Volume 25 Issue 9: Psyche

Psyche

The Community Covenant PG. 8

Mental Health Survey PG. 10-11

VOLUME 25 ISSUE 09

Religious Trauma PG. 12

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MEET THE

TEAM

LETTER FROM THE (MANAGING)

EDITOR

It’s March again and, if you are anything like me, you are still trying to get over last March.

It has been a full year, and COVID-19 feels more like a burden on every aspect of our lives than the life changing and consuming thing it was just a year ago. We are all sick of talking about this virus and what it has done to our plans. We are sick of the discussions about how this situation might have changed restaurants, gyms, education, and everything else forever. We are sick of arguing about things that seem like common sense, such as mask wearing and the legitimacy of vaccines. It is exhausting, and if we can avoid talking about COVID-19, we do.

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But there is one topic we must never tire of discussing when it comes to this pandemic: mental health.

Close to two million kids called the Kids Help Phone in 2019; 4.2 million called in 2020. Between January and June of 2019, 11 percent of adults reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders. In the month January, 2021, alone, 41 percent reported symptoms. There is no denying the toll this pandemic has taken on the mental health of our general population. r

The biggest mistake we can make is assuming that we are all experiencing the same pandemic. COVID-19 has exposed issues we didn’t know we were facing until the world was brought to its knees. Those who had never felt isolated were forced into isolation. Those who had never experienced loneliness were told to be absolutely lonely for the safety of their loved ones. Those who needed to constantly be on the move in order to make it through their day were told to sit still. And, for some of us, not much changed except for a few new inconveniences.

This issue’s theme is “Psyche” as a part of our agreement with TWUSA to help them promote Mental Health March. This month, we reflect on our own mental health and what we can do to make ourselves healthier, and learn about the resources available to us to help our own needs and our relationships. But as we reflect on ourselves, let us also take a moment to reflect on others with hidden needs. Think of the ones who we only see in our Zoom breakout rooms and have no idea what they are actually going through. Think of the ones who are thankful for a mask that hides half of their face so no one can see the pain.

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We may all be in the same storm, but we are all in different boats.

MARS’ HILL

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MEDIA ADVISOR: Loranne Brown 22500 University Drive, Langley Twp, British Columbia, Canada V2Y 1Y1 marshill@gmail.com marshillnewspaper.com IG @marshillnewspaper Twitter @marshillnews facebook.com/marshillnewspaper

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Mars’ Hill is a student publication of Trinity Western University located on the traditional ancestral territory of the Sto:lo 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

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

EDITORIAL POLICY

Mars’ Hill encourages submissions and Letters to the Editor. Mars’ Hill reserves the right to edit submissions for style, brevity, and compatibility with the Mission, 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

Christa Lyford Sydney Dvorak Abigail Sefzik Allison Yang Nathan Froehlich Emily Wessner

Alice Jun Lucy Chuang Vanessa Mjølsness Savannah Purdy Gillian Scott Jenna Diersch

DECLASSIFIEDS SUBMIT YOUR OWN AT MARSHILLNEWSPAPER.COM/DECLASSIFIEDS

I’m a dubious dude I don’t like boys anymore they’ll like run out of toilet paper and not buy any for 3 months Don’t forget to be a generous lover... of the Bible... lover of the Bible To whoever responded to my ENGL 103 comment - I totally agree! It’s not a bad class, and Leah Cameron is superb (albeit she wasn’t my 103 prof), I was just saying that it doesn’t represent the entire scope of the TWU English department for those who are still under the misconception that it does.

This is the way.

“Worrying means you suffer twice” ~ Newt Scamander Guys Brooklyn 99 is ending after Season 8 :( Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool.

No doubt, no doubt, no doubt...

If you see something wrong. Remember you can call security (604) 513 2099

Sean Hui is the kindest person I know and his smile just light up my day;) All I want to do is bop. bop,bop,bop to the top :( It is a sad day for Mr. Goose and his wife.

Peanut butter and banana is the best thing Mr. Goose tried to get into the Main Caf to get help since his wife was injured Notion is the best productivity app/website!!! Go to notion.so and sign up!!!

Use your student email for more features for free!!!

RIP Mrs. Goose Went on a walk in the Back 40 and the air smelt like gasoline, the stream was flowing with rainbow like oil spillage... it is sad to be reminded of how society is killing the earth.

Shout out to International students that have to work so hard to get visas on top of everything else education requires of you Capitalism is God’s system

Children are worse than mice

That moment when you’re convinced you’re walking behind Kyle Penner and it turns out to be Dr. Joanne Pepper.

What panini will i change the world with today “I’ve never used a pen” -Tyler Jones survey answer i forgot: twu can fix mental health by allowing pets and alcohol on campus Baconator and nuggies

Don’t tell the profs what happens in breakout rooms. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. rip the worship arts program abigail go like my tweet right now

Is Bill Clinton the Illuminati?

If the world was blind, who would you be impressing?

Tom Hanks: is he who he says he is?

Is it cannibalism for a ginger to drink ginger ale?

“You heartbreaker”... “no, i’m making these men into warriors”

Can we know this to be true?

“my belly buttons been tender for years...”

So are we just paying for declassifieds then?

If u wanna let me know i have a booger. USE PRIVATE MESSAGE ON ZOOM INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT IN THE CHAT FOR EVERYONE

4th Spring, yet I still got no ring #sendhusbandsoon I still think that Trinity should put their money to a playground for adults but I guess the newly paved parking lots are great sk8 grounds :P

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.

CONTRIBUTOR OF THE ISSUE: CHRISTA LYFORD WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR? English WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Stanwood, Washington, United States.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING? My favorite article of clothing would be my winter scarf I wear all the time. It’s black and white, goes with every outfit, and my friend bought it for me during an impromptu trip to Target.

WHAT IS YOUR ON-BRAND ZOOM BACKGROUND? Last semester, when I was living off campus, I had a big Great Wave poster hanging behind me for my zoom calls (its official title is Katsushika Hokusai’s Under the Wave off Kanagawa). I got a lot of comments on it from professors and other virtual students! It has journeyed with me to Langley, and now hangs in my dorm room. Although it’s sadly not in view of my camera anymore.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ARTICLE YOU’VE WRITTEN FOR MARS’ HILL AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? This is my first time writing for Mars’ Hill, and I had a blast talking about Midsommar in my article for the Arts and Culture section. While reviewing a movie might not seem as impactful as a piece about politics or current events, I believe in taking a critical lens to the stories that we consume. This is especially relevant with films like Midsommar––it’s important to talk about how movies can affect us psychologically!

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE (FICTIONAL) CHARACTER AND WHY? I have many favorite fictional characters, but I especially enjoy Dr. Olivia Octavius from Into the Spiderverse. The world needs more crazy scientist ladies.

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NEWS COMING SOON: CANADA’S OWN THREE-DIGIT SUICIDE PREVENTION LINE EMMA DYKSTRA Content warning: Suicide On December 11, 2020, a motion to create a National Suicide Prevention 9-8-8 helpline was passed unanimously in the Canadian House of Commons. The motion was put forward by Conservative Member of Parliament Todd Doherty. The hotline is all the more essential with a pandemic putting those who are suicidal more at risk due to long periods of self-isolation. Canada’s current suicide prevention number is a long ten digit number that can waste valuable time during emergency situations. “When minutes count,” Doherty stated during his motion, “help should be only three digits away.”

The service is expected to be built by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and Crisis Services Canada. The goal is to have all regions of Canada represented and have this hotline accessible to them, especially rural communities and isolated Indigenous reserves. All those who use the three digit hotline will be connected to a service in their area.

So why the numbers 9-8-8? Earlier in 2020, the United States Federal Communications Commission voted to designate 9-8-8 as its national suicide prevention hotline. Canadian law makers are hoping that the national recognition of the numbers will cross the border, and that Canadians and Americans alike will recognize the numbers as an easy way to access help in both countries. The United States expects to have its hotline up and running by the summer of 2022.

However, Canada may not get the numbers it hopes. While 9-8-8 might be easy to remember, lawmakers need to make sure the number is not assigned to another service in certain regions in remote corners of the country. But all are agreed that the number must be as memorable as possible to make it useful in a crisis.

While the motion was unanimously passed with enthusiasm, that does not mean there is a smooth journey ahead; setting up the service will not be an easy task. Experts predict that the set up could take one to two years.

For Doherty, this hotline has a personal motivation. Doherty lost a friend to suicide when he was in high school, and has spent his life wondering what could have been done differently to save his friend.

“Suicide had deeply impacted my life,” Doherty told iPolitics in December. “This is not a partisan issue, and not one of the 338 members of Parliament has been left untouched by suicide or mental illness.

This is a very real issue, and my job is to find a way to get this done.”

This past year has been excruciatingly difficult for those with mental health diagnoses. If you are struggling, you can still reach out before 9-8-8 is set up.

Canada Suicide Prevention Service Phone: 1-833-456-4566 Text: 45645 (4 p.m. to midnight ET only)

COLUMN: FEMINIST NEWS COVID-19 AND WOMEN’S MENTAL HEALTH

SYDNEY DVORAK

COVID-19 has been a global health emergency, but no one could have foreseen the adverse effects the pandemic has had on mental health. While research is still scarce, new studies have revealed that women’s mental health has been more profoundly affected compared to others’ during this time.

According to Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, it was found that 27 percent of women reported increases in mental illness challenges compared to 10 percent of men.

Veronica Guadagni, a mental health researcher at the University of Calgary, said “Generally, the study found women reporting more anxiety and depression. Their symptoms worsened over time and with greater length of the isolation period.”

Of the same study, Senior Investigator Giuseppe Iaria stated, “I was not surprised by the findings; women are the ones who carry the additional load; taking care of family and critical situations has always been a huge load on women and females.”

In addition, women also reported lack of emotional support and difficulty accessing quality healthcare services during the pandemic.

It is also important to highlight how the mental health of transgender women has been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Gender-affirming surgeries and access to hormones have been known to greatly reduce mental health problems in transgender individuals.

Difficulties due to overwhelmed healthcare systems havecause limited access to selective medical procedures. As a result, high

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levels of anxiety and depression have been reported in trans women as they maintain unwanted gender identities in the pandemic.

In the developing world statistics are even more staggering. Women in Bangladesh are 100 percent more likely than men to face mental health problems during the pandemic, compounded by limits to healthcare services.

As we all continue to exist in this state of global emergency, it is no doubt that worry, stress, and loneliness have increased. People living with mental illness may be finding it harder to cope under current conditions of isolation and emergency. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can contact the following for immediate support in B.C.: 310Mental Health Support Call 310-6789 for emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health 1-800-SUICIDE ​Call 1-800-784-2433 if you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide KUU-US Crisis Response Service ​Call 1-800-588-8717 for culturally-aware crisis support for Indigenous peoples in B.C. Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service Call 1-800-663-1441 to find resources and support

COLUMN: WHAT THE HONK?

OH CANADA, WILL YOU BE PARTICIPATING IN THE 2022 OLYMPICS? CHRISTA LYFORD

With 205 countries represented, 3.6 billion viewers, and costs of up to $13.2 billion dollars––the Olympic Games are built on big numbers. With as much exposure as they get, the Olympics have also been a hotspot of political discussion and oftentimes, tension. Such is the case with this upcoming 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Currently, China holds the bid for the 2022 Games, but is embroiled in rising controversy over the treatment of its Uygher citizens. For the past three years, the Chinese government has been attempting to “re-educate” this ethnic minority group occupying Xinjiang––a northwest region of the country. As many as 500 000 to a million people have been detained in re-education camps. As a Muslim majority, their religious practices have been banned, and Chinese documents have revealed plans to force long-term birth control on 80 percent of Uyghur women in the region. On February 16, Erin O’Toole, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to enact an official relocation of the historic event due to these human rights abuses.

“While there is a genocide taking place, we should not be turning a blind eye toward that,” O’Toole said. “If there is no change in conduct by the state of China, we should examine whether our athletes should compete.” He says he is calling on the prime minister to approach the IOC about considering alternate options for hosting the 2022 Games.

But while O’Toole has no problem leveling these accusations at China, Trudeau has still been hesitant to speak with the same sharpness. In a response to O’Toole’s address, the prime minister declined to label China’s treatment of Uyghur people as a “genocide”––cautioning that a loose application of the term devalues the gravity of its meaning. He said that, in regard to the Olympics, Canada continues to be “very vocal” in standing up for human rights around the world.

This use of softer language could be indicative of the Canadian Government’s hesitation surrounding the situation with the two Michaels. The businessman, Michael Kovrig, and Michael Spavor, a former diplomat, are two Canadian citizens who have been detained in China without charges since December, 2018. Trudeau denied that the lack of that particular label was due to China’s detainment of these two men.

China’s treatment of the Uyghurs is not the only criticism being held against them.

Not only are the two Michaels being used as “diplomatic hostages,” Australian journalist Cheng Lei was arrested by Chinese authorities this February––also with no charges. Fifty-nine countries have joined Canada’s Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations in response to these events.

On February 23, based on the 1948 UN Genocide Convention definition, Parliament passed the motion to officially regard the Uyghur situation as genocide. Trudeau was not present for the vote, and government officials have not adopted the term despite the House’s affirmation.

WHAT THE HONK IS A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY?

EMMA DYKSTRA

Why is the queen on all of our coinage? Why do we have a governor general? Why are we still connected to Britain? The answer is found in our system of government.

Canada is a constitutional monarchy. An absolute monarchy is when a monarch is supreme authority, but a constitutional monarchy is governed by the laws laid out in the constitution, just like everyone else. Constitutional monarchs technically do not rule, but they do carry out constitutional, ceremonial, and representational duties. The monarchy is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government.

The monarch serves as a nonpartisan authority in Canada. But they do not have that much authority, as it is their job to trust the power of governing to the elected government. So we have a prime minister, but only because the Crown “lets us.” Rarely has the Crown ever objected or interfered with the government, and it is highly unlikely it ever will.

One example of the Crown’s authority in Canada is law making. Provinces and Parliament vote on and pass bills, however they need the Crown’s approval before it becomes law. The Crown almost never objects (except for one instance in 1945, but that is a whole other article). It is regularly its duty to follow the advice of the government.

So that is the constitutional monarchy in a nutshell. If you want to learn more about our beloved monarch Queen Elizabeth II, go watch “The Crown” on Netflix. Though there is not a single mention of Canada (seriously, not one), the show is worth watching to learn a little bit about the people who hold our laws in their hands.

With all of this bad blood towards China––its actions, policies, and responses––the future of the 2022 Olympic Games seems uncertain. Only time will tell if O’Toole and other public figures will be successful in convincing the IOC to relocate the Games–– quite possibly at the cost of withdrawing Canadian athletes from the competitions entirely.

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President

Vice President No Candidate 4%

No Candidate 7%

Annie Zander 42%

Sarah Kate Davis 51%

Vice President of Academic Relations

Kevin Chai 43%

Andrew Bouchard 53%

Vice President of Student Relations

No Candidate 13%

Javen Kay 34%

Christine Jerusha Miranda 15% Olivia Corps 46% Christa Lyford 41%

No Candidate 7%

Ezechiel Kouassi 44%

TWUSA ELECTION RESULTS 2021 ABIGAIL SEFZIK

This marks the end of TWUSA’s first ever all digital election season!

We saw new and innovative approaches to traditional campaigning. Thank you to each of the candidates who participated in our campaign week; win or lose, it takes an abundance of bravery to step out and share your passions and ideas with the TWU Community. I can say without a doubt that each candidate represented themselves well and ran with integrity. Many people were inspired by their visions and I could feel a renewed sense of hope in our student body. I also wanted to thank you as the student body for encouraging and participation through your vote. I hope that you will continue to be involved in TWUSA for however many years you have left at TWU. May God bless you and keep you safe.

Abigail Sefzik, Executive Vice President, Election CEO

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Vice President of Finance No Candidate 11%

Maxwell Alstad 89%

ARTS & CULTURE

EMPOWERMENT OR FAUX-FREEDOM? THE CULT PSYCHE IN MIDSOMMAR CHRISTA LYFORD SPOILER ALERT Content warning: Horror themes, death, violence.

While the early months of the year crawl along complete with dark skies, clammy mornings, and endless rain it is natural to want a change of pace. If you are looking to scratch that scary-movie-itch, but you are also sick of the gloom, then Midsommar may be the movie for you. This psychological horror film takes place almost entirely under the glaring sunlight and is filled with sequences of brightly-dressed people dancing in open fields, set among breathtaking Swedish scenery. But, as all good horror movies establish, there is more to this simple village than there seems. Directed by Ari Aster and released in 2019, Midsommar’s unconventional setting, elegant tangle of suspense, and horrifying conclusion leaves a striking impression on its viewers.

The film follows the story of Dani, her boyfriend Christian, and Christian’s friends from grad school. Christian and Dani’s relationship is in the process of fizzling out. He can’t find the heart to break it off after the deaths of Dani’s parents and sister. As he is her only remaining support, he takes her along on a trip to Sweden to attend a Midsommar festival that pertains to his thesis research. They stay with a commune––called the Hårga––whose odd and intimate practices end up manipulating Dani and her companions apart. Dani is embraced with outpourings of love and affection, while Christian is seduced away from her by other members, leading to Dani’s trust in him being shattered. The conclusion leaves Dani being crowned as the May Queen: fully accepted and exalted by the Hårga. And in her hands is the choice of a human sacrifice for the pinnacle of the festival. She chooses Christian. He is then paralyzed, stuffed into a gutted bear corpse, and burned alive.

panions, and the ecstasy of being sought after and intentionally loved by the Hårga. In that light, Christian seems like a pathetic boyfriend: he does not listen to her problems, he does not mourn with her––he just feels guilty about breaking up with her. If you have been in a relationship like that, Dani choosing to sacrifice him could seem like a victory. It could seem like she has freed herself from Christian and his lukewarm presence, by whom she never “feels held” (as a Hårga character puts it), ushering her into a new, emotionally and relationally intimate society.

The European Institute for Gender Equality defines “empowerment of women” as the “process by which women gain power and control over their own lives and acquire the ability to make strategic choices.” At first glance, Dani’s story could seem to fit that definition. After all, isn’t our current patriarchal society to blame for the widespread dismissal of emotions? Doesn’t Christian represent an extension of that silencing that both women and men face when it comes to expressing grief? Isn’t Dani, in choosing the Hårga community, gaining freedom?

However, a closer look will reveal that her story is the opposite of empowering. The entire situation is manipulated by the Hårga from the start. That is what cults do. They need you to believe that the outside world has nothing to offer you––that true community and enlightenment can only be found with a certain way of living among certain individuals. Dani choosing Christian’s death is her severing her last tie to the outside world, and completing the toxic plot that was set in motion the moment she arrived there.

A grisly ending, right? But as people left the theaters and posted their reactions to social media, Twitter became abuzz with a concerning number of people who rallied around Dani’s actions. Christian was dubbed as the villain.

The Hårga cult was heralded as the catalyst to Dani choosing her own happiness. While we may want to cheer for a tale of female empowerment, in reality, Dani does not emerge victorious before the credits roll. The brilliance of Midsommar is that the film itself utilizes cultish persuasion to brainwash you, the viewer, into cheering for the villains.

The very core of this movie depends on the audience sympathizing with Dani. We feel her grief at the loss of her family, her isolation among her com

Midsommar is a story about a young woman at her lowest point, lonely and grieving, desperate for authentic human connection. This community meets her where she is at. But that smokescreen of love-bombing is what cults have used for centuries to lure vulnerable people to their side. While Dani is dancing with the Hårga girls––her hair braided up with flowers, laughing and smiling for the first time in ages––her companions are being dissected and strung up by their lungs, their skin peeled off, and eye sockets filled with flowers.

The genius of Midsommar is that we do not know that it is happening, and most of our time is spent watching people dance and partake in harmless rituals. It is not until the end that the true purpose of the festival is fully revealed, and the atrocities that the Hårga participate in are brought to light. And by then, you might have already been sucked in by the intense affection and infectious community––just like Dani.

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DECOLONIZING CREATION ALLISON YANG

When I was in Sunday school, I was always taught that Adam and Eve ruled over the plants and animals in the garden of Eden. As I grew up, the language changed, but the idea did not—we are stewards of the Earth, and we have a responsibility to manage and use natural resources properly. We are the users; nature is the used.

A colonized faith has hammered this hierarchy into my worldview: God, then humans, then animals, and plants last. But can we really respect something when the only thing we are focused on is its functionality and its utility for us? And why does this sound so dangerously close to human relationships marked by abuse?

What I hear and read and learn over and over is this reverence for the land.

It dissolves any notion of a hierarchy––that we have power and control over nature. Instead, there is sacred life in all that is created. “To be a hill, to be a sandy beach, to be a Saturday,” Indigenous author and scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer writes in her book Braiding Sweetgrass, “all are possible verbs in a world where everything is alive… a mirror for seeing the animacy of the world, the life that pulses through all things, through pines and nuthatches and mushrooms…this is the language that lets us speak of what wells up all around us.”

I think that, at its heart, decolonization is about power redistribution. It is a movement towards equality based on inherent value rather than hierarchical functionality. What might it look like to give up power, to decolonize our relationship with nature, our fellow created beings?

My answer in one word would be marvel. To marvel at something or someone requires a surrender of power, because it requires a vulnerability to let ourselves be deeply affected––to be moved.

Late last summer, I found myself passing through a thicket of blackberry bushes on Vancouver Island. And instead of quickly plucking at the plumpest looking berries, I stopped. I reached out and asked with the gentlest tug of each berry, is this for me? And I marveled to find that the blackberry bush gifted only the sweetest, juiciest berries into my palm, keeping the still ripening ones for the next curious wanderer.

As a guest in anyone’s home, I often look to the host for cues about values and practices upheld in their space. What is the appropriate volume for conversation? Who cleans up after the meal? Shoes on or off? Similarly, as I grow in my understanding of my status as a guest on these unceded lands, I look to my hosts—to the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Stó:lō peoples, who have resided here for thousands of years. What are the values, practices, and cues of our hosts that we as settlers and immigrants have at best, ignored, and at worst, violently extinguished over hundreds of years?

Kimmerer asks: “Isn’t this just what it means, to be, to have the breath of life within, to be the offspring of Creation? …[after all,] we must say of the universe that it is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects.”

Perhaps this is what lies in wait in our decolonizing of and communion with Creation: the wonder, the delight, and the humility of receiving the thoughtful gift of a sticky blackberry.

THE COMMUNITY COVENANT: SEPARATING THE SET APART FROM THE “SET APART” NATHAN FROEHLICH

If I were to give a show of fingers for the number of times that people have asked me, upon hearing I went to Trinity Western University (TWU), “oh don’t you have to sign that weird contract?” I would need at least four more sets of hands. And that is just for the straight people that ask. How I feel about the Community Covenant has changed a lot in the years since I first set foot on TWU’s campus. As a somewhat sheltered 18-year-old entering adulthood, I initially found comfort in it. Finishing a ski season where I lived with coke-snorting Jezebel-spirit housemates who kept coming home drunk at 4 a.m. is what drove me to seek Christian education. The thought of being in an environment where people were held to high moral standards was the perfect juxtaposition to feed my then ravenous Evangelical appetite, which I later realized was really my indoctrinated religious superiority complex. TWU seemed like the perfect bootcamp to prepare me for a life of “living in the world, but not being of it.” But after integrating to campus life, and hearing the umpteenth prayer request to magically have better time-management skills, and seeing through the facade of Christ-likeness in the community, the Covenant just felt like virtue signaling.

not enough, requiring student leaders to sign the Covenant not only places those who sign it on a moral-social pedestal, but it demands that some students, not just queer, must go against their values to get a stipend. Further, it also makes it impossible for queer students with queer-affirming theology to fully serve their community. If not obvious enough, this is the equivalent to telling a gay person they cannot serve in church or get a job simply because they are gay and in a relationship. TWU loves to market itself as a place where all students belong, but belonging does not mean forcing someone to go against their values to fit in. As Dr. Brené Brown writes in her book Daring Greatly, asking people to “distance themselves from another group of people as a condition of ‘belonging’ is always about control and power.”

As a former leader of One TWU, I had issues with the Covenant’s overt anti-queer tenets. Now that I have been out of TWU for a couple years, undergone a faith deconstruction, and enrolled in public education (*gasp*), I cannot help but wonder if the Community Covenant taught us anything valuable, or if it simply upholds a respectable image of TWU by forcing its students to follow a set of rules, by which, let’s be honest, very few abide anyway.

The Community Covenant asks its students to be truthful, which first requires self-honesty. It states that “Biblical [and TWU] ideals” include the traditional definition of marriage, which poses a unique challenge entirely for queer students whose sexual or gender identity is not honoured by TWU’s Covenant, or major iterations of Christianity at large. Second, these ideals are problematic because not all of them necessitate Biblical “truth” in the first place. For example, the word “homosexual” was not even in the Bible until 1946 and its root word referred to a cultural practice of pedophilia, so to say that “the Bible condemns same-sex unions” is not truthful. There is a difference between choosing to live an honouring life of integrity in the name of Jesus, and creating a set of rules and expectations by which only specific people can conform. That is not “God’s best”––it is both religious and straight supremacy.

And no, making it optional to sign the Community Covenant does not magically make things better. In doing so, the Covenant now operates as a function of social stratification, creating groups of students that are set apart from the already “set apart.” As if the pre-existing social hierarchies at TWU were

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As a student, I not only had concerns about signing the Covenant, but I felt its impact reflected in the TWU community and the barrier it created for students to be vulnerable. The subliminal message I received through the community was that my belonging was dependent on my ability to conform to TWU norms, including being straight, which was not doable for me who was then grappling with my sexual identity. Had the Covenant held its students to a standard in which they are encouraged to live their lives in accordance with their theology and conviction, and not TWU’s vision of God, I can only wonder how my experience might have been different. And that maybe––just maybe––it would not have physically hurt to breathe some days.

INSIDE THE QUEER CHRISTIAN MIND WITH SEMLER’S PREACHER’S KID CARTER SAWATZKY

In mid-February, queer Christians had a landmark moment.

Grace Baldridge (artist name Semler) debuted their EP, Preacher’s Kid, which takes listeners on a journey inside the mind of their own coming-of-age queer Christian experience. And it clearly resonated: within a week of its release, on February 9, the album topped the Christian music chart on iTunes at number one. Preacher’s Kid even ended up dethroning Look Up Child by Lauren Daigle, which held the top spot for the 88 weeks prior.

As far as we know, Semler became the first queer person of faith in music history to be number one on iTunes’ Christian charts. Making a mark in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) world is no small feat especially for an industry that is notorious for its exclusion of LGBTQ+ musicians. Semler’s rise to success—without any label, radio advertising, or playlist help—proves to music executives that there is a viable market for queer Christian content like Preacher’s Kid.

their experience in being alienated from their faith: “But I’m a child of God, just in case you forgot / And you cast me out every single chance that you got.” A repeated refrain concludes the track: “Oh what I’d give for just an inch of your peace / Cause I wanna fall but I’ve got bruises on my knees.”

The standout track and lead single of the EP, “Jesus From Texas,” arrives with a bustling choir of strumming guitars as Semler proceeds to lay out the thesis of Preacher’s Kid: “Oh what a terrible honor it’s been / To learn that my blessings are things you called sins / I’ll spend the rest of my life tearing down / The Jesus from Texas you put in a crown.”

In “Chicken,” we get to glimpse one of their formative romantic relationships while growing up evangelical. “Youth Group” is humorously dedicated to “the kids who have their sexual awakening at the youth group lock-in.” In a moment of extended vulnerability they tenderly admit, “now I’m grown up and I’m f****d up. Is there still a god I can trust? If you’re out there I’m waiting.”

While some were resistant to having the EP labelled as a Christian album, others were overjoyed to see an openly queer artist triumph in a way that has never been done before. On Twitter, Baldridge enlisted fans to “claim it for anyone who has been cast out in the name of God.” Semler’s album accomplished the dream of so many queer and progressive worship leaders and musicians who have longed for that elusive top spot. For the many who have been rejected or made to feel unwelcome by their families and faith communities because of their sexuality, Preacher’s Kid is a victory.

In “Good Man,” the heart-breaking honesty continues as they confess, “I believe in forgiveness, but I don’t know if people can change”; contextualized with being scorned from the church, this lyric takes on a whole new depth.

Preacher’s Kid closes off with the country-inflected “Promised Land (outro)” where Semler sings, “I’ve wrestled too long to lose my name”––they are committed to keeping their faith despite all the naysayers. The last lines of the album closer crescendo to a chant: “I don’t know who you think I am but I belong in the promised land…but I’ll be ready at the Father’s hand.”

As the album was charting high, Baldridge tweeted, “I’m not gonna respond to anyone asking me to repent or saying I’m an abomination. I understand I’m a different sort of image bearer than you’re used to seeing in CCM. But I’m here and I’m beloved by God and I have a story to tell.”

The history-making debut from Semler pays a stunning tribute to the lives of the countless kids who have grown up with varying degrees of religious trauma because of their love and expression. As a queer person myself, Preacher’s Kid spoke to my own fraught journey of coming out, identifying bad theology, yearning for a greater love, and seeking a home for myself in the Church. Not only did this cinematic rollercoaster of a record deliver in emotional lyrical mastery, Preacher’s Kid functions as an effective warning call––that we’re here and we’re queer, so get used to it.

And storytelling seems to be a gift of Baldridge’s: the eight-track record moves through heart-rending moments of trauma, healing, resilience, and worship with remarkable ease. Beginning with “Bethlehem,” Semler recounts

A RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS FALSE ALARM: JUSTICE SERVED FOR JAMES COATES EMILY WESSNER

As an opinionated Christian, I was tempted to ignore all the Facebook posts and Instagram stories I had seen in regards to the Pastor James Coates situation that went viral. However, after reading how the story was being twisted, I started to worry that people would see Christians in a negative light due to their response to these recent events. Instead of being inspired by those who do not want to conform to the COVID-19 rules, many Christians are embarrassed, like I am. I felt strongly that I had to share at least some of the facts, so people can see the situation as a whole.

Here are the facts: On February 16, 2021, Pastor James Coates turned himself in and was arrested on three counts of breaking the Public Health Act. Coates hosted a church service that went over the maximum capacity, did not enforce social distancing, and the majority of those in attendance were not wearing masks. Despite being previously warned by the RCMP, Pastor Coates and the Church continued to break the health guidelines during their services. The government had plans to release him shortly after his arrest, but Coates did not agree to the health guidelines, so his court date has now been extended and he remains in custody.

He was not imprisoned because he was preaching. He was imprisoned because he ignored multiple requests from the RCMP to follow health and safety guidelines. In Alberta, church services are allowed to proceed but in limited capacity and mandatory masking of those in attendance. Coates decided to break these rules: the church had too many people inside, most not wearing masks or physical distancing. His right to preach was never taken away.

I personally do see a problem with how the government has chosen to allow cafes, shopping stores, and many other non-essential things to remain open while insisting that churches close. I see a massive double standard there. But I also value human life. And if the rule is that for a time, I am unable to attend church services in person, I will follow that because I do not want to cause unnecessary harm––and possibly even death.

I think there is a double standard, and I think churches should be allowed to open in a limited capacity. Yet, in this situation, James Coates was not arrested for preaching––his religious freedoms were not taken away. All that was asked was that he follow the health guidelines that are in place to protect us.

He could have kept preaching and even could have kept having in-person church services if he wanted, but he chose to intentionally disobey the rules; therefore he was jailed.

This pandemic is rough for all of us. My grandpa passed away just recently due to non-COVID-19 related issues. In those final weeks, I was limited in the amount I could hug him because of COVID-19 precautions. It broke my heart that I was unable to hug him like I wanted to. I hate this virus as much as the next person, specifically for this reason, and I do think the government could be doing things differently. However, I am also going to follow the rules set in place to protect people, so that others are given more freedom when saying their goodbye to their grandpas and other loved ones. Wearing a mask really is not that bad, and making sure you understand all the facts before you claim that someone is being religiously persecuted is equally as important.

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RESPONDENTS

I HAVE (CAN SELECT MORE THAN ONE). . .

MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY 10

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LETTER FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT ON MENTAL HEALTH MARCH ABIGAIL SEFZIK, TWUSA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Over the years I have sat with family members, loved ones, and peers as they have suffered at the cold hands of mental illness. In these quiet moments, sometimes solidarity is better than solutions.

We want to dedicate an entire month to opening up a conversation about mental health––each week will have a different theme with the goal of exploring various taboos and topics. I want to make it abundantly clear that my intention behind Mental Health March is not an attempt to fix, generalize, or demean anyone’s struggles with mental illness. But rather, I hope to start a conversation––to see the unseen and provide a space for sharing.

My goal is to innovate a movement bigger than myself––something that surpasses our immediate community. My hope and prayer is that each of you leave this week more contemplative, more aware, less alone, and more empowered to discover vulnerability.

Maybe for you, this month is about listening instead of speaking, or maybe this time it is about speaking instead of listening. Either way,this month is for us.

For those who can’t get out of bed in the morning, For those who hope that maybe this time the medication will work, For those who are more comfortable with loneliness than other people, For those who grieve with no shoulder to cry on, For those who cut just to feel something, For those who are crippled by anxiety, For those who suffer in silence, For those who just want to feel normal, For those who can’t remember a time when they weren’t depressed, For those who smile just for show, For those who don’t know what to say, For those who lack motivation, For those whose worst enemy is a mirror, For those who don’t know how to love a loved one, For those you hurt and for those who don’t; you are seen, you are loved.

Whoever you are, whatever your struggles, joys, heartache, traumas, or expectations. I humbly ask you to be a part of this month––even if that’s just sticking around a little longer when you ask “how are you?” We are stronger together, my dear TWU. As we learn more about ourselves and others, I urge you to become friends with vulnerability and share by using the hashtag #MentalHealthMarch. Start a conversation, ask questions, and dive into taboos.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS ONE THING TWU COULD DO TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF STUDENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS? Promote awareness of resources and to train professors in the validity and importance of considering the impairment mental health issues.

Have professors give more grace. Online school is always exhausting and we are getting more work than before!

Make mental health resources more accessible and more affordable. Also having advocates for mental health at school so people know they are not in any way alone.

Teachers need to strategize ways to make student life more feasible. The amount of individual assignments due each week leave very little room for “life” outside of studying and it hinders students and exacerbates mental health issues.

I found out about specific counseling sessions on social media. But it would have been helpful to me if I had found out about those resources sooner through my RA. Focus more on creating a shame-free environment.

Professors should consider the workload during these strange times. We don’t have the same academic capacity that we did pre-pandemic.

Help to reduce the stigma on campus.

Give credits for classes with labs so they don’t have an unfair amount of work for the same number of credits. The workload can be very detrimental to ones mental health.

I think it comes down to individual professors. There is only so much administration can do, but professors have more power to help their students in terms of workload and grace when a student is having a particularly bad season with their mental health.

Get more counselors, do not limit sessions to each student. Make medication more accessible.

Talk about the resources more openly, and make it easier for students to get connected with resources that can help them.

Better education of the different resources available for students to use/how to use them Accessibility services need to be more widely advertised and accessible. The current accessibility office puts most of the pressure on the student.

Make counselling available for more than 10 sessions. The quality of the counselor I was seeing at The Well was really good but I maxed out my sessions and experienced a decline in progress while trying to figure out how to afford more expensive counselling. 10 sessions over an entire school year is not enough for people who are struggling but can’t afford to go elsewhere.

As someone with PTSD, being in a tense enviroment can immobolize me for days. Also, for struggling students with mental health, I wish the wellness centre could send information to professors so we don’t need to excuse or beg for understanding every time something comes up and we stuggle with school.

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OPINIONS HOPE ON THE OTHER SIDE: MY EXPERIENCE OF RELIGIOUS TRAUMA ANONYMOUS

Content Warning: Religious Trauma, Suicide, Depression, Anxiety When I was a kid, I never doubted God. I had believed that I would remain a Christian for my entire life and looked down on the people that I knew who had left the faith. They were wrong, and had willingly given up their chances of going to heaven. I would never understand how someone could see God as anything other than the ultimate good.

When I think about the person I used to be, I feel a lot of regret for the things that I said to others and the judgement I had towards them. I also know that I was experiencing a lot of pain and confusion, so it is hard not to mix in a desire for reassurance. I know how disappointed my younger self would be if he saw me today. To him I would be a failure, not having been strong enough to fight for my faith.

When I attended a Catholic high school, I found that the more Catholic you were, the more you fit in. Some of the most popular kids in my class were the most outwardly faithful, and I wanted to be just like them. So I would sing the loudest during school mass, I would always line up for confession when it was offered, and I would attend youth groups and larger Catholic youth conventions. Most regrettably, I looked down upon the kids who were not adhering to Catholic morality, or worse yet, had abandoned God.

During the first month of my fourth semester, I had been rushed to the emergency room due to a suicide attempt I made in my church’s parking lot. Luckily, I had not injured myself but I was in an awful state. I remember the doctor did not take my case seriously, telling me that it was “all a part of growing up” and let me go that night having advised that I seek counselling and little else.

Over the following year, I re-evaluated my faith. I remember the day I was walking by the pond and I decided to sever my relationship with God entirely, and the immediate pressure that lifted from me as I did. I remained at TWU until the completion of my degree, as many of the credits I had taken would not transfer to other institutions. I found it to be quite difficult to remain in this environment as someone who considers themself to be a survivor of religious trauma. To this day, listening to sermons or worship music provokes a deeply negative emotional response within me. Despite this, I still felt healthier and more free to be myself than ever before.

During this time, however, I was struggling with anxiety and depression that I did not understand. I always felt like I was doing something wrong, and I interpreted that feeling as God’s voice. God was telling me that I was not doing good enough and I was supposed to feel bad about it. It felt like I was constantly dirty.

I was failing God at every turn, especially as my morality confronted my sexuality. I had believed at the time that the sacrament of confession would heal me from both my sinfulness and the disgust I felt with myself, so I would replay all of my sins in my head as I prayed at night so I would not forget them. I remember I once made my confession to one of the priests of the church I attended, and that priest never looked at me the same for the remainder of the time he served our parish.

When I was graduating, I was not yet ready to leave the Christian environment I had been steeped in. I had known others who went to Trinity Western University (TWU) so I decided it would be my best bet to retain that bubble of faith. Around this time in my life, my struggle with anxiety and depression had worsened as I had recently lost a family member to sickness and a close friend to suicide. On top of these things, I had ruined a romantic relationship because my partner would not conform to the same moral standard to which I held myself. I prayed harder than I ever had before, but my situation kept getting worse. All the while, outward Catholicism was no longer a social boon in the wider environment of TWU. I found my feelings of inadequacy in the eyes of God to only grow and grow. The weight I felt was increasing and I believed that God must have intended me to feel that way. No priest that I confessed these feelings to offered any consolation aside from promised absolution, which did little to alleviate a chemical imbalance in my brain. I became more judgemental towards my friends and withdrew from them, neglecting my classwork enough to see a serious drop in my grades.

I do not write this article to deter anyone from their beliefs. I do not believe that walking away from religion is a cure-all for depression or suicidal ideation and I do not want to give the impression that I do. Perhaps it is entirely selfish of me to do this, but I wrote this article because I felt a pressing impulse to share my story with the community that shaped my life so significantly, even if this place will not remember me in a few month’s time.

I had considered writing this piece for Mars’ Hill for several years, and abstained from doing so due to the fear that it may have repercussions on my education.

Now, after I have graduated and been away from the institution for some time, I think I can finally be at peace with myself. I want to tell anyone who may be feeling the same things that it will be okay. It can get better. You are not alone and it is possible to survive this. Find the help that you need, and I promise there is hope on the other side.

FAIL BOLDLY, FAIL OFTEN MONICA RAWLEK ELIZONDO

Fail often, fail boldly, but don’t let your failure define you.

One thing that I have appreciated about Trinity Western University (TWU) is that it is a (relatively) safe place to fail. By fail, I am not just talking about academics.

When I first came to TWU in the fall of 2016, I had no idea what path lay before me. I have to say that throughout my five years at TWU I probably faced more failure than I had within my entire life at that point . Failure is something that we are taught to avoid and a notion that is often riddled with shame. There are so many negative connotations associated with failure that I often do everything I can to distance myself from it. However, I have realized that failure can shape you without defining you.

One place where there is a large accumulation of tangible failure in my life is all the student leadership opportunities I unsuccessfully applied for including, but not limited to the following: Community Facilitator Assistant, Freshman Rep on TWUSA, Resident Assistant, Community Facilitator, Director of Operations, VP of Student Relations, Global Projects Coordinator, Mars’ Hill Staff Writer, and

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many others as well. I took all these failures with varying levels of grace. There were many times that I felt like a failure because I was not selected for a position, whether I was truly passionate about it or not. Some of these roles I achieved at a later time and when that happened, I remember there being a moment when I felt incredibly grateful for the timing of how everything unfolded.

I, like most people, spend way too much time caring about what other people think about me. It’s a lot easier to talk about your successes and the things you’re good at; however, this isn’t where we grow.

There are so many experiences and opportunities you will have the chance to enjoy throughout university: student leadership, travel opportunities, summer jobs, internships, relationships––you name it. I have spent too much time worrying about failing or doing the wrong thing that, often, I end up doing nothing at all. But at the end of the day, you are not going to be remembered for the things you are able to write on your resume; you’ll be remembered by the ways you impacted the lives of those around you.

DAHMER ALICE JUN

Content Warning: Murder, Childhood negligence, Cannibalism, Sexual abuse According to a CNN interview in 2004, Jeffrey Dahmer was one of the most “notorious serial killers’’ in the U.S. The host, Larry King, described that Dahmer killed and dismembered body parts of “17 young men and boys,’’ eating body parts of some victims. Dahmer was killed in prison in 1994. Yet, even after his death, Dahmer’s dark legacy remains a significant part of America’s history.

Jeffrey Dahmer was born on May 21, 1960 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Daniel Goleman, an American author writes in the New York Times that Dahmer had a “troubled childhood.” Goleman states that Dahmer’s parents were divorced, and that his mother struggled with a “nervous breakdown.” Goleman also notes that Dahmer was sexually abused when he was eight years old. Additionally, Michael J. Baers depicts in his Encyclopedia.com article that Dahmer used to be a “happy, normal child”. However, at the age of six after a hernia operation, Dahmer “became remote, fearful, and distant.” Baers describes that as Dahmer grew, he was “in a realm of unpleasant fantasies.” Dahmer’s obsession eventually led him to commit his first murder, taking the life of a hitchhiker.

A New York Times article co-authored by James Barron with Mary B. W. Tabor states that the teachers in Dahmer’s elementary school noticed a sense of alienation in Dahmer’s first grade years. Baers writes that a teacher noticed Dahmer’s noticeable “shyness and [reclusiveness]” and felt a need to notify the parents. Tragically, Baers explains that “nothing was done” to help Dahmer at the time.

Potentially, if there was proper support aided throughout Dahmer’s early years, Dahmer may have turned out to be a normal individual. In King’s CNN interview with Dahmer’s parents, Shari Dahmer, Jeffrey’s stepmother explains that Jeffrey was very lonely when Dahmer’s biological mother left. That is when Dahmer first committed murder. Jeffrey Dahmer’s loneliness accumulated over the years, and manifested into a violent, tragic outlet.

The murders that Dahmer committed were horrendous and indefensible. Nevertheless, part of Dahmer’s actions was rooted in and developed by the unfortunate family situation and neglectful environment he was raised in. Dahmer’s parents’ abandonment towards their son may have been unintentional. Nevertheless, Dahmer did not have proper support in childhood and Shari says in the previously mentioned CNN interview, that the lesson to glean from Dahmer’s abnormal behavior is to love, watch and monitor children and “study their children in depth.” His family was not alone when it came to abandoning Dahmer; some of the blame can also be laid on public educators. Hyun Jung Lee, a reporter at South Korean broadcasting company SBS, states that “if the teachers pay closer attention to kids they can detect signs’’ of childhood abandonment. If the child’s needs are not met in private settings, the public figures must be educated about and attentively observe the early signs of the emotionally deprived children. Not only observing but further assisting the children to receive appropriate support, according to their needs, will help the children to grow up in a more healthy and balanced manner.

THE SCOOP ON CLUBHOUSE LUCY CHUANG

Launched in April, 2020, “Clubhouse” is a new drop-in audio app and is different from most social media platforms. For starters, you have to be invited by an existing user to get into the “club.” According to its official website, “Clubhouse is a new type of social product based on the voice that allows people everywhere to talk, tell stories, develop ideas, deepen friendships, and meet other interesting people from around the world.” Unlike other social media apps we have, there is no posting, no pictures and no videos.

Nothing you say in Clubhouse is recorded or kept.

Clubhouse launched almost a year ago now, and it currently has approximately six million registered users. It was developed by Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Paul Davison, and ex-Google employee, Rohan Seth. Due to its launch during the COVID-19 pandemic that sent everyone into quarantine, its popularity has increased tenfold. The app is only available on the iOS system, but it is only a matter of time until it is available for everyone––if you get invited, that is. As a user, you can start a public room and conversation, which any member can then drop into and contribute. Inside the room, the person who started the conversation acts as a moderator. If other users want to speak, they can “raise their hand” and be brought up to the “stage” alongside the moderator. If you are lucky enough, you might even be able to join Drake, Oprah Winfrey, or Ashton Kutcher’s Clubhouse room.

After receiving an invite through a friend, I had the chance to take a peek at this trend. From my perspective, Clubhouse feels both chaotic and exciting.

On the homepage, there are a plethora of rooms with a wide variety of topics.

The topics range from music, race, tech, or beauty. It felt more like an audible version of LinkedIn. Its algorithm corresponds with both your field of interests and who you choose to follow. After being in the different rooms for a while, I found I did not get hooked on this app as many people did.

In my opinion, the app is still in development and does not appear to target college students yet. Although, the app can be useful if you have a specific deeper discussion topic in mind, especially given that COVID-19 has reduced typical social interactions. Once in a while, you can find a room with a good discussion. I have been in a few rooms that discuss studying abroad or college life, yet I haven’t felt the connection with people to want to stay and listen.

Although Clubhouse is along the lines of podcasting, I don’t feel that one replaces the other. I find podcasts are great when I am cooking or taking a shower. They are typically short and I know what the topic is going to be.

Clubhouse, on the other hand, takes very long. Sometimes the discussion is not going anywhere, and unlike podcasts you cannot skip past parts. In addition, since the moderator can invite anyone to the “stage,” not everyone is expected to be a professional speaker, so it can get a bit awkward. These moments give me flashbacks to awkward Zoom classes. However, those imperfect interactions are what make the whole app more casual. Once your friends are also on the app, you can create private rooms to catch-up with them. Many users also enjoy the unpredictable nature of Clubhouse. They need to stay in the room to know what the next story will be.

Compared to other apps, Clubhouse is trying to create more privacy for its users. It uses the marketing strategy “First-mover advantage,” which helps establish stronger brand recognition and product loyalty over other social audio apps on the market. Overall, we are in this new chapter of social media. I am excited to be part of this community and see what is going to happen next.

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: VANESSA MJØLSNESS the restrictions of verbal language. I desire to use art interactively because I can expand and share my perspective while simultaneously engaging with others. Being able to see and share what I find beautiful inspires my art. It is freeing to allow myself to appreciate everyday experiences, walking slow, and treating my world like an I-Spy game.

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON? I am currently taking an abstract painting class and it’s stretching my visual perspective for sure. Other than that, I am constantly documenting the mundane beauties of COVID life with film and other media.

WHAT IS YOUR YEAR AND MAJOR? I am a fourth year Psychology Major and Studio Art Minor!

WHAT IS YOUR ART FORM? I love painting with acrylics, drawing with charcoals, film photography, and dabbling in culinary masterpieces. I think anything––including the outfits I wear––can be a medium for expression.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR CREATIVE CAREER? There definitely are some recent ones, but honestly, nothing will trump finding a box full of all of the cards, macaroni necklaces, and grade school drawings I’ve made for my mom.

Other than the nostalgia, this experience was validation that I have always been an artist.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO DO WHAT YOU DO? A lot of my drive is centered around communication. I strive to listen to my surroundings, current events, hidden messages in my environment, and communicate what I see without

WHAT DRIVES YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS? Really whatever I deem beautiful: the everyday, the mundane, and the overlooked all–– this draws my eye because there is unappreciated beauty here. I think in our busy world we are too strict with getting from point A to point B that we miss so much along the way.

Art is my way of slowing down and experiencing effortless flow. Noticing the swirls of the evening shadows, the golds of the sun, the tempestuous force of the ocean blues E X C I T E S me.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR AESTHETIC? I like to think that my aesthetic changes with the season colours. With photography, you’re not going to be getting ochre sunsets every evening like in the summer. Therefore, since beauty changes, I adapt what I am looking for.

HOW DOES YOUR ARTISTIC VISION CHANGE WITH YOUR MOOD (OR MENTAL HEALTH)?

I think I have always appreciated the small things. However, experiencing panic attacks and regular anxiety this year has made me cling to an “everything slow” mantra. Art helps me drip away from stress and appreciate beauty. This has evolved into a form of gratitude.

HOW HAS YOUR ART SHIFTED AMIDST THIS “NEW NORMAL”?

I’d say that I have never stared at the same faces more than I have since COVID-19 hit.

I mean, the details of my roommates’ faces that I have memorized is ridiculous. Especially now that we are all wearing masks, I have recognized how dependent I am on facial cues below the mask: the eyes are not the window to your soul––it’s your mouth. In my film photography, this has changed how I capture expression and emotion. Real talk, a lot of us are wearing more lounge clothing than we’d like to admit, so I think this has translated into what I capture. My photos are becoming a lot less manicured and a lot more laid back.

WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO IN THE ART WORLD? In the film world, I love Riley Krucks ocean and surf photography. His work glorifies natural occurring patterns in nature (@rileykruck).

Other film inspirations would include @alvaro. masegosa, @embattaglini, & @haleharv!

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU AND YOUR ART? When I started my BA, my goal was to use art to help victims of human trafficking (trauma) express themselves and find healing––I am still interested in this but am open to what life will bring. In the short term, I’d love to begin selling film prints and potentially go professional or work for an ocean/lifestyle zine. As well, I want to continue painting in some capacity and move through life constantly experimenting.

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR ART? ig: @va.nesser

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT: SAVANNAH PURDY HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY (TWU)? WHAT WAS YOUR JOURNEY TO COMING HERE? I randomly was watching a preseason game at UBC. I had never heard of TWU and I was super intrigued with how the girls interacted with each other and it just looked like a really fun team to be a part of. I ended up emailing Ryan Hofer (the TWU women’s volleyball head coach) and he told me he was in Victoria that weekend and wanted to meet up to tell me about the school and program. From there I went on a campus tour and I slowly started to fall in love with the school and team. I ended up committing after my Grade 11 year.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST VOLLEYBALL-RELATED ACCOMPLISHMENT? Being able to come to TWU and winning Canada West the past two years.

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH VOLLEYBALL? One of my softball teammates told me about this camp in Grade 6 that I went to and I ended up falling in love with the sport. It was the coach at the camp who coached the club volleyball team and from there I made the team and played with them all the way up until Grade 12.

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE A SPARTAN? I think striving for excellence in all areas of life: academically, personally, spiritually, athletically, and just being a well rounded leader. At the end of the day, being an athlete is just one aspect of our life.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GOALS AS A STUDENT AND ATHLETE THIS YEAR? Maintaining my grades while continuing to step outside my comfort zone as an athlete.

This year gives us the opportunity to be creative in practice and because of this we are able to really take risks and try new things. By doing this I can further expand and experiment with my game.

HOW HAS YOUR TEAM OVERCOME THE ADVERSITY THAT WAS INCREDIBLY PREVALENT THIS PAST YEAR? We’re just trying to find the good in everything.

B.C. is one of the only provinces being able to be in the gym and so just being grateful for what we have is important. This year has given us more time to try new things and push our game to the next level.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3 FAVOURITE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS? Triple O’s, Chipotle, and probably Denny’s if we have some studying to do.

SPORTS

CONCUSSION TESTING, NO RESTING, AND CTE SOON TO BE FESTERING LUKE RATTRAY

There is always a risk to participating in sports, from receiving hatred from fans and pundits, to underperforming, and most notably the number one setback for any athlete: injuries. In more recent times, the general public has been made aware of what might really be a new issue in the contact sports world that is CTE.

In a study conducted by the University of Glasgow funded by the Professional Footballers’ Association (the PFA), researchers compared the cause of death between 7676 former soccer players to 23 000 men in the general population. They discovered that soccer players had a 3.5 times higher rate from deteriorating brain diseases like Parkinson’s, dementia, or Alzheimer’s. Recommendations came out of the study that suggested youth players refrain from constant heading of the ball and aerial challenges between two players.

Concussions are incredibly prevalent in sports and occur at an extremely high rate. There needs to be a way for concussion protocol to be made an absolute priority in contact sports, especially in soccer where concussion protocol overall is severely lacking. Concussion testing needs to be taken in a quiet and calm room, not inside a stadium with lots of stimuli even if there are no fans there currently. There are changes beginning in the Premier League, where concussion substitutes were first implemented on February 6, 2021. Needless to say, there still needs to be a lot done in this area in order to help prevent injuries.

CTE, or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is a deteriorating brain disease that is most likely to affect professional athletes, military personnel, or any individual who has been exposed to repeated head trauma. Symptoms can include decreased impulse control, heightened aggression, anger, depression, and paranoia. Unfortunately, CTE can only be discovered after an autopsy has been conducted on an individual.

Take for example one of the more horrific injuries that we have seen this year: Arsenal defender David Luiz collided with Wolves striker Raul Jimenez, which resulted in a fractured skull for Jimenez who ended up having to miss the rest of the current season. What was perhaps more surprising was that Luiz was allowed to continue to play, since the medical staff said that he had passed concussion testing.

Either way you look at it, concussions have been prevalent in sports, but the lack of authentic testing and protocols of them is far behind the times. Even though injuries are a part of sports, it is about the protection and awareness of concussions that could be prevented if the right and necessary steps are taken.

While one concussion will not lead directly to CTE, the length of time and number of repeated brain traumas can accelerate the disease.

For boxers, it is punches to the head; in football players, it is tackling; in soccer, it is heading the ball and colliding with other players; and in hockey, it is fighting and checking. We see the most cases of CTE--or diseases related to it, like dementia--in those sports.

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PAINT ME AS A VILLAIN: THE STORY OF ANTONIO BROWN LUKE RATTRAY

The NFL has seen colourful characters before that have been involved in bizarre off-field antics, contract disputes, players running away from their team, and frostbite injuries. In the history of the NFL, only one player comes to mind when each of these situations are brought up: Antonio Brown.

but he continued to practice with the team and ended up playing in their Week 2 game against the Miami Dolphins and scored a touchdown. After about a month with the team,the allegations remained, and there were reports that Brown had sent aggressive text messages to one of the accusers. As a result, Brown was cut by the Patriots.

Once considered one of the best receivers in the NFL, Brown is a consecutive five-time NFL All-Pro between 2013 to 2017, a seven-time Pro-Bowler, a two-time receiving yards leader, a two-time receptions leader, and a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. At first glance, his resume from 2011 to 2018 alone looks to put Brown into the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately for Brown and the Pittsburgh Steelers, things went south for Brown soon afterward.

Upon being cut, Brown retired from football on two different occasions before returning to Twitter to express his desire to play again.

Once again, his wish was granted, and after being out of the game for just over a year, Brown signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the end, Brown managed to achieve what he has always wanted since entering the league: A Super Bowl ring. He played a part in the big game itself as well by scoring a touchdown.

Despite all of the criticisms that Brown has received throughout the past couple of years, he still managed to emerge victorious in the form of winning a Super Bowl.

During the latter half of 2018, it was reported that Brown and both Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, and head coach, Mike Tomlin had been in multiple arguments regarding Brown’s role on the team. He soon started to skip practices, and eventually forced a trade out of Pittsburgh that left a sour taste in the fans’ and franchise’s mouths. Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a third and fifth round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Immediately after being traded to Oakland in March, 2019, the team also signed Brown to a three-year contract extension worth $50 million, with $30 million guaranteed.

A few months later, in August, 2019, Brown ended up with one of the oddest football injuries: frostbite. He missed out on about 10 training camp sessions with his new team due to an incident in a cryotherapy session. Because he wasn’t wearing proper footwear in the chamber, his feet were heavily blistered.

Within that same month, Brown began to file numerous grievances toward the NFL about him wanting to wear an older style of helmet that the NFL had banned; he went so far to threaten retirement and continued to miss practices with the Raiders during this time.

Afterwards, in one of the most drama-filled weeks surrounding one player in sports history, Brown was fined by Oakland general manager Mike Mayock for unexcused absences and missing team practices.

Later on, Brown decided to post the letters of his fines on his Instagram account, claiming that the franchise was not behind him. On the following day, Brown and Mayock were involved in a verbal argument that resulted in Brown being suspended. The day after the altercation, the Raiders debated suspending Brown. If the Raiders suspended him for conduct that was detrimental to the team, they would be able to withhold Brown from his $30 million.

Most likely realizing that he would lose $30 million, Brown issued an apology to his teammates, coaches, and other staff for his actions on and off the field during his time. However, later on that same day, Brown recorded a phone call with Raiders head coach, Jon Gruden, and posted it on social media--revealing tension between Gruden and Brown. The call suggested Brown seemed not to want to play for the Raiders. The day after this incident took place, Brown asked for his release from Oakland. His wish was granted just a few hours later and as a result, he lost out on what was once guaranteed $30 million.

Later that day, Brown signed with the Patriots on a contract with $9 million guaranteed. However, upon arriving in New England, there were several allegations toward Brown regarding sexual misconduct,

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One can call Brown’s career a tragedy or maybe his meteoric rise was just as equally matched as his fall. He really was one of the league’s best receivers, but it is without a doubt that Brown made poor choices along the way and ended up burning bridges with three different franchises. Antonio Brown remains one of the most hated players in the league, but perhaps Jon Gruden had a point during that recorded phone call when he told Brown: “not a villain. You’re the most misunderstood… human being in my entire life that I’ve ever met.”

HUMOUR SO YOU HAVE WOKEN UP AT 3 A.M. AGAIN...

GILLIAN SCOTT

3. Bargaining: 4:14 a.m. Back in your room, sitting dejectedly on the bed, you think, “Maybe if I meditate, maybe if I read my old RELS 102 textbook, maybe if I could find that Lavender Tranquility essential oil roller I made in the Well two years ago, I could fall back asleep for a couple of hours.”

From uncomfy 40-year-old mattresses, to wacked-out heating systems, to the devastation of one’s sleep schedule: there are many woes associated with randomly waking up at 3 A.M. Research is now showing that this experience can be traced through the 5 Stages of Grief.

1. Denial: 3:09 a.m. Your vivid dream where you get another Pass/ Fail semester suddenly fades away. You become aware that your eyes are closed as the constant passing of the highway traffic makes its presence known. Becoming aware of your whole body, you feel just a bit too warm—rather clammy, you might say.

But you cling to your resting state. Surely you can hold out, surely you can return to your previous, unconscious mode of being, if only you concentrate hard enough on resuming that dream of TWUSA saving you once again.

4. Serious sadness: 4:36 a.m. You think about how tired you’ll be the coming day and about which Zoom classes would be appropriate to snag a couple of Z’s. Meanwhile, the only light in the world is the lamppost outside, eerily lighting up one of those “FACE THE WORLD” banners. You’d prefer to be FACE down on THE PILLOW. 5. Acceptance: 4:57 a.m. You lie down on the floor because you’re not quite ready to exist today. Hold up. This is kind of… nice, this early morn. Who needs the light of day when you have the warm orange glow on the “FACE THE WORLD” banner to fill you up with the very juice of life? Not you. Go on, weary one, rise, live, wash the drool stains off your face. Your hour has come.

2. Anger: 4:03 a.m. You can’t take it anymore. You rip off your blankets and curse the heat, the highway, the Greek god of sleep, and your own circadian rhythms. You deliriously make your way to the bathroom, where the face of a fool greets you in the mirror. A puffy-eyed fool. A real drool-stained goon. You shake your head at them. How could you let this happen?

THE PERFECT DAY OF SELF-CARE NYSSA MORGAN

This year has not been easy and it has been taking a toll on you for some time now. Online school seemed fun at first but now you are lost in a sea of forum posts and never ending Zoom classes. If only you had time to take care of your crumbling mental health. You stare at all the homework that has been piling up and wish that you could have just one day for a break.

Suddenly, a bright blue light flashes in your room and Danny Devito appears out of nowhere, dressed in a ball gown with sparkling wings fluttering behind him. You gasp and stumble back. “Don’t be scared, kiddo,” says Danny Devito, “I am your fairy god-whatever. You made a wish and I am here to help.”

He waves his wand and the grimy sweatpants and stained t-shirt you’ve been wearing for two weeks straight magically transform into silk pyjamas. A massage table appears as well as a very elderly lady who gestures for you to lay down. You look at Danny Devito in confusion.

“This is Hildy. She may be 132 years old but she is the best masseuse the world has ever known. She has the fingers of an ox!” Danny Devito exclaims.

Before you can tell him oxes don’t have fingers, he waves his wand and you

magically appear on the massage table. Hildy digs her bony knuckles into your back and POOF! Any piece of tension you ever felt melts faster than your girl’s heart when she sees Harry Styles holding a puppy.

When the massage is over and your muscles feel like Jell-O, Hildy and the table disappear in another puff of smoke. They are replaced by a crackling fireplace and an armchair wherein Oscar award winner, Morgan Freeman, sits comfortably. Danny Devito waves his wand and your bed gets inundated with Squishmallows. You flop onto them as Morgan Freeman opens a book and begins to read you a bedtime story in that lusciously comforting voice of his.

Your eyes begin to shut, firmly closing just before Danny Devito grabs your stash of laundry loonies, gives a salute to Morgan Freeman, and poofs them away into the night.

When you wake up, your room is the same again and you are back in those gross sweatpants. Maybe it was a dream. Maybe the stress is getting to you and messing with your brain. Or maybe the fact that your laundry money is nowhere to be found is not a coincidence after all.

THE TRAIN CONSPIRACY JENNA DIERSCH

Ever wonder why there are so many trains near our campus? All day long we hear train after train after train. A never-ending chorus of loud HONKS, like a rampaging goose-machine. What could all of those trains possibly be carrying?

even after you’ve said that’s enough. It seems as though they have stores and stores of it. But where does it all come from? We never see anyone bring the rice onto campus. It must come from somewhere.

The trains are a staple of Trinity Western University, just like Sodexo’s high quality rice. If there weren’t any trains, we would probably wonder if the outside world had stopped existing, or if time had stopped moving. On some days, it feels like there are at least one per hour. One time I counted one hundred and thirty cars. That’s gotta be some sort of record.

So then I started to wonder… What if the trains bring it? Just think––there is a train every hour of every day, and Sodexo serves rice every day. What if those trains aren’t normal trains at all, but rice trains?

One day, my dad came to pick me up outside Northwest. He was sitting in the car and all of the sudden everything started to shake. He frantically texted me asking, “IS THERE AN EARTHQUAKE???” I reassured him that no, that’s just a train.

I heard a train go by on my way back from the cafeteria after lunch one day, discouraged by my dismal meal of mushy rice and just-barely-cooked chicken, when I stumbled upon a curious thought. Where does Sodexo get all of the rice? Almost every single day they serve rice, piling it onto your plate

That’s it. That amount of rice couldn’t possibly be brought onto campus in a truck. The trains must be carrying the rice to Sodexo. How else would they manage to feed hundreds of starving college students?

It is possible that by feeding us this much rice, they could be up to something fishy. Who knows, maybe Sodexo is working for the government to try and brainwash us into a mindless army. Or maybe they are secretly doing experiments on us, or maybe each grain of rice has a tracker chip in it. The possibilities are endless. So when you are trying to decide between mushy rice and undercooked pasta, I recommend going with the pasta––just in case.

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