the lyrics that are repeated and heard over and over again by a niche demographic, it becomes all too easy to see how politics and music align.

we can argue that country music plays a large role in the proliferation of extremist conservative perspectives today.

Notable country artists such as Jason Aldean and Morgan Wallen have been outspoken critics of COVID-19 health guidelines, affirmative action, and critical race theory. The Washington Post wrote that Aldean’s pro-Trump stances, specifically, are “embedded into the very DNA of the country music industry.”

The genre’s emphasis on familial ties and wholesome lifestyles fits well into the conservative narrative of retaining Christian “family values” in America. Courage, honour, decency––all of these ideas are found in the middle of a Venn diagram of country and conservatism. Old-timer country singer and songwriter Little Jimmy Dickens said his songs “reflect the struggles of families and everyday, hard-working, God-fearing people.”

This is not so different from some pop music increasingly celebrating femininity or some rap music emphasizing African-American cultural roots.

The difference is that pop, rap, R&B, alternative, indie genres have a greater penchant for inclusivity and humanity’s common good: the country music genre, save for a few artists such as Kacey Musgraves or Maren Morris, on the other hand, is stuck south of Nebraska’s border and insists on celebrating only a very specific way of life, and is used to support right-wing, conservative, evangelical political goals that run contrary to the American ideals of democracy and individual rights which they argue they are defending.

In the same way that the Reagan and Clinton administration used the War on Drugs to attribute blame to the Black artists in R&B and rap genres,

RESPONSE TO “BARBIE AND THE MAGIC OF CINEMA” KELVIN GARTLY

As a father of three daughters in a family where the Friday pizza movie night was sacred, the article “Barbie and the Magic of Cinema” by MacKenna Wilson transported me back to my living room recliner, in which many a Barbie movie affronted my senses. From almost every objective measure, the Barbie movies are flawed. Anonymous voice actors, inferior animation, ridiculous characters, and plots that somehow were both outlandish and predictable.

But that is not why I have decided to respond with this Letter To The Editor. I am compelled to write because I am not sure how one could presume to tackle the subject of “Barbie and the Magic of Cinema’’ without even mentioning the Barbie: Mermaidia sequel in the Fairytopia series, arguably the zenith of the Barbie cinematic universe.

I have a personal story to share. While on a family walk––years after all the Barbies were packed away in Rubbermaids––I was asked if I could identify a

berry. Without hesitation, while holding the berry aloft in a precise imitation of Fungus Max from the 2006 film, I exclaimed, “It’s the immunity berry.”

How did this happen? Despite their inferior qualities, the Barbie movies are invasive in ways we cannot understand. Do not be too concerned, however. There are no defenders of the patriarchy among my progeny, and these movies are safely relegated to their proper place: nostalgia.

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MAKENA WARDLE What in your life makes you feel like you?

We are creatures of habit. Without intentional time taken out of our days to care for ourselves, it is easy to default to unhelpful coping mechanisms, while refreshing your social media feeds and doom-scrolling through the chaos. Without some positive element of consistency, our days can begin to feel dreary. Having a ritual, or a habitual practice, in place in your life can help establish purpose and stability when times feel unpredictable.

Rituals look different from person to person. For some, it may be a practice that connects you to your spirituality: a daily meditation to start your day, or a weekly gathering with your faith community. For others, it might be a way to connect to nature: a morning walk around campus, or a sunset hike once a month, no matter the weather. Or perhaps it’s a few hours a week spent curating your Spotify playlists. Whatever habit you have put in place for yourself, or hope to add into your routine, can be viewed as your unique ritual.

In order to learn from each other about the rituals that ground us, Mars’ Hill put out a survey on our social media asking our readership and the greater Trinity Western University (TWU) community a few questions. Here are some of the answers we received.

1. What does “ritual” mean to you?

Rituals are recurring and repeated activities for emotional and spiritual health and growth. They can happen at an individual level or be an essential element of community identity.

Kissing my cat on the forehead every morning is my ritual. It makes me happy and lets him know I love him I take time to read every night before I go to sleep. It has to be a physical book and it can’t have anything to do with school. It gives my eyes a break from my screen and helps me think about something other than the work that has to get done. I’m currently reading “Blood Meridian.”

Playing Wordle every day. I used to be endlessly invested in brainteasers as a kid and it conjures up inner child joy for me. Seeing other Wordle results feels like I’m participating in a global secular prayer.

Journaling after every counseling session is a ritual that helps me remember what has been said in my sessions and helps me slow down.

Reading aloud Mary Oliver poems to myself on Sunday mornings. It’s important to me because it grounds me and opens me up to encountering beauty in the everyday and in-betweens.

Going to the gym, which is important to me because it helps me stay well physically, but also has a huge positive impact on my mental health.

Reading my Bible every night and having a coffee in the morning. It’s important to me faith-wise, and I find that looking forward to my coffee helps me think about what my day holds and what I need to get done.

Reserving night time for me. It’s a way to reward myself for doing work and also to be alone and recharge since I’m a major introvert.

A way of collecting myself, coming back to what I know, and allowing myself to creatively expand.

I have a class that goes from 4:30 - 7-30 pm so I don’t get to eat dinner at the caf. Every week my friends cook me dinner and we have a little catch up sesh.

This ritual is important to me because it sets aside time for us to relax with each other once a week and check in!

A regular practice intended to bring settling and connection.

I listen to the Bible before bed through an app. It helps me release, recharge, and reconnect.

Something that you do for yourself even when no one is watching. Something you continue long past the mood has shifted and the trend has passed.

Pray before I teach. Cause you know, nerves.

A personal routine of how a person communicates with a divine and the physical space around them and takes time to reflect on themselves and their surroundings.

A routine that helps make my life feel as it should; helps bring me peace.

Tradition that happens repeatedly on specific occasions.

I understand ritual as a symbolic, outer act that helps us along when we are stuck and cannot fully grasp something on the inside.

Ritual is a rhythm with deeper meaning than its surface sounds. It implies that something sacred is occurring within an intentional practice.

The consistent things that keep you sane.

2. What is a ritual you currently have in place, and why is it important to you?

Recently, I have started writing down my blessings and praying before bed every night. This is something my Grandma did every single day and is a mindset I want to adopt in my daily life. This practice enables me to end my day focusing on the positives and God’s faithfulness in my life.

Taking a moment to put aside distractions and be present for my first sip of coffee. It often leaves me with a sense of gratitude that follows throughout the day and reminds me to check in with myself and see how I’m feeling before starting a busy day.

Reply to texts I missed during the weekend on Monday morning so people know I care about getting back to them.

Pray while I’m in the shower. I’ve never found it easy to just “sit down & spend time with God,” & I’ve had a hard time being consistent with my prayer life. Maybe it’s my ADHD, idk. Over the last while, I’ve been taking the time while I shower to pray, since there are few distractions.

When I feel overwhelmed by anxiety I go for a run and blast a specific song (usually to Northwest). It provides an outlet for my energy and helps me get out of my head so I can properly work through what I’m feeling.

Going to church every sunday. It is important to me because it helps me grow my relationship w God and be in fellowship w others.

About once a week, I take a walk and call my mom.

We’re really close, but she’s super far away. Our conversations keep me sane, and her voice feels like home.

On rainy days of white-grey skies, I will light a candle and bring it with me around the house. The winter blues do not spare me, so the candle’s fire provides the warm light i’m missing. I get to have a little bit of sun with me, and it reminds me that the blue sky will return again soon.

I repeat a set prayer as I settle into my bed to sleep.

It helps me release the day and return my gaze to the foundation of my being as I rest for the coming day.

One ritual I currently have in place is going out for long drives around town with my sister on Saturday afternoons, where we listen to music and talk. It’s important to me because it’s very therapeutic, and it gives me something to look forward to every week-spending time with my best friend.

Rollerblading to decompress.

I always read the bible with my friend in the morning, then go over words we don’t know and at night we always talk about our day and pray together. I really appreciate it because it gets me socializing and reading the bible and it makes me feel super cared for.

Every Sunday night, my house comes together and does dinner and games together. This is a really nice time in my week, especially when I get so busy that I don’t see my roommates outside of Sundays.

3. What is a ritual you would like to add into your life, and why?

I think I would like to be more intentional about time for myself to create. Whether that is writing, taking a dance class, or seeing theatre with friends, I would love to be doing more art as a practice in my day to day.

Meditation and stretching as soon as I wake up.

Whenever I do it haphazardly, it really calms me down and soothes me, so I know it would be beneficial to start my day with this serene ritual.

I would like to add a more spiritual ritual to my daily life, but approach it in an artistic way. I’ve deconstructed a lot, which I am grateful for, and finding some way to combine art and spirituality would help me to connect more with God. I would love to spend more designated time outside in nature appreciating God’s creation. It is one of my favourite things to do, but currently my schedule allows very little flexibility.

I want to become connected with the liturgical calendar and the saints. Growing up evangelical taught me to devalue much christian history and tradition. I yearn to connect with my spiritual ancestors through liturgical rituals. Maybe this Lent we can make something work.

A better skincare routine. It’s better for my skin (obviously), but I think it would also bring a better sense of intentional time for self-care into my routine.

Regular walks with friends. I think it would be good to have intentional time to talk while we enjoy nature.

Reading before bed instead of having my phone be the last thing I look at.

Something that will make me be more intentional about starting my school work instead of procrastinating because I constantly struggle with beginning my studying in the morning.

Mentorship—hear from older, more experienced people.

I’d like to be better at regularly meditating or sitting in silence. I have trouble being alone with my own thoughts.

I would like to add a ritual of prayer to my days, specifically in the morning. It can be really hard to designate time to sit quietly with God when there is a busy day ahead of you and lots to think about.

Something I used to do but I don’t do as often as I like is write down something that made me happy that day. I used to do it because I told my friend that life didn’t feel worth living anymore but they said that if at least one thing made me happy then the day was worth living.

I wish I made music more often and had some kind of cue to do it. Playing music gives me a chance for outward expression, which is nice for someone who is introspective most of the time.

I would like to add just a time where I am alone and quiet. No distractions, no music, just me and my mind and spirit.

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ADOPTING A RITUAL APPROACH TO TECHNOLOGY KYLE PENNER

A part of the character of contemporary technology is the immediacy with which it grants our desires. This immediacy stands in contrast to both older forms of technology and the more natural rhythms of life on planet Earth. We need not even look very far back at technology to realize the way that technology has moved us closer to the instantaneous manifestation of our every whim.

Think of nearly any area of life, and examples are prevalent. In entertainment, any film or piece of music is available to the savvy; gone are the days of driving to Blockbuster to rent a movie, and now it is almost incomprehensible to be forced into watching something other than what we’ve set our mind on. The advent of services like DoorDash and SkipTheDishes have brought instantaneity to our cuisine; all varieties of food available with the push of a button. I have written about this trend in technology before in the article “Reality vs. Hyperreality,” and it remains relevant, particularly in the context of “Ritual.”

“A healthy dose of ritual might just be the antidote to the problems associated with the contemporary technological milieu.”

The immediacy provided by technology is often heralded as a good thing, and it certainly is from time to time; I enjoy the benefits of contemporary technology as much as anyone else. Criticism is warranted though. I mentioned already the way that instantaneity disrupts the rhythms of life; technology of this character replaces a more natural ebb and flow with a steady whining pitch. It has an isolating effect, separating us from the people, places, and things that make up our worlds.

By participating blindly in the status quo of technology we lose sight of the myriad connections that constitute our being in the world and make possible our movement through it. This isolation is a leech to meaningful existence.

To illustrate on a small scale what I am trying to get at, let us take a closer look at the difference between DoorDash and a homemade meal. One day

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I am watching Netflix and playing video games. It is getting late, and I have neglected to take into consideration that I need to eat, if only to sustain myself. Not being struck by the urge to stop, I pull out my phone and within the hour food lands on my doorstep; dinner is served.

Another day, I am in quite a different frame of mind. I think about what I will eat later; I settle upon a recipe, and after poking through my cupboards, I determine that a trip to the grocery store will be necessary. I walk over to the grocery store––luckily it is close by––and search out my ingredients.

Upon my return I find my roommate in the kitchen already cooking. No matter, it will be cramped, but I’m hungry. Cooking side by side is momentarily frustrating but finally edifying once we sit down together and eat; the experience is enhanced by the sharing of dishes.

There are a number of differences between these two dining experiences, but in this context, the relevant difference is the way that ordering in rarely puts me in a position to reckon with anything other than my own wants, while deciding to cook for myself sees me constantly bumping into the world around me.

It is the inconvenience of the real world that technology often explicitly seeks to eliminate, and yet, I think that there is something detrimentally isolating about avoiding the “real.” I think that the idea of ritual stands in contrast to the potential dangers of contemporary technology. A life of ritual is antithetical to the life of unnatural urgency and immediacy presented to us by contemporary technology. A healthy dose of ritual might just be the antidote to the problems associated with the contemporary technological milieu.

Ritual, to me, implies a number of things. Recurrence; rituals are not one-off events. They have a time and place appropriate to them that recurs.

There is a rhythm in ritual practices. Rituals are practices that orient us. We live jumbled, often messy lives; rituals center us and point us in an appropriate direction.

The ritual practice of communion is like this: practitioners enter the church building with the baggage of daily life, but through the recitation of the words and physical actions of consumption, they re-orient themselves towards things of importance. Rituals are a form of memory in this sense, by their practice we do not allow ourselves to for-

get something that we have decided in advance is of critical importance. Rituals are often collective, combating isolation and affirming a sense of belonging in participants.

We can harness the power of ritual living to combat the meaninglessness of contemporary technology and help to restore our connection to the people and things that surround us.

“By participating blindly in the status quo of technology we lose sight of the myriad connections that constitute our being in the world and make possible our movement through it.”

The philosopher Albert Borgmann discusses the idea of focal practices that might be helpful to us in this regard. Focal practices, basically put, are practices that help us orient ourselves within the jumble of technology; through these practices, our relationship to technology is clarified. Cooking is an example that Borgmann gives as a potential focal practice, as well as running, gardening, and music.

Common to all of these things is the necessity of practice: they require a more-or-less continuous exertion on our part in order for their fruits to manifest. These practices also demand physical participation from us; they engage our bodies and are thus tangible reminders to us of ourselves and our place in the world. This is not to say that all the problems associated with contemporary technology are instantly solved with a little home cooking, but focal practices are an essential part of living well.

When considered in ritual terms, we can define practices for ourselves that serve as potent reminders of things that are more important than expediency.

DON’T TRY. REES MORGAN

There is a sense of foreboding that comes with graduation. This sense is palpable to those who inch towards walking across the stage at graduation, a feeling which is only further exacerbated if you don’t have a job lined up post-graduation.

Even worse, you don’t even know what you want to do after you graduate. Many react to this phenomenon negatively. Some sink into apathy, some stay in university to deal with it later, and some retreat back to their pre-college job.

Unless you are a genius or extremely lucky, the season surrounding graduation can be an existential battle, as we wonder what we should do with our lives.

If one is to have a holistic life, one should strive to contribute something unique to our society.

Or at least, this was the idiom by which Charles Bukowski lived his bleak life. Bukowski, for the unintroduced, was an unfiltered American poet and writer who is known for his crude outlook on life.

He immigrated from Germany at a young age, at which point his father abused him, his classmates ridiculed him, and he developed a rare condition that left his face covered in acne. As an adult, Bukowski strived to make a living as a writer but he mostly worked in various post offices––a depressing and unfitting job for one who would later be called one of the greats.

Despite the abuse and rejection, Bukowski was bitterly against complacency. For years, he would spend the moments before and after work writing.

Bukowski even quit his job at the postal service to pursue writing full time. All this effort ultimately gave him no success. Due to the failure, Bukowski shamefully returned to the post office.

On Bukowski’s tombstone, set in a beautiful serif font, reads the words “Don’t Try.” Looking back on his life, this seems paradoxical. Bukowski did nothing but try. His whole life is summed up with attempts to make a living as a writer. However, I believe that Bukowski’s final work is a form of poetry rather than fact. When one “tries,” the opportunity for failure is present.

When one “tries,” the opportunity for failure is present.

For Bukowski, failure was not an option. He had found his calling and wasted most of his life working meaningless jobs to keep from selling his soul.

In the modern age of LinkedIn updates and grind culture, a life such as Bukowski’s would easily equate to one giving up on their career goals.

However, Bukowski would not let society dictate his actions. In his most famous poem, “The Laughing Heart,” he writes: “your life is your life / don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.” Bukowski wouldn’t let his lack of success define his contributions to the world, and he kept on writing. He eventually reached great commercial success, but not until his late 50s. Despite the late bloom and consistent failure, his profound literary contributions still have us talking about him decades after his passing.

For those approaching graduation, I offer one piece of advice: find your calling, and pursue it for your entire life. In “The Laughing Heart,” Bukowski writes: “the gods will offer you chances. / know them. / take them.”

Post-graduation, the worst thing one can do is try.

When you graduate, find your calling, and get in that lane. Don’t try, do. No matter what it takes, do not sell your soul for anything less than what God put you on earth to do. Bukowski closes “The Laughing Heart” with beautiful career advice and life wisdom, which I urge you to take to heart: “your life is your life. / know it while you have it. / you are marvelous / the gods wait to delight in you.”

TAKE ME TO CHURCH: A LOOK INTO SCIENTOLOGY DIEGO BASCUR

The view of the blue sign that hung over the building in downtown Vancouver filled me with both curiosity and a sense of fear. My mind seemed to be spacey before laying my eyes on the sign, yet the actuality of this place pushed me into the present moment.

I felt a chill go down my spine as I touched the doors and looked up to see the letters staring back at me. Sometimes a place can seem to be so distant from reality, a far away dot on the horizon which you feel will never come closer.

“Scientology’s very existence redefines what constitutes spirituality” As I opened the doors, the simplicity of the room that I found myself in gave breath to my lungs, which had been struggling to find air. This was not some scary cultish place that had filled my imagination before.

As if I was in a place of business or some kind of doctor’s office, a receptionist greeted me with a warm smile and a hello. With a smile in return, I began to explain my curiosity in deepening my knowledge of the Church of Scientology. To my

surprise, my curiosity was faced with hesitation as I waited for the receptionist to find someone who could help me.

The strangeness of any hesitation to inform someone who is interested in their church left me with a new sense of determination and a deeper wonderment. In my own company, as I waited, I felt out of place. This room shattered any preconceived notion of what I thought a church should look like.

The approaching footsteps brought me back to the present and I was greeted again. I gave my explanation for being there again, and the conversation to fulfill my curiosity commenced.

We talked of the origins of Scientology, starting with the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard in his book “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health,” the Bible of Scientology if you will. We discussed how this revolutionary concept could reshape the world and bring about positive change in people’s lives. They spoke of audits, the physical embodiment of L. Ron Hubbard’s book, which gave new purpose to troubled souls. Through this therapeutic process, spiritual healing could be achieved and, in it, physical and mental healing. They continued on to say this spiritual healing gave shape to the movement and provided the structure for Scientology to be labeled a church. Finally they explained the church claimed to possess the ideolo-

gy that transcended all other religions, providing benefits for believers of any faith.

Though this conversation seemed to be limited and superficial, the cloud of mystery surrounding this religion for me started to disappear.

“This was not some scary cultish place that had filled my imagination before” In visiting the Church of Scientology, I was confronted with the diversity of spirituality. It seemed to contradict what I thought should or could be in a religion. Scientology’s very existence redefines what constitutes spirituality––it is vastly different from the discrete bubble of Christianity we live in.

Sometimes I feel we don’t step out of this bubble often enough. Instead of fearing what is different, embracing other people’s beliefs with an attitude of curiosity can help strengthen our own faiths. We do not need to morph our beliefs into theirs, but we can learn to better understand one another. Instead of just passing by the building with the blue sign, maybe we should venture in.

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STOP USING OCD AS AN ADJECTIVE SOPHIE HOLLAND

You may have heard of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in numerous contexts. In our unusually perfectionistic generation, it has become all too common for people to flippantly throw around the acronym “OCD” as a descriptive term for their precision or hyper-organization. You may frequently hear people say, “I’m so OCD,” or, “Why do you have to be so OCD about that?”

These days, where the language of mental health and therapy has become part of our usual vocabulary, people gravitate towards this language more and more, applying the term to themselves as if to self-describe in a cute or quirky way. According to a 2018 article from the Harvard Business Review, the perfectionism mindset is a bit of a trend with Gen Z and millennials. Thanks to this mindset we have adopted, some believe that self-identifying with OCD is a way to showcase their over-achiever mindset, only to further demonstrate how they are tidier, smarter, or get better grades.

In a world where our awareness of mental health is continually growing, such frivolous use of the term “OCD” is not only grammatically incorrect, but it is wildly inappropriate. Of course, mistakes are made in the terms we use everyday. Our world is in a sensitive place, and it can be difficult to know what terminology is acceptable. However, it is important to know that OCD is not an adjective. It is not a word that one can use to describe themself.

It is a noun, and furthermore, an acronym for a serious illness.

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), obsessive compulsive disorder refers to “a disorder in which people have recurring, unwant-

ed thoughts (obsessions) that make them driven to do something repetitively (compulsions).” For instance, an obsession could be the fear of contamination, and the compulsion in response to that obsession could be ritualized handwashing.

Such a distressing mental health condition is not something to be taken lightly.

“In a world where our awareness of mental health is continually growing, such frivolous use of the term “OCD” is not only grammatically incorrect, but it is wildly inappropriate.”

OCD looks different for everybody who has it. It is not characterized necessarily by hyper-organization, perfect grades, or excessive hand washing (although it can include these behaviors for some individuals)––but by rituals. No matter what the obsession is, it is something intrusive and hurtful to the individual, and as a result, the individual feels the need to use certain behaviours to feed the obsession. Though individuals might be able to recognize that the thoughts are intrusive or unrealistic, the compulsion is not something that they can control.

Throwing around the term without truly understanding the seriousness of the illness is damaging to those who suffer from it, as it undermines the hardships and adversity that those with OCD face.

The APA says that “a diagnosis of OCD requires the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions that are time-consuming (more than one hour a day), cause significant distress, and impair work or social functioning.” It is truly ignorant to suggest that such a draining condition is equivalent to your desire to keep your clothes arranged by colour for the “aesthetic,” or the desire to get straight A’s to show how much of a perfect student you are.

Using OCD as an adjective is also a blatant way of ignoring facts about the illness, and neglecting to properly research it. By saying, “I’m so OCD,” you are telling people with OCD that you have zero knowledge of the illness and do not care to learn, whether you realize it or not. However, by researching and using the term appropriately, you demonstrate that you do care about individuals who have OCD, and are committed to dissolving stereotypes about it. When you speak, you never know who is around you, and who may be affected

by OCD or other diagnoses.

It is critical that we abolish the use of “OCD” as a quirky descriptor, and adopt a more serious and thoughtful attitude towards it. Mental health deserves to be talked about not just openly, but respectfully.

PRETTY PLEASE, PUTIN, DON’T START WWIII CHRISTA LYFORD

Well, here we are. If you had hopes for a normal summer after all the trauma that rocked our world through the pandemic, then I have some bad news for you. With Russia’s current invasion of Ukraine forcing the world to stop its quibbling over COVID mandates for a second, we were given a second reminder of our mortality: nuclear warfare still exists. Wonderful.

On the off-chance that Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, reads Mars’ Hill, I wanted to throw my two cents out there about his announcement on February 27 to put his country’s nuclear deterrent forces on high alert in response to NATO being like, “Hey, maybe, could you please not invade Ukraine.” The following is an open letter to Putin: Hi. Hello, Sir. Please do not start World War III.

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First of all, I am a United States citizen, and it would disadvantage me greatly for my freedoms to engage life at the fullest to be restricted for any more length of time. The idea of scavenging through a desolate wasteland with only a BA in English sounds less than ideal. Also, gas prices are already through the roof, and I currently cannot afford to make the switch to a fully electric car, so, you understand, right? If you still really want to, can you at least turn a blind eye to the Jim Creek Naval Radio Station in Washington State? I know it’s a high-priority target, but it’s like twenty minutes from my mom’s house, so I would really appreciate it if you skipped that one.

Secondly, even if you don’t go for the nukes, de-escalating this whole “war” thing would be nice too.

I do not know how the Canadians will respond,

but as an American, there is a good possibility we will get sent in to deal with this mess you’ve got yourself into. A lot of my best friends back home are guys, and I don’t want to have to show up to their houses with a sledgehammer and break all their legs so they can’t get drafted into whatever horrifying new genre of warfare we have on the horizon. Although I suppose some of them are colour blind. So maybe that would disqualify them?

I’ll probably still break their knees. Just in case.

All that to say, you would be doing the whole world a favour by “taking a chill pill” and laying off the world domination schtick for a bit. Please sit down, maybe. Drink a lemonade or something.

Sincerely, A Concerned World Citizen

What is your major, year, and hometown?

Lani-Marie Carbonel: I’m in my 5th year of the BFA Acting program, and I’m from Coquitlam, BC. When did you first get involved in theatre and why?

I was taking acting classes in high school, because my brother had taken them, and I thought they were so cool, but I wasn’t actually in a play until towards the end of high school. I kind of gave it up when I came to Trinity Western University (TWU) as a music major, but then I saw the audition posting for Anne of Green Gables, and thought I had to do it at least once, just for fun, and I had to take acting classes to do the show.

I was cast in the show, and after opening night, I was talking with Kerri, my acting prof, and she asked me, “Do you love it?” and I was like, “Yeah, obviously!” and then she told me I had to keep doing it! So I ended up switching my major after that. When I was originally coming to TWU, in high school, I intended to be a theatre major, but chose music because I was passionate about both programs and music seemed like the safer choice. But, once I got here and started doing theatre, I realized I couldn’t just not do it!

You are performing in the upcoming production of Bright Star at TWU. Can you tell us a bit about it?

I have a line about “a sweeping tale of pain and redemption” (I think we have that on our poster).

It kind of encapsulates the show a bit. It is based on a true story, and I think if it wasn’t you’d watch it and think it wasn’t believable. But since it is, you watch it and think it’s extraordinary! And it’s also a musical. It’s so much fun, and so emotional in the way that only music can be.

and it’s really just both of my passions. They’re both so communicative and evocative in different ways. Music is so emotional, and theatre is action in a way that no other art form is. Putting them together and seeing and feeling the effect that it has on people performing is so much fun.

It’s such a challenge to put those two together and be realistic that way, but my artist’s brain wants to jump at the chance.

What messages do you hope others get from your work in theatre?

I think it depends on the production a little bit, because each show is so unique. For me, Bright Star is so much about hope, and I think that’s important always––as a Christian, as a person, and right now in the world. I don’t know if I’m at the point in my life where I have an overarching theme for my career, but I think I’m okay with the fact that every story has something different to say, and all stories are important.

If you could star in any show, what would be your absolute dream role?

I’ve always wanted to be Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. She’s so fun! The movie is so good, and the musical is the movie on steroids.

You can see Lani star in TWU’s upcoming production of Bright Star, running from March 15-April 2 at the SAMC Theatre.

Tickets available through the TWU Website at: “Current Show.”

Proof of vaccination and government-issued ID are required for entrance to the theatre. All audience members must wear masks.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

LANI-MARIE CARBONEL

Have you ever performed in a musical before?

What do you like about combining theatre with music?

I’ve been in two musicals––Beauty and the Beast in high school, and Anne of Green Gables here––

What is your year, major, and sport?

I’m in my third year of Nursing. I’m on the Men’s Cross Country team.

How did you first get involved in cross country?

I always ran in elementary school, but I was actually big into soccer growing up. I ended up not wanting to run in high school and focus more on soccer. I was playing at a relatively high level, but then I got cut from that team. I still wanted to play a sport in university, so I started taking cross country seriously in grade 12.

What made you want to come to TWU? Most of the local schools showed interest.

Schools like UBC, SFU, and obviously Trinity.

Some division one and two schools contacted my high school coach as well, but it never really came to anything. When I was looking at TWU, they had a really solid history in the program. I was with Nick Colyn, who was one of the seniors on the team, and he showed me around. Trinity also made sense for me as far as academics, and I was able to get into the nursing program. Trinity provided the most amount of opportunity as well from a scholarship standpoint.

How has your experience been on the TWU cross country team so far?

It’s been really good, I’ve had some of my best memories traveling with the team. We had a coaching change which has been something to get used to, but I am excited for what will come of it.

What does it look like going pro in cross country in general?

You have a pretty good chance of getting your name out there if you make any national team. The Olympics are every four years, but World champs are every two years for track

and national champs every year. In either the 1500m or the 5km is where I think I could have a chance of making a national team. It’s mainly sponsorships which you get money from as well prize money from road races. If you’re running at a high level in BC or just in Canada they just give you funding from Athletics Canada or BC Athletics.

Where do you see yourself after TWU? I hope to be going pro. There is definitely still room for me to improve before I can go out and sign a deal with anyone. The hope is to try and reach my potential, developing over my next 3 years here at Trinity. Then, if the opportunity presents itself, definitely run pro for a couple years. I feel like I’ve plateaued the last couple years just dealing with injuries and faced some health problems, but luckily this was during the COVID year. I definitely feel like I haven’t shown my potential, especially dealing with my stress fracture right now.

SPARTAN SPOTLIGHT

JOSH WOOLGAR

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MOVE OVER MAYFIELD ERIK NIEBUHR

The year was 2018, and the Cleveland Browns had just joined the Detroit Lions as the second team to achieve the elusive win-less season during the National Football League’s 16-game era. To make matters worse, the season prior, the Browns only achieved one singular win off of a missed Chargers kick, resulting in a two-year record of 1-31.

However, things were looking up for the eternally challenged Browns, with the first and fourth overall picks in the upcoming draft. Their first selection represented an area of hot contention among fans and analysts, especially with their clear need at quarterback. The debate for many was between the more composed Sam Darnold and the more unorthodox Baker Mayfield to fill that quarterback need. Others pointed to superstar running back Saquon Barkley as the answer to a roster filled with more holes than talent.

As draft day came along and the Browns were on the clock, fans held their breath in anticipation of what name would be read; Roger Goodell took the stage and announced the future leader of the Browns: Baker Mayfield.

“Regardless of his injuries’ influence, Baker is simply unable to rise above the excuses and distractions and play good football. He could go on to have a solid career, and I wouldn’t call him a bust yet, but as of right now he is not the guy that will consistently bring success to Cleveland.”

To fully understand the enigma that is Baker Mayfield and his situation on the Browns, we have to dive deeper into a prestigious Cleveland history: failing to draft quarterbacks. Before Mayfield, the Browns drafted four quarterbacks in the first round since 2000, without any of them finding even moderate starting success in the league. One such quarterback resulted in a controversial draft day comparison to Mayfield: Johnny Manziel, also known as Johnny Football or Money Manziel. He was a magician on the field, undersized without a strong arm, but just managed to make plays work. He would escape pressure and throw dangerous completions downfield and scramble recklessly to pick up first downs.

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The comparisons between Baker and Manziel were certainly relevant: off-field legal issues, slightly undersized stature, Heisman Trophy winners, and electric football talents. The issue was, Manziel’s NFL career was a massive failure characterized by injuries, drugs, interceptions, and an eventual release after two years with the team. Was this the player that the Browns had taken first overall with Baker Mayfield?

The short answer is a relatively firm no, but the comparison is important when establishing the character of Baker Mayfield, a man who had walked onto teams twice and led them to victory.

Mayfield is truly a player that fully embodies the underdog story. Who better to right the wrongs of this cursed franchise? At first, there was an incredible amount of hope. In his first NFL game, Baker came from behind to hand the Browns their first win in nearly two years, and despite a head coach change midyear, Cleveland finished 7-8-1 in his rookie year. Baker Mayfield was the guy in Cleveland, and the team was confident that they had found their franchise quarterback… until year two came around. Underqualified new head coach Freddie Kitchens took the helm of the Browns and brought them directly back to mediocrity. Although Baker had new weapons on offence, a season of more-than-questionable play calling resulted in a regression to a 6-10 and only 22 touchdowns to 21 interceptions thrown.

Year three brought in yet another new head coach, Kevin Stefanski, who took no time righting the wrongs created

by Kitchens the year prior. For the first time since 2002, the Cleveland Browns had made the playoffs, with a career year from Mayfield. He showed out in those playoffs too, coming up clutch when he needed to, throwing five touchdowns in a single game against the Bengals, and finishing the season with 26 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and an 11-5 record. The Browns even managed a dominant win against their rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs before being eliminated by the powerful Kansas City Chiefs. The Browns were viewed as a playoff contender in the 2021 season, and the team was ready to roll coming into the fall.

2021 was not the year that it was prophesied to be. Baker’s season was full of injuries throughout his upper and lower body, and despite being surrounded by talent, he was absolutely unable to perform when he needed to. To be blunt, Baker Mayfield was the sole reason the Browns did not make the playoffs in 2021 they had the coach, they had the wide receivers and running backs, they had a dominant defence, but they simply did not have the quarterback they needed. In 14 games, Baker threw for only 17 touchdowns and 14 interceptions and was unable to be the leader his team needed.

This brings us to current times, where now after extending Baker’s contract for a fifth year, the Browns need to make a decision regarding who will be the future quarterback of their team. The issue is that Mayfield’s role on the team is much more than can be represented by statistics: he was the saviour of the Cleveland Browns, the prophesied quarterback that lifted the team out of football poverty and into the playoffs.

How could the Browns turn their backs on a man who single-handedly put the team on his back? The answer may be simpler than you think.

Baker Mayfield did not save the Browns; he was simply a capable quarterback who took advantage of his situation. He is not the saviour of the Browns, he was simply the man at the helm when Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and General Manager Andrew Berry created an ideal environment to win. Sure, Baker has shown promise at moments, but he has also shown time and time again that he is unable to win the game when the defence miraculously shuts down the Browns dominant run game.

He was so incapable of consistently making big plays downfield that he drove Odell Beckham Junior, one of the better wide receivers in the league, off the team due to a lack of completions.

“Minshew may not have Baker’s arm, but he has the heart, the football IQ, and does not film 20 commercials a year while losing games.”

Regardless of his injuries’ influence, Baker is simply unable to rise above the excuses and distractions and play good football. He could go on to have a solid career, and I wouldn’t call him a bust yet, but as of right now he is not the guy that will consistently bring success to Cleveland.

This is never more evident than when comparing Baker to fellow first round pick Joe Burrow, who, with much less talent around him, completely revamped the entire Bengals’ offence in only two years. It is time for Cleveland to move on from Mayfield.

There are two routes that Cleveland can take to find a new quarterback, draft a QB in the first couple rounds to sit behind Baker in his last year or to acquire a veteran QB via trade or free agency. Personally, I am not a huge fan of this year’s draft class, so this Browns fan prefers the veteran route for a new leader, and there is one man in particular who would embody the spirit of the Cleveland Browns: Gardner Minshew. Trade for that man off the bench of the Eagles, put his moustached face all over the Instagram account, and allow Minshew Mania to take over Cleveland.

Minshew may not have Baker’s arm, but he has the heart, the football IQ, and does not film 20 commercials a year while losing games. Gardner Minshew is who Baker wants to be when he grows up, and I feel much more confident with him at the helm to lead my team to victory.

THE DRAKE CURSE: YOUR FAVOURITE ATHLETE’S WORST NIGHTMARE SCOTT BOWERS

During Super Bowl LVI, one of the most intriguing storylines to follow was the performance of the enigmatic Odell Beckham Jr. The game looked promising for the newly acquired Rams receiver in his Super Bowl debut. Odell was active early and often, looking a real terror for the Bengals defence, especially when he found himself scoring the games first touchdown. All this excitement came crashing down when Odell found himself hurt late in the second quarter.

To many casual fans, this may have seemed like an unfortunately quick ending for the superstar, but many attentive sports fans were quick to note this as just another chapter in what has become one of the most well-known curses in sport history: the Drake curse.

Yes, rapper/hip-hop star/former Degrassi kid Aubrey Graham. Over the years he has become more and more recognized for social media and public support of athletes and teams in successful positions, and then those teams’ subsequent downfalls.

In this case, Drake had very publicly taken to his Instagram account to show off three Super Bowl bets he had made for a total of over $1.6 million.

Two of those three bets were centred around Odell, so as soon as he was down and out for the game fans were quick to point the finger Drake’s way. The Rams still ended up winning the Super Bowl, so this is not the worst case scenario, however, when we take a look back at the many other examples from Drake, this looks like another one to add to the list.

The first original instance of the Drake curse is hard to pin down, and the exact details will likely change depending on who you ask and what moments they remember. The curse can be traced back to at least 2013 with his seemingly random infatuation with the University of Kentucky Wildcats Men’s Basketball team.

“Over the years [Drake] has become more and more recognized for social media and public support of athletes and teams in successful positions, and then those teams subsequent downfalls.”

Despite year after year of having recruiting classes full of the country’s best players––and being continual pipeline for NBA stars––the program has not won a national title since 2012, and has been notoriously absent from the latter stages of the March Madness tournament since 2015. Coincidentally, the same year Drake made an appearance warming up with the team, and got savagely memed for air-balling shots.

A very memorable period for many in relation to the curse came along in 2019, where over a fourmonth span, Drake first posted a picture wearing an Alabama sweater before the College Football Playoff final, where Alabama lost heavily to Clemson.

Next, Drake showed up to Game 4 of the Boston vs. Toronto 2019 NHL playoff series where the Leafs found themselves up 2-1 heading into the game.

Toronto lost that game 6-4 and the series 4-3 in total. Within the same week, PSG soccer player Layvin Kurzawa posted a photo of him and Drake, which was followed up a few days later by an embarrassing 5-1 loss for PSG. This even led to the Twitter admin for Italian soccer giants Roma bantering Drake off saying, “All Roma players banned from taking photos with Drake until the end of the season.”

This is without even mentioning Drake’s interactions with and subsequent shortcomings of athletes like Serena Williams, Connor McGregor, Johnny Manziel, and Andrew Wiggins.

The moral of the story is, hope and pray that Drake stays as far away from your favourite teams and athletes as possible. And if he does make an appearance along the way, you better hope he finds another team or athlete to jump ship to sooner rather than later.

RE: THE JEFF GARCIA COMMENTS SCOTT BOWERS

Following the San Francisco 49ers’ shock narrow defeat of the Green Bay Packers at their hallowed home of Lambeau Field, there were media reactions coming from all different directions. Many were drooling over the dominant defensive performance from the 49ers, while others were quick to look at the dysfunction within the so highly touted camp of the Packers. Yet, as the dust settled soon after that game, one line of commentary on the game will be remembered for a long time to come.

“If sports media was only full of former athletes, it would very quickly become a closed off boys club.”

ESPN analyst Mina Kimes, a Yale graduate and ESPN reporter since 2014, had some harsh criticisms for 49ers Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo despite his team’s win. She appeared on ESPN’s First Take the Tuesday after the game and said, “Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t the reason they’re winning… [T]hey’re winning with him, but not because of him… He posted the second-lowest QBR in 15 years [against the Packers].”

This, in my opinion, was a pretty fair criticism, and I would tend to agree with Kimes that Garoppolo is someone who is holding the 49ers back, and not adding to their winning formula. Former 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia, who played in the National Football League sporadically from 1999-2011, aggressively disagreed with these comments. This is where we see the controversy.

Garcia took to Instagram to say, “Who the hell is Mina Kimes and when is the last time she threw a touchdown pass in a game? NEVER! EVER! has she

taken a snap or can truly understand the ability, the mindset, the physical and mental toughness, that it takes to play the QB position or any position in the NFL. The fact that there are people out there given a platform to talk about something that they have never done is hilarious and that’s how you have to look at her, she’s a joke! So let’s just laugh at her and support Jimmy, root on our Niners to go out and beat the living f*** out of one more team. That’s what it takes. She will never know that feeling. Can I get an AMEN? Peace.”

This comment was deeply disturbing on many different levels. As it rightfully should have, Garcia’s remarks drew much media response.

First off, the comments are quite obviously sexist.

As even Kimes alluded to herself in response to Garcia, she is nowhere close to being the only analyst to ever criticize a player in a sport they have never played––nor will she be the last. Yet, rarely do any of these other big time, male sports journalists who never played a second of the game they are commenting on receive this kind of attack. The undertones of Kimes not being able to understand the physical aspects of the game, simply because she is a woman, are clear to see.

Beyond this isolated incident, it does bring up an interesting conversation around who “belongs” in sports media.

For the number of former athletes you will see in today’s sports media, you will find just as many individuals who have never even played anywhere close to the highest level of the sport they are covering. As a varsity athlete, and someone who dabbles in sports media, I feel uniquely qualified to speak to both sides of this.

I understand how it can be easy for us athletes to get defensive when sports journalists criticize our performances, especially when they do not know

what it feels like to be in that position. However, the sports media part of me knows that conveying what it is like for these athletes to do what they do is only one part of the job. If sports media was only full of former athletes, it would very quickly become a closed off boys club.

“Women belong in sports media. Non-athletes belong in sports media. If you can think critically and evaluate sports in an articulate manner, where you are also ready to back up your positions with facts, you belong in sports media.”

Sports media needs statisticians to be able to identify trends, digital creators to be able to package those trends in accessible ways, and competent writers and speakers to be able to converse around what those findings mean. Former players who can interject with real experience are just another piece to the big puzzle, not the be-all and end-all.

Women belong in sports media. Non-athletes belong in sports media. If you can think critically and evaluate sports in an articulate manner where you are also ready to back up your positions with facts–– you belong in sports media. Simple as that.

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THERE’S A GOOSE IN MY PATH BAILEY FROESE

We’ve all been there. You’re jaunting off to RNT, a skip in your step and a song in your heart, eager to learn how you can #girlboss your way through life in Foundations 102, when suddenly an obstacle appears in front of you.

A fowl obstacle. It hisses. It honks. It beats its bone-cracking wings aggressively in your direction. You slowly back away, avoiding eye contact and apologizing profusely to this guardian of the campus grass, when you hear it. The dreaded squish. You look down and realize the goose’s feces have blemished the soles of your brandnew BlundMartens!

As a torrent of Trinity-friendly curses spews from your mouth, the goose takes advantage of your flustered state and yanks your wallet and student ID from your pocket. It flies away as you shake your fist in the air, lamenting that you’ll have to beg your friend to guest-swipe you into the cafeteria for the fourth time this week.

If you have no idea how to approach the hordes of Canada geese that occupy this campus like a modern Goostapo, you’re in luck. Here’s a short list of tips to help you easily bypass these warmongering waterfowl.

1.

Preemptive strike. Why do you think the TWU bookstore sells giant bags with geese printed on them?

They’re not a cute but practical inside joke about a prominent trait of campus life—they’re for goose trappin’! Simply drop the bag over the goose’s obscenely long neck and scoop that sucker up.

You may then dispose of it as you please, whether that be setting it free far from campus or offering it

to Sodexo for a new addition to the Trinity menu.

Heck, you could even offer it as an employee for Sodexo—I hear they’re always hiring!

2.

V for Victory. You may notice that flocks of geese tend to fly in a V-shape. That’s because the letter V is the symbol used by the Mother Goose to summon all geese back to the Goose Hive, a black hole in the earth’s core from which they spawn. Whenever you’re near densely populated goose hotspots, make sure to have something on you that looks vaguely like a V. If a goose attacks, hold it up like a crucifix before Dracula. The goose will become hypnotized and do anything you say because it thinks that you will lead it back to the Hive. It’s then safest to chuck the V-shaped object as far from you as possible, but if you’re feeling brave you can make the goose carry your bag for you or do a little dance.

3.

Befriend the bird. Goose language, colloquially known as Honklish, is surprisingly easy to learn. You can find it on Duolingo or even take it as a TWU elective (the class is called HONK 420—it’s pretty controversial because the professor is possibly a former goose). Once you reach basic fluency, you may stop a goose in its tracks by uttering the phrase, “Halt, comrade. I mean you no harm. I too am a servant of Her Imperious Majesty the Mother Goose, ready and willing to extinguish the dying flame of the human race.” The goose shall then reply, “Indeed. Commence Armagoosen!” You shall also shout, “Commence Armagoosen!” After that, you and the goose will be lifelong pals! You’ll nev-

er have to worry about stepping in another fecal bomb again, though you may have to attend some Hive Mind meetings where geese plan the decimation of humanity to keep up appearances.

4.

Inspiring hearts and minds. The geese don’t just sit beside the campus buildings because they like the grass that much. They want to go inside! The true reason that geese are so cranky is that they want to learn and follow their dreams with aid from a Christian Liberal Arts education, just like you. Geese belong too, so let them in! Lobby for goose education!

Hire goose professors! Build goose-accommodating dorms! Welcome geese into the cafeteria, the library, your dorm rooms! Allow geese to start clubs around campus where they can teach you all about goose culture, from the science of flying to the art of defecation to the Mother Goose’s perfect doctrine relating to the vulgarness and general expendability of all humans. With your help, a future where geese and humans waddle hand in wing, in harmony, towards the Hive so that we may slaughter them where they stand and use their pathetic corpses as toilets, is possible. What are you waiting for? If you truly want peace between geese and humans, you need to deal with the honk—erm, ahem, honk—sorry, had a honk stuck in my throat—the root of the problem. Don’t hate, educate!

THE COMMUTER’S TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE WASTELANDS BEYOND THE COLLEGIUMS DAVID WITZKE

The creature known as the Resident is a strange creature that behaves in remarkable ways. The Commuter would do well to avoid most of them and remain safely in the designated areas. Unfortunately, the Commuter must sometimes venture into the strange and mysterious lands beyond the known world.

I have had the pleasure and the terror of travelling end to end in the wastelands beyond the collegiums and can testify to the fact that there are extraordinary things just beyond our view.

The cafeteria is a fascinating place to view the local wildlife, but very difficult to enter. I have heard stories of a mythical time when the cafeteria was free and open to all, but that era is lost to the sands of time. The room is full of residents of all types, grazing and greeting their fellow dormitory dwellers in their customary ways. The mood is discernible depending on the night. Whilst I was there I could sense a palpable atmosphere of tension upon the discovery of the so-called “Caesar salad bar.”

Later in the night I felt the shockwave of utter surprise and delight when butter chicken was discovered during that hallowed meal.

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Beyond the wild lands of the watering hole there exists a strange habitat called “Fraser.” I had the rather unfortunate pleasure of visiting this building for an extended period once upon a time and was inexorably dismayed.

They live in conditions that no commuter would dare dream of: shared bathrooms, some triple occupancy rooms, and worse! To my astonishment, the local residents seemed to take it all in stride and even maintain a semblance of happiness. What strange creatures are these that can exist within such a weighty environment.

Deep within these lands I encountered a flock of wild Blundstones and was delighted to see that they do indeed nest natively in this wild and dangerous tundra.

Residents seem to have a peculiar life cycle. They first enter this brave new world straight from a private Christian school of their choosing and lay down roots wherever they are. They also seem to have a bizarre set of nomenclature to their tribal system. Some identify as 3.14 Low, while another may identify as 5.709! Mid. It is baffling to think that some Residents would describe themselves as middling while others reveal their vulnerable emotional states in front of the other tribes. One would think that the issue of dominance would arise in such conditions; I have heard strange tales of bananas and forts to achieve such dominance, but I dismiss those as vague legends of eras past.

The rules of conversation with Residents are complex and must be pursued with the utmost caution and care. If you are caught in a gaff, the best thing to do is to lie and say you are part of student leadership or placate them with out of context quotes from the Gospels.

There is only one predator that patrols this land. Scientists call it Branta canadensis and I have seen it with my own eyes. Many call it the common Canadian Goose, but there is no such thing. It is a living nightmare that must be avoided at all costs if you value your life and liberty.

So for those of you who are brave enough to enter this world, I wish you the best of luck and have only this advice: don’t feed the wildlife.

Upon engaging one of the locales in conversation, they told me in their halting local dialect that the meeting rooms should be avoided for unspecified reasons. Nervous giggling ensued when they mentioned it, but I am sure it is a cultural response that I am not privy to.

MORNING MOURNING LORIN SCAIANO

A morning routine is an important part of any university education. As someone who has such incredible control of my life and is definitely not spiraling, I figured sharing my morning routine would be appreciated by the masses. The hope is that you, the reader, will look upon this and see how to change your ways to be a more successful student.

It’s Monday morning, 9:00. I wake up. “Five more minutes!” says nobody. I’m so thirsty, I drink as much water as my body can hold.

9:05. I trip over my growing laundry pile; that’s future-me’s problem. I sit down and bust out the day’s wordle in four guesses. Maybe five, or even three if I’m lucky. I don’t know what a tacit is, but I get it eventually.

9:20. I get dressed. Changing my shirt is too much effort, and the odds are that the one I’m wearing is cleaner than the one on my floor. I

say the mismatched socks are intentional, but we all know that’s a lie. Then comes the pants.

My individuality complex thrives off of which pants I pick for the day. Patched jeans? Clown pants? No, I go for the classic half-green halfblack joggers.

9:25. I put on shoes and leave my apartment for the first time since midday Friday.

9:26. I go back cause I forgot my mask, wallet, phone, student ID, hair tie, laptop, notebook, pen, and jacket.

9:31. I walk into class. I’m behind on all my assignments, my pants are backward, I haven’t eaten a meal in over 13 hours, but I am ready to be the best student that has ever graced the halls of one Trinity Western University.

SONIC: MY HERO, MY KING GREY ZANDER

A lot of people have their heroes. It may be an artist they admire, an influential figure they look up to, or a role model they follow. I have a hero, too, and I’m not sure if there’s any other way to put this, but my hero is better than everyone else’s (and I mean that in a derogatory way). My hero is Sonic.

You may say: “Grey, why Sonic? What is it about that fast lil’ hedgehog boy?” Is that all Sonic is to you? Where do you get off? Sonic is more than a fast lil’ hedgehog boy. He’s an icon, a speed demon, a chili dog connoisseur, and yet you devalue every ounce of his being. If you continue to insult Sonic like that… it is time to write your will. That’s not a threat. It’s a promise. And I don’t make the rules. Sonic does. Sonic is going to call his buddies (Tails, Knuckles, etc.), and they’re going to beat every last breath out of you.

Before you get too worried, this is all, of course, hypothetical (and I’m definitely not just saying that because I’ve been told I have to). Sonic is a king. Blessings will fall upon you if you praise Sonic as the king he is. Blessings of chili dogs and speed.

As wisely stated by another Sonic scholar: “Gotta go fast.” I’d really hate for you not to go very fast and to, in fact, not move at all for the rest of your life. I’m trying to help you, to save you. He’s there for you. So next time, when you’re considering who your true hero is––consider Sonic.

Consider that fast lil’ hedgehog boy. Otherwise, payback will come, and it will come fast.

FEET OR SEAT: A REBUTTAL TO JOHNATHAN WALKER BRAEDON GROVER SUNNES I think the question of sitting or standing is a useless waste of time, and, honestly, Walker’s exploration of the topic was an un-funny, rambling, and undecided piece of garbage.

There are so many questions that could be asked: fold or crumple, push or release, shampoo bottle or phone, yet he decided to take up 1/6th of my section (the perfect portion to wipe with) pointlessly arguing with himself about sitting or standing. The issue is completely situational, and, I think, is more of a result of a far greater question, rather than a foundational building block that dictates a person’s value.

This critical question to be asked, of course, is front or back.

I feel obligated to recognize the limited demographic that this argument can address. While I believe, through our Heavenly Father, all things are possible, it is also important to recognize the health risks wiping from the front poses for those plagued by the abyss. For those of us burdened with Shakespeare’s historical kings, this argument does bring up the valid question of how, and for the brave, why?

First and foremost, the how is achieved primarily through a humbling of self and surrender of our ego. One can feel safe and confident twisting their torso in an unnatural way to reach behind

and clean the troph, yet, this is a defense mechanism built up over years of trauma by releasing in public.

We have taught ourselves that if we do this as habit, we will never be caught with our pants down, reaching down and through, if someone accidentally opens the door, or if someone peers through the cracks of the stall. But, even if only in the comfort of your own home at first, moving the forbidden fruit aside to easily remove from the front feels as natural as being cradled in your mother’s arms. It recalls us back to a simpler time when our gagging father would wipe us as we laid on our backs, from the front. I challenge you to find vulnerability in trying this once in a safe place.

DEAR MORAL KOALA...

Dear Moral Koala, I recently had a massive wave of baby fever, and I am a little worried. I am in a loving and healthy marriage, but we’ve talked about waiting for kids until we have paid off our student loans. Over reading break, I visited family and all my siblings have just had kids––and holding those little meat sacks in my arms got my heart racing. Does the Bible say anything about waiting to have kids? Please, any advice is appreciated.

Sincerely, Lascivious Lady

Dear Lascivious Lady, This is something I have trouble with too! But don’t you worry; this is a Bible Basic I often bring to light when talking with young couples. If we look at the fall of man, caused by woman, we see God say, “I will make your pains of childbearing very severe; with painful labour you will give birth to children.” Now why is childbirth so painfully laborious? That, my friend, is because the umbilical cord is the root of all sin! Why else would Cain RKO his dear brother? Adam and Eve’s original sin has been being passed down through generations because of this evil tube. So there you have it! This “Baby Fever” you speak of is purely your desire to sin kicking in. Resist at all costs!

With equivocal virtue, Moral Koala Do you have your own questions for Moral Koala? Submit them in the declassifieds!

Now, why? This escaped me for some time. But after one horrid day in Shrek’s opening hut, I was frivolously and fruitlessly attempting to bend and break to clean from behind. I knew that I had to try it, lest I be left with a fresh bush of berry to start my day. Praying that I’d be forgiven by myself if this was a plunder, I swept aside courage and scraped. While I will admit, this isn’t something I find myself doing all the time, ever since, on any especially unforgiving day, wiping from the front achieves a plethora more than contortion from the back.

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