Volume 27 Issue 1: Roots by Mars Hill Newspaper

Playing Like a Pro Pg. 3 Pg. 9 Pg. 7 Theatre at a Glance

Roots

Volume 27, Issue 1 09. 21. 22.

What’s in Store for the Stage this Season?

A Visual History of TWU’s Student Papers

A Summer of Basketball With Mason Bourcier

Sixty Years ofStudent Journalism

Advisor Dr.

Christa Lyford Editor-in-Chief

CONTRIBUTORS

Media Monika Hilder

EDITORIAL POLICY

Logo Wegner

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.

Diego Bascur Staff Writer

Berk Berkeliev Staff Writer

Design Simon

Sophie Holland Tyler Jones

Sophie Holland is a fourth-year English major with a communication minor. A local student and last year’s Arts and Culture Editor for Mars’ Hill , she enjoys creative writing, reading, and anything artsy (and is definitely a cat person). After graduation, she hopes to pursue editing and publishing while writing novels on the side. She is also working as a Well Host this year.

MARS’ HILL 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.

Sophie Holland

Photo Credits p.3 Kyle Head p.4 Carson Bird p.6 Samuel Regan Asante p.7-8 TWU Spartans Athletics p.11 Bence Boros p.12 Caleb George p.15 Cristina Gottardi p.16 Sandy Ravaloniaina

David Witzke Arts & Culture Editor

Hope Evans News Editor

Ava Gili Cheif Copy Editor

CONTRIBUTOR OF THE ISSUE:

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

THE TEAM

Sadie McDonald Opinions Editor

Jared Klassen Web Editor

Juilianne Jones Sports Editor

Design Rachel

Jessica Knapp TaylorLorinMcDonaldScaiano

Bailey Frose Humour Editor

Branding Shackelford

Seth Schouten Managing Editor

The turbulence of these last few years has left many of our worlds shaken. I cannot speak for all, but for myself, returning to school this Fall was a daunting idea. Burnout, exhaustion, uncertainty about the future–all of these can weigh heavy on the heart at the beginning of a new academic year. When faced with these challenges, our best option is oftentimes to look within ourselves. What sustains us? What fuels our passion? Where do we find our stability? Questions like these are the basis for the theme of this issue: “Roots”.

Rekindle our pursuits of Your Kingdom that we may bring You glory.

Roots can be our histories, our places of origin. They can be struggles that thread through our lives. They can be where we draw our strength.

Our hope is that this issue can be a place to explore these concepts: negative, positive, and any spectrum in between. Through careful examination and discussion, may we find what keeps us rooted this year, as well as what darkness we decide ends with us.

Zaeya Winter

Being rooted and being in deep relationship with the place and the people where we are rooted is one and the same. If relationships are something founded in mutual care—taking care of that which takes care of us—I wonder if that is why many of us, including myself, feel less rooted than those of the past?

My art practice has become all about exploring this question. Both to become more sus tainably rooted, but also to respond to the gift that has been given.

Praise be to You Lord! Praise Your Holy Name!

You have brought us this far and You are starting something new again.

We lift up a shout of victory! For you have already gone before us.

In this issue of Mars’ Hill, we aim to approach the idea of roots from a variety of angles. There is a historic, visual exploration of our university’s past student newspapers. Three student-run organizations are given the spotlight to share their accomplishments. New Spartans, as well as those who have moved on to professional athletics, are both given the spotlight. But there are also veins of darkness that run through our current events. Queen Elizabeth II’s passing calls to public discussion the brutal consequences of a colonialist monarchy. Generational trauma and untreated addiction plays a role in the tragedy of the Saskatchewan murders.

Zaeya Winter is a fourth year student majoring in Art + Design. Her passion is to create links be tween art and ecology. More of her work can be found at https://create.twu.ca/zwinterportfolio/

Release us from any anxieties that may blur our vision of You.

FEATURED ARTIST

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps”. Proverbs 16:9

FOR THE DAY

From “Book of Prayer: Liturgies for Students by Students”. Compiled, revised, and designed by John Mark Kramm II, Beth any Haynes, and Jennifer Kerr Graves.

We place our future in Your hands; Into Your hands we commit our spirits.

Dear Reader,

Generally, now, there is a sense of missing out on the experience of being taken care of by a place. Not just a house, but the land which we find ourselves on. We have lost the knowl edge of the “person” of the land, with whom we are to have a relationship with.

FROM THE EDITOR WORDS

“For Beginning the School Year”

Blessings,

For us, to be guests on this land, attempting to heal our relationships and become rooted in place, I believe we must first seek to re-acknowledge the land in this way. To see that our bodies and the body of the land are endlessly entwined, inter-coded with memory and purpose. An understanding that we cannot have our being without the “mother” body that continues to nurture us. Searching to become more sustainably rooted may mean searching to answer this question: how do we take care of this land?

The emphasis of New Generations remains on the stu dents who agree to write and direct. Martin serves in a mentorship role helping the directors plan the rehears al process and bring their creative visions to life. “It’s really student-led and student-focused, which is a really great experience,” says Martin.

“There are going to be a lot of roles for people next year . . . so come audition.” New Generations opens in early February after a four-week rehearsal process.

about what she hopes audiences will feel after attending the play, Muchmore Woo said that she hopes “they feel light. . . . I hope they walk out feeling

out the season is the spring mainstage show directed by Kerri Norris. While the department is hop ing to mount a production of the 1936 comedy You Can’t Take It with You by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, Norris admits that there are some ongoing com plications with the performance rights. However, she promises that whatever is performed will still be an ex cellent production. Auditions for the spring show will be held this ThroughoutNovember.thedepartment’s activities, there is still the bittersweet thread of its eventual closure. When asked about what makes her excited about the season ahead, Frewing admits that “it’s really difficult to get ex cited about theatre here when your program is closing, but seeing the . . . eagerness, the ‘sponge-like’ qualities of students that just want to absorb information and figure out what this world of theatre is. . . . [My hope is to show] students that they have talents that they nev er dreamed of, that they are capable of far more than they ever thought. That’s the thing that gets me excited about still being here.”

Roundingp.m.

ith the advent of a new school year, the Trin ity Western University Theatre Department has unveiled its plans for the upcoming the atrical season. Although still overshadowed by news last summer that it would be closed by the end of the 2023/2024 school year, the department has reaffirmed its commitment to arts education with a season full of exciting shows and opportunities for students to learn and grow in all areas of theatre.

While the directors for New Generations will be chosen from those who have taken directing classes, all TWU students are encouraged to submit a 15–30-page script for consideration or audition for the show. The deadline for play submissions is October 14 and auditions will be held in November. “Anyone can audition,” Martin says.

season brings back New Generations, the department’s recurring performance of several stu dent-written and student-directed short plays. “I was here as a student the first year that [the Theatre Depart ment] did [New Generations],” says Professor Rebecca Martin, the faculty member overseeing the creation of the show, “and now I get to lead it, which is really fun.”

Whenthrough.”asked

Technical director and production manager Lora-Lynne Frewing talked about the challenges of telling the story of Helen Keller, a woman who was both deaf and blind, to those who can see and hear. “If you are so used to us ing sight and sound in your day-to-day life, what would it be like if they were suddenly gone?” Frewing said. “You’re just so used to using your eyes that it would be very confusing if suddenly it were gone. . . . But you

Theatre at a Glance

ACADEMY

“It’s a beautiful story of hope and miracles . . . which is really good for us right now,” says director Kate Muchmore Woo, speaking to the timeliness of the play’s themes. She further expressed excitement to collaborate with members of the deaf and blind com munities. “These are communities we don’t come into contact with very much,” she says, “and theatre is a way to bridge gaps.”

The school year sees the return of 11:07, TWU’s iconic improvisation show. Alex Walker, who serves as 11:07’s co-coordinator alongside Michael Harlow, encourages all students to participate in the weekly 11:07 work shops. “You don’t have to be funny; you don’t have to have ever been on stage before,” says Walker. “No matter who you are, all you have to do is be in Trinity somehow and you can come to workshops. . . . You don’t need any theatre experience.”11:07’s first show will be held on Friday, September 23 in Freedom Hall at 11:07

The new season commences with The Miracle Work er by William Gibson, a play that details the relation ship between a young Helen Keller and the woman who taught Keller to communicate, Annie Sullivan, the eponymous “miracle worker.” The play is based on Keller’s autobiography The Story of My Life and opens in late October.

Seth Schouten

Thehopeful.”new

can use that to create a kind of disorienting feel to the show which would be similar to what a person who has a sighted disability or a hearing disability would be going

nother school year has begun, ushering in with the sounds of full classrooms, joyous chapel services, and the TWUSA coffee grinder faithfully humming once again. As your student body president this year, I would like to welcome you to TWU; we are so happy you are

he [spaces] Literary Journal began in 2006 with the goal of giving voice to the developing literary and artistic voices on campus. After a one-year hiatus, the new [spaces] team is excited to bring the journal back to print and inspire those voices once more.

for publication; all students are welcome and encouraged to submit their literary and visual pieces. More information can be found on the journal’s website: www.spacesliteraryjournal. com. In the coming weeks, look out for infor mation about this year’s team, as well as a dig ital archive of past volumes. Please also follow the [spaces] Instagram account, @spaces.lit eraryjournal, for updates on this year’s theme, submission deadline, fundraisers, and other events.

Elaine

is important: it not only describes the “why” behind what we do but, more important ly, paints a picture of the results we desire to see in the future and the impact we want to have on our community. If, as a team, we are not confi dent about our vision and how we want to ex ecute it through our roles, we will not have an idea of what we are working towards. Following a collective vision allows us to be confident and intentional about the work that we do.

For over a decade [spaces] has called upon the Trinity Western University student body to challenge their creative voices and craft writ ten and visual works of art that explore the light and the dark. This year the [spaces] team would like to extend that call once more. For many, it has been a year of revival; for others, it has been a year of uncertainty and loss. Wherever this year has taken you, we invite you to begin this semester anew with us. We look forward to receiving your submissions and being an avenue through which you can share your voices with others.

TWUSA: Our Vision for the Year

Returninghere.

to TWUSA for my third consecutive year, this time as President, I have been asked many times about my vision for the team. Over the past months, my executive team and I have spent hours in discussion, and I would love to share with you what our vision is for TWUSA this

Visionyear.

Our vision is “that every student would be welcomed into an open community, guid ed by faith, striving for excellence in servant leadership.”

This vision is not easily achieved alone; rather, it is defined by collaboration. TWUSA, Mars’ Hill, Pillar Yearbook, as well as the plethora of other student leadership groups operate somewhat independently yet are under the same banner of servant leader ship. It is my hope and prayer that we would be able to operate as a collective unit to enrich the student experience to the best of our abilities.

Andrew Bouchard, TWUSA President

The journal shapes its vision statement around the artistic technique chiaroscu ro, briefly quoted here and found in full on the journal’s website. This approach explores “the contrast between light and dark to emphasize volume and realism.” At Trinity, [spaces] “seek[s] to authentically engage with the[se] aspects of shadow and luminosity” and the spaces that lie between, “through students’ thoughtful, literary, and artistic expression.”

[spaces] is a double-blind, peer-reviewed journal. This type of periodical is one of the most prestigious levels of literary and artistic publication that exists. Submissions undergo an anonymous vetting process to ensure that each piece is fairly evaluated

We will strive for these goals to be met in order to be truly proud of what we do.

New Beginnings: Re-Launching TWU’s Literary Journal Ries, [spaces] Editor in Chief

With this in mind, the TWUSA Executive Team has decided upon the values of hospitality, trans parency, faith, humility, and excellence to guide the work that we do this year. Through these val ues, we created a vision statement, which we believe reveals a common goal.

This year, we are committed to welcoming and creating opportunities for all students to be involved. We will strive to be effective at welcoming those who feel alienated. We will seek to represent excellence. We will work to advance a positive experience for all students, acting honourably in building each other up.

Saskatchewan Stabbings: Tragedy for First Nations Community

Numerous sociologists explain how substance abuse is more common in Indigenous populations because of the intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools and the lasting consequences of colonialism. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Fourth Vice Chair Heather Bear is calling for improvements in mental health services and more ac cessible addiction treatment centres for First Nation reserves. Bear also believes that “the justice system as it is today needs a complete overhaul.” This event pro vides justification for Bear’s beliefs, since Myles Sand erson had previously been convicted of 59 crimes, many of which were impulsive and violent.

Berk Berkeliev

Investigations are ongoing, and it is still unclear what may have prompted these killings, but the Chief of James Smith Cree Nation and other Indigenous lead ers in Canada are blaming drug and alcohol addiction for the crimes. Chief Wally Burns is calling on the federal and provincial governments to fund addiction treatment centres on First Nation Reserves around the country. Chief Rob Head says that crystal meth has become prevalent among the Indigenous youth in Canada and that more treatment centres must be established to reverse the trend.

Some of the identified stabbing victims include first responder Lydia Gloria Burns, 78-year-old widower Wesley Petterson, and Bonnie Goodvoice-Burns who died protecting her children. A news conference was held at the James Smith Cree Nation after the pass ing of Myles Sanderson where, in a touching display of forgiveness and empathy, the brother of a woman killed in the stabbings was seen consoling the weeping widow of Damien Sanderson.

Consequences of Climate Change: Pakistan’s Flooding as a WakeUp Call to Developed Countries Gili

The flood itself developed from heavier monsoon rains than usual, coupled with increased glacier melt from a severe heat wave earlier in the year.

5 NEWS

Autopsiespital.

elfort RCMP received multiple calls the morning of September 4 around 5:40 a.m. about stabbings at different locations on the James Smith Cree Nation. 10 people were killed and 18 injured at 13 attack locations across the Cree reserve in northern Saskatchewan.

eginning on June 14, the flood in Pakistan has currently reached its peak of devastation, prompting Prime Minster Shehbaz Sharif to declare a state of emergency on August 25. As of September 8, 1,300 people are reported dead with over 1.2 million homes destroyed, culminat ing in an estimated $10 billion worth of damage. Presently, over a third of the country is under water.

In response to the flood, the UN is launching a $160 million emergency plan, and while the relief funds are necessary, some argue the solution is not good enough. Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s climate change minister, ad vocates that it is the responsibility of developed nations to acknowledge and respond to the central causes of climate change, instead of scrambling to deal with its harmful effects as each separate issue emerges. It is not enough to simply promise that change will occur; developed nations must follow through on their pledges and transition to cleaner energy with less carbon

needs to understand that Pakistan’s devastation is not only a wakeup call but a warning as well. Without thoughtful and intention al change, the occurrence of worse floods and disasters will continue to increase as the Earth’s temperature follows suit. What we are seeing now is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg for what the future holds in store.

Ava

are being done to confirm the causes of death of both suspects and the Saskatoon Police Service will be conducting an investigation into the RCMP officers arresting Myles.

During the heat wave that spanned from March to April, Pakistan reached record high temperatures of up to 49.5 C and now, they must deal with the deadliest flood in the country’s history. These abnormally intense weather behaviors are attributed to climate change.

Theemissions.world

The suspects were identified as brothers and James Smith Cree Nation residents, Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson. Damien Sanderson, 31, was found dead the next afternoon and RCMP reports that his injuries were not self-inflicted. Younger brother Myl es is not out of suspicion for the death of Damien. Myles Sanderson, 30, went into “medical distress” shortly after being arrested by RCMP on the after noon of September 7 and died later that day in hos

As our nation processes this horrific event, we must not only mourn the tragedy of lives lost but remain hopeful that our country’s leaders will commit to better representing and serving its Indigenous pop ulation. Let these lives not be lost in vain. Pray this tragedy be a spark that drives Canada’s politicians to follow up on their promises and do more for the First Nations of Canada.

Pakistan’s tragedy brings a crucial observation to light: while developed nations create the majority of the world’s carbon emissions, it is often devel oping countries that face the most severe consequences of climate change. In comparison to global superpowers such as China, the United States of America, and Russia, Pakistan has a small carbon footprint and lacks the proper resources to effectively counter extreme climate change effects as

they arise. Pakistan’s finance minister, Miftah Ismail, summed up the injus tice well when he said, “[Pakistan has] to face the brunt of development elsewhere in the world.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz remembers her life of benevolence, writing on Twitter: “She was a role model and inspiration for millions, also here in Germany. Her commitment to German-British reconciliation after the horrors of World War II will remain unforgotten.” Many other political figures and celebrities also used social media and news outlets to reminisce on the Queen’s life, remarking on her kindness, genuineness, and humour, among other traits. Sir Elton John wrote, “She was an inspiring presence to be around and led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency and a genuine caring warmth.”

While much of the world speaks well of Elizabeth II in her absence, not all follow suit. Professor Uji Anya has recently made the news for publicly speaking ill of the Queen. Anya does not divorce the Queen’s legacy from that of the country she ruled. The professor, who was born in a post-civil war Nigeria and now teaches at Carnegie Mellon in the United States, took to Twitter to express her strong opinions, with statements such as, “If anyone expects me to express anything but disdain for the monarch who supervised a govern ment that sponsored the genocide that massacred and displaced half my family and the consequences of which those alive today are still trying to overcome, you can keep wishing upon a star.” Twitter removed Anya’s initial tweet on the grounds that it violated the site’s policies and Carnegie Mellon publicly stated that they do not support Anya’s comments.

The professor, however, has not backed down. She points out that Queen Elizabeth II has never explicitly apologized for the colonialism that her country engaged in. While some might argue that the Queen’s position as a figurehead exempts her from guilt over the gov ernment’s decisions, Anya disagrees. The professor argues that “this is the history of the monarchy, and the queen was the head of the monarchy. Whether she was involved in dayto-day decisions or not, she existed because of those decisions. She never once opened her mouth to say sorry for the role of her government in the slaughter of three million civilians.”

n September 8, the British monarchy was uprooted by the death of Queen Elizabeth II. She was placed under medical supervision early Thursday morning while at Balmoral Castle, her country estate in Scotland, and died later that day surrounded by her family.

Whichever is the truth to the Queen’s legacy, a new era has begun. However, King Charles III does not share nearly the same popular support as his mother. NBC News reports, “Whereas the queen was the most popular royal, liked by 75% of people, according to a running tracker by the pollster YouGov, Charles is liked by 42% and disliked by 24% of the British public.” His life has been peppered with controversies, including his mistreatment of Princess Diana. While he has founded various charities, some have been revealed to have accepted funds from relatives of Osama bin Laden, as well as from the former prime minister of Qatar. Some have voiced concerns that Charles’ track record of being outspoken on political topics will continue into his reign, breaking from the expectation for the monarch to remain apolitical.

As Charles’ rule begins, the most tangible change that the layman should notice will be a gradual replacement of currency bearing the Queen’s face. Five different versions of her por trait have been featured on banknotes both within the U.K. and on the currency of various countries in the British Commonwealth, the first appearing in 1953. Since the Royal Mint says there are more than 4.7 million banknotes and 29 billion coins in circulation in the U.K., this change will be no small feat.

While the advent of her death was a surprise to millions, the events following her death have been meticulously prepared for years. In 2017, The Guardian leaked information about Operation London Bridge, a detailed plan of what would hap pen in the 10 days following the Queen’s death. On September 8, that operation would have immediately gone into effect if Elizabeth II had died in London. Since, however, her death occurred in Scotland, the contingency plan known as Operation Unicorn was enacted. Under this plan, the Queen’s body will be kept at Balmoral Castle for a few days before being transported to London, likely via plane. At the point when she reaches the capital city, Operation London Bridge will continue as planned, culminating in her funeral on September 19 and then her burial in

will likely not see the same level of mourning as Britons will, the country still has plans to mourn the fallen monarch. Prime Minister Trudeau has said that the “coming days will be a period of mourning for Canadians, as it will be for all commonwealth citizens,” ending with a National Day of Mourning and a commemorative service. From sunset on September 8 until the day of the Queen’s funeral, all federal buildings and establishments flew their flags at half-mast. Sep tember 19 will become a federal holiday to remember and mourn the monarch. As the world mourns the Queen, its leaders have spoken up to remember her fond ly. British Prime Minister Liz Truss called her “the rock on which modern Britain was built.” Trudeau is quoted as saying that “she was a constant presence in our lives—and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.”

London Bridge Has Fallen: The Death of Queen Elizabeth II

Hope Evans

WhileWindsor.Canadians

In Canada specifically, it is unlikely that the Queen’s likeness will be immediately removed from the $20 bill. While it is tradition for the bill to bear the face of the current monarch, there is no legal obligation for such to be the case. For example, coins featuring King George VI were still in circulation for decades after he died. It is unclear what the timetable will be for the change in currency, both in the U.K. and in Canada, but when new banknotes begin to emerge, they will coexist with the ones currently in circulation for some time.

Arsenal wasted little time in finding a valid replacement, opting to go with Mikel Arteta—a former player for Arsene Wenger’s edition of the club.

he quickly noticed that the physical and mental maturation that he endured is what would fuel his on-court presence. Bourcier stated that: “I learned from my experience that I might not get this opportunity again [...]so I told myself ‘Don’t let anything go to waste. Whether you play 1 minute [or] 2 minutes, just go cra zy.’” This was the exact mindset that Bourcier needed to achieve his goals for the Returningseason.

to the CEBL with a new team, he was ready to get comfortable on the bench. After he was unexpectedly scouted by the Growlers, Bourcier was prepared to be a positive energy on the sidelines and help facilitate a good team dynamic: “My expectation was don’t have any expectations. Just work as hard as you can and show that you’re fearless.”

After committing to that mentality, the guard found himself in the starting five for the Newfoundland Growlers in his second game playing with them. Averaging 17 minutes per game and 3.1 points per game, Bourcier fulfilled the trust that Coach Ewing Jr. and his teammates instilled in him. The unexpected success of Bourcier’s season with the Growlers is a testament to the man he has become on, and off, the court. This opportunity could unlock more life-changing opportuni ties for the player, and TWU’s community will continue to watch him grow.

Turning Tides: Arsenal’s Resurgence Under Mikel Arteta Tyler Jones, Alumni 7 SPORTS

With the Arsene Wenger era coming to a necessary close in 2018, Unai Emery stepped into the vacant position seeking to right the wrongs of an overextended regime. It couldn’t have gone much worse. The club ended Emery’s only full season at fifth place, missing out on Champions League football for the third consecutive season. While the club’s thirst for Cham pions League football festers into a witch hunt pitted against Arsenal’s leadership, Emery was the domino that would fall after being let go from the club on November 29, 2019.

Fast forward two years, Bourcier revisits the CEBL. From the chaos of changing schools to living through the COVID-19 pandemic, Bourcier developed a new sense of self during his hiatus from the CEBL.

Regardless of the unwavering tenacity he shows through his willingness to be challenged, Bourcier admitted that he was young and inexperienced at this time; however, he was still considered a promising player. He partially accredits his in troduction into the CEBL to the personal relationship that he had with the for mer head coach of the Bandits, Peter Guarasci. In an interview with Bourcier, he stated: “The coach knew me, so that’s why he picked me up. [...] He saw a lot of potential in me.” The potential that Coach Guarasci saw in the young man was bound to come to fruition—and this summer, it did.

When discussing his return to the league, he stated that: “It wasn’t that I was better at basketball skill-wise, but it was the maturity. Not just from on the court, but also off the court. Like, I went through so much stuff off the court that made me mature really fast. So when I showed up there, I learned how to approach the

During the summer, Bourcier was selected to play in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). On April 19, 2022, Bourcier was ranked 18th overall pick in the CEBL draft becoming the Newfound land Growlers’ newest guard. The CEBL is actually familiar territory for the 6’4” guard.

In 2019, 19-year-old Bourcier was drafted to the Fraser Valley Ban dits after a season with the University of British Columbia. His experience with the Fraser Valley Bandits was considerably different from his recent endeavors. Being present for only 10 games and receiving minimal playing time, Bourcier’s time with the Bandits did not create much buzz. Reflecting on this experience, Bourcier confessed that in some ways, he was not ready for the CEBL at that age.

With an island of misfit toys handed over to act as the scourge of his pre decessors, Arteta got to work, entering what would become a complete squad rehaul backed by ownership, players, and supporters alike.

Approachingsituation.”

ason Bourcier is no stranger to the spotlight when he is on the basketball court. Leaving TWU’s 2021/2022 season breaking Canada West records for single season triple-dou bles and assists per-game, Bourcier ensured that his name would be echoed throughout the basketball community this summer.

Arteta’s philosophies led to a youthful movement for the squad in due time. With little investment from ownership to begin the season resulting in an eighth-place finish in the 2020/2021 season, fans wasted no time in calling for the Spaniard’s head. The team’s football felt directionless due to the lack of players buying into Arteta’s managerial approach. With the club hitting its lowest point, Arteta decided to be an agent of change, urging Arsenal’s directors of football to completely rehaul the aging squad left from Wenger and Emery.

It seems that this experience of a lifetime has given Bourcier a diverse set of new ly-developed skills that will supplement the men’s basketball program this year. With TWU’s 2022/2023 season approaching, he is prepared to be a leader to his teammates. Losing graduated players such as Ja’Qualyn Gilbraith and Andrew Goertzen, who were veteran leaders on the team, Bourcier is ready to fill their shoes this season. Despite being involved in professional basketball this summer and acquiring new skills, Bourcier feels more inclined to facilitate a strong team dynamic than share his new “tricks” with his teammates. TWU men’s basketball is getting ready to succeed this season, and we are excited to see what they have in store.

“First day of training camp, I tried to solidify myself as a high-energy, defensive [player],” Bourcier disclosed. Meditating on his former self as a basketball player,

training camp with this new perspective, Bourcier was determined to find a way to get minutes. While the process of training with a high-level roster was daunting, he was determined to catch the eyes of the coaching staff.

Julianne Jones

Playing like a Pro: A Summer with Mason Bourcier

A fter countless years of mediocrity providing an undying sense of hopelessness for Arsenal F.C. supporters, the tides finally seem to be turning with each match the team plays.

the second 15 helps manage the health load of the players. In an interview, Evans explained that “these guys have played with a short team through a build ing team. Their bodies have been really beat down and there wasn’t anybody else to take their place.” The coaching staff is being attentive to the physical condition of their players, which can often be over looked when striving for a successful season.

Evans is also looking to capitalize on the in-game skills of the first 15. Having more players involved in the training process provides additional intensi ty, and pressure, which is crucial when developing intellectual skills on the field. The coaching staff also recognizes the physical ramifications associated with rugby. In pursuit of maintaining a healthy team,

Despite the growing competition associated with the selection process, Evans sees the team flourishing with these changes. The senior players are eager for the team to continue growing in numbers and skill. Being the source of redemption for TWU rugby, it is evident that the program’s slow reclamation has shaped Evans’ expectations of the senior players. Trusting that his players are hungry for a national title, Evans anticipates that his seniors will be leaders for the second 15 this season. “We ask our leaders to humble themselves and to serve those that may be weaker than them,” said Evans. Prioritizing the act of leadership by developing the second 15 this season could change everything.

First 15, Second 15: Rugby Team Adds New Element

Evansprocess.stated

This season, the team will maintain their core values while some alterations are made to the composition of their team. Evans seems confident that leadership and faith will unite the first and second 15—prepar ing them for an outstanding 2022/2023 season.

Evans is not only looking to win a national title us ing this tactic, but he is also enhancing the quality of the team. With a team of nearly 50 men, Evans is prioritizing playing time this season. “Players need to have game time to improve, so if we only had one team, there would be way less [of an] opportunity for players to get minutes,” said Evans. Ultimately, hav ing a second 15 team will increase the opportunity for playing time while simultaneously heightening the process of player development.

Julianne Jones

he remains of Trinity Western University’s rug by program has become the blueprint for the revival of a 15-year hiatus. Since 2019, TWU has watched Coach Andrew Evans’ faith guide his commitment to the transformation of a rugby pro gram that has been quiet for many years. Evans has demonstrated an ambitious spirit as he continues to let God equip him with diverse players who are eager to learn and grow within this sport. From walk-ons to well-versed players, TWU’s rugby program is rapidly growing—and Evans has high hopes for the squad this

welcoming the diverse efforts of recruits and walkons to display their skills. In addition to the “clean slate” policy, coaches also ensure that a player’s cur rent form is taken into consideration. If a player had an outstanding weekend the previous week, their ef forts will be taken into account during the selection

that: “We really want our first 15 team to be the best team in the country.” By taking a partially unbiased approach, Evans can still prioritize the suc cess of the team without disregarding the efforts of other players.

With the “clean slate” policy, the coaching staff is

Julianne Jones

Being one of the program’s newest additions to the 11, Crowther is pre pared to continue making a mark on the 2022/2023 season. The young midfielder is ready to maintain her position on the field one game at a time.

Becauseseason.

WU women’s soccer rookie, Sophie Crowther, is quickly proving herself to be a threat on the field. The first-year mid fielder from New Westminster has achieved one goal and two assists within four games of the regular season. It is evident that Crowther is going to be a vital part of the wom en’s soccer team this year, and we cannot wait to watch.

Crowther’s soccer background is unconventional, making the quali ty of her presence on the field ex tremely enticing. While most young players quickly enter into High Performance League (HPL) soccer for recruiting purposes, Crowther continued to play Metro League instead. Sophie’s Metro coach had close connections with TWU’s head coach, Graham Roxburgh. Because of the relationship between these coaches, Crowther was connected with TWU and quickly began prac ticing with the team. On Monday nights, Sophie would train with the Spartans—showing herself to be a committed player of the sport.

As a rookie, Crowther has received a generous amount of playing time while making exceptional use out of this opportunity. Despite the daunt ing feeling of flourishing amongst long-committed members of the team, she has found the program to be supportive of her success. In an interview, Crowther states that “I think I’m in the best possible program to be in this situation.” Crowther shared that she values family and the close relationship that she has with each of her family members. This beautifully reflects her attitude towards her team mates, characterizing the team dy namic as supportive and tight knit. It is evident that Crowther admires the culture of the team, gi ving her the opportunity to be successful without the guilt of being labeled as a rookie who “took someone’s spot on the field.”

In her last two years of soccer, prior to high-school graduation, Crowther decided to challenge her self by switching to a team in the HPL. Coincidentally, Crowther’s former HPL coach, Rob Giesbrecht, became an assistant coach of the women’s soccer team at TWU. De spite her multiple connections, she credits this opportunity to her pre vious Metro coach who initially got her involved with TWU’s program.

In an interview with Evans, he emphasized that “ev erybody is eligible to be selected for [the] first 15, so we select that team first and then we put together the second 15 team. . . . But each weekend, the slate is wiped clean and we start over.”

CrowtherSophieDiaries:Rookie

of the team’s growing numbers, Evans is pursuing a methodical approach for the 2022/2023 season. With nearly 15 incoming recruits, the men’s rugby team is introducing a “second 15” to their ro tation. As a rugby 15s team, the Spartans have be come accustomed to the selection process for their first line of 15 players for most games and tourna ments. Nevertheless, Evans is challenging his players by broadening the opportunity for playing time by implementing the second 15 into the program. Pri or to games, the coaches follow a selection criteria document that they fill out based on performance.

60 Years of Student Newspapers

Only three issues of the Echo were published, and it only ran for one academic year.

Named after the river on campus, the Salmon River Digest ran for almost a decade until it was briefly rebranded as the Echo.

1969 - 1978

1980 - 1985

1962 - 1969

T.J.C. (Trinity Junior College) Pioneer, or simply, “The Pioneer” was TWU’s first student paper. The first of many to come, The Pioneer served Trinity students before the school was even a university.

1979 - 1980

This iteration was rebranded to simply “The Today” in 1985, then The TWU Today in 1988. It switched back to The Today in 1990. The school paper would not be known as Mars’ Hill until 1996.

Ten years ago, Mars’ Hill celebrates TWU’s upcoming 50th anniversary.

Mars’ Hill responds to 9/11: a big undertaking for the team’s first issue of the year.

January 25, 2012

September 18, 2001

The Today covers a tragedy that hits close to home: the death of six Trinity aviation students.

March 15, 1991

Univeristy inflation and a vehichle catching fire share the front page of this issue from twenty years ago.

December 3, 2002

Nowadays, it seems that more popular genres among this age group include realistic and historical fic tion. One speculation as to why this shift occurred

The genre was prominent through out the 20th centu ry with novels re flecting the chaotic political climate of their times.

Dystopianble?

dystopian or blatantly real istic, middle schoolers and teens crave stories that represent them, that resonate with them through characters of a similar age, and that offer compel ling narratives. Perhaps it all comes down to per sonal preferences. Thankfully, bookstores con tinue to carry most of these iconic young adult dystopian novels in addition to the variety of new releases, so there is no shortage of choices when deciding what to read.

Sophie Holland

Perhapsmore.

Novels such as Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, 1984 by George Orwell, The Handmaid’s Tale by Mar garet Atwood, and The Chrysalids by John Wyndham all grapple with political issues that were relevant in that era, and still persist today. Brave New World wrestles with themes of technology and power, 1984 exposes readers to the disturbing concepts of total itarianism and propaganda, The Handmaid’s Tale paints a dark portrait of a society in which wom en are stripped of their reproductive freedom, and The Chrysalids depicts a society fuelled by ig norance and ableism. The aforementioned novels are strong representations of the dystopian genre; however, they are intended primarily for adults.

teen novel The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas tells the story of a young black woman and her community dealing with the atrocities of police brutality. Christine Day’s I Can Make This Promise (published in 2019) is a middle-grade novel that shares the story of a young Native American girl learning about her family and heritage and the intergenerational trauma that comes with that. These two nov els are both written by people of the same her itage as their respective protagonists and speak directly to the social in justices which the char acters face without requiring any world-building to convey the message. While teens and preteens still love allegory, fantasy, and metaphorical storytell ing, these novels place an emphasis on directly ed ucating

ARTS & CULTURE

by telling stories of young people who overcame oppressive systems and societies. Whether the nar rative follows the story of a fight to the death on national television or a society divided into five factions based on arbitrary personality traits, the stories always portrayed a teenager––a character whom the audience could automatically relate to based on age––overcoming a system created to their disadvantage. Perhaps these books and their advocacy for equality were a factor in more privi leged Gen-Z and Millennials becoming so vocal and so politically inclined. Not only did these novels in troduce many young teens to political themes, but it gave them hope of agency in regards to the political systems that may work against them.

What Happened to the YA Dystopian Literature Craze?

Though they were aimed at a younger audience, these books, like their adult counterparts, still re flected political and social issues to contemplate. They offered teachers an opportunity to integrate thrilling reads into their English and social stud ies curricula and parents an opportunity to worry about whether or not the content their preteens were reading was appropriate. They inspired youth

Around the turn of the century, the dystopian genre was popularized for children and middle-grade readers. The Giver was published in 1993, and Jeanne

is because nowadays there is a greater emphasis on diversity and inclusion in classrooms, libraries, and bookstores. In novels like The Hunger Games, Diver gent , and The Maze Runner, the characters may face poverty and oppressive governments; however, the protagonists are almost always white, able-bodied, and presumably straight (as portrayed in their ro mantic relationships and infamous love triangles). Though the novels often include secondary charac ters who are disabled, LGBTQ+, or people of colour, the main characters typically lack diverse represen tation of those communities.The

literature may have been pop ular in the 2010s, but its history dates much further back.

Whetheryouth.allegorically

f you attended middle school in North America between 2010 and 2016, you probably remem ber the rise and fall of young adult dystopian fiction. From an obligation to read The Giver by Lois Lowry for a sixth-grade novel study to the thrill of seeing the film adaptations of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games novels in theatres, these stories marked some key middle school moments for many Gen-Z and Millennials. The genre was incredibly popular among teenagers and preteens in the ear ly 2010s and included novels such as the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, The Maze Runner novels by James Dashner, and

not every young adult actually enjoyed the genre, but many will con clude that these novels made a last ing impression, for better or for worse. So what made these novels so memora

DuPrau’s The City of Ember was published in 2003. The genre then began to reach young teenagers with novels such as Divergent and The Hunger Games.

Entering Lands of Danger and Determination in Elden Ring

In 1-2 sentences, how would you describe the culture in your community?

Thoughexperience.

Hannah Schweitzer, Music Guild President

like any wave, it is one that may come crashing down hard on gamers via its exceedingly chal lenging combat experience. Just as it consists of beautiful graphics and is known to draw out the inner explorer in players, Elden Ring offers a high level of challenge common to FromSoft ware’s formula for their other combat-heavy RPG games, including powerful enemies appearing at every turn—in open plains and in dungeons alike.

022 has been met with a large wave of video game releases, but the game that seems to be standing on the top is Elden Ring , the latest game by FromSoftware. The game is a stunning open-world experience with invigorating, albeit taxing, combat experienc es. What is more, the creators’ collaboration with best-selling fantasy author, George R.R. Martin, is considered a cherry on top when it comes to Elden Ring ’s popularity, as Martin wrote the history and the premise for the world and its characters.

Orb (music showcase), Movie Night (Featuring great soundtracks), and a music social (TBA).

Email musicguild.twu@gmail.com.

The game tends to give players many setbacks whenever they are closer to defeating an enemy. Being a fifth-level warrior does little against the colossal thirtieth-level knight that may stop to clobber your character in the first five minutes. It appears to be a standard wel come in the Lands Between that had me thank ing FromSoftware for the respawn function. The challenges spanned too great a margin, reaching a point where I would turn to Horizon Forbidden West , another combat-heavy game that is known for its difficult bosses, looking

After buying the game immediately upon its release, I found Elden Ring ’s story and the open world to be a highlight; however, as someone who is newer to the trials of combat-heavy games, I came face-to-face with the question that often crosses a gamer’s mind: will I ever finish it?

Campus Culture Spotlight is a column focused on highlighting different clubs and com munities around campus. Let us know if there are any groups that you think deserve a highlight!

Campus Culture Spotlight: The Music Guild

While Elden Ring may crest high on the top of the metaphorical wave of game releases,

What are the main services, events, or activities that your club facilitates?

The Music Guild is dedicated to fostering community amongst music students and the greater student body of TWU. Through facilitating events and reaching out to the student community, the music guild endeavours to bring the joy and passion of music we experience to everyone!

Who is your club for?

The most note worthy would be Orb! Every semester it has been held, students gather to enjoy a wide range of musical acts or to perform themselves. Orb is a great opportunity to show off and express yourself without pressure.

Where can students find more information about your club?

The Music Guild is a warm and fun atmosphere. All of us love music so much and all we want to do is share that love with everyone.

That our events are open to everyone!

What would you most like people to know?

for some “light” combat and, funnily enough, some Whilerelaxation.achallenging game may intimidate some, challenges can be a highlight for many players, encouraging strategy and a frame of mind that encourages thinking outside the box. In an open-world game such as Elden Ring, players are given the chance to explore every secret cave, dungeon, and dangerous realm hidden beneath. There is certainly a thrill in defeating a large and intimidating boss. Despite my own hesitancy in seeking out the biggest of the game’s bosses, the support of friendly NPCs and other players joining the fray online goes a long way in turning the hassle of Elden Ring into an enjoyable gaming

Elden Ring offers its fair share of hardships, the joy of victory becomes as much a highlight in the game as the setting and its genre appeal as a fantasy RPG. In a game that teaches the value of teamwork and persever ance, the fight to restore the Elden Ring may be an arduous one, but the drive for success in defeating the game’s mightiest enemies earns Elden Ring a place at the top.

The game introduces a customizable player character called the Tarnished, an exile who is dropped—quite literally—into the game’s setting, the Lands Between. In these dangerous lands, the Tarnished embarks on a quest to repair the Elden Ring and fight enemies of dif ferent shapes and sizes along the way. Follow ing its launch in February, Elden Ring became a massive success, earning a great amount of praise from critics and gamers and was named 2022’s number one game in close league with Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Forbidden West . Mar tin addressed the game’s success on Twitter, stating that Elden Ring was “taking the gaming world by storm.” By storm indeed.

What are some fun events that your group has put on in the past?

Jessica Knapp

Four years seems like a small amount of time when compared to cam pus clubs or organizations that have been around for decades. The Games Club shows that there was, and still is, a continued need for digital connection on campus. Some people may find their communi ty at Spartan games, the Banana Challenge, or TWUSA events, while others may struggle to find any sort of community they can connect to. For some people, it may be as simple as offering them a controller or a keyboard: “we have a collective love of video games,” Caleb con cludes, “so through that, we create [the] community.”

my initial skepticism and in only four short years, Caleb has transformed the Games Club from an idea to a massive club that has a true cultural presence on campus. Caleb says the club regularly attracts 50–60 members that actively show up to the bigger events— though he adds that the more hardcore 3 a.m. watch parties draw significantly less people—with around 150 people actively receiving updates from the club. In addition to gaming tournaments and watch parties, the club also fields a collegiate-level esports teams in League of Legends and, last year, began hosting more casual events like board game and virtual reality games

The idea of a common language and community around games drove the vast majority of Caleb’s intent and goal for the club. “There was sort of a hole in our outreach to international students,” he says. “I already wanted to start a games club, but I realized that I could do a lot more than just play games with it.”

back to the genesis of the Games Club, Caleb says the idea came about after playing video games with the international students in his building. “Internation al students weren’t really doing a whole lot other than playing games in their dorm,” he says. “None of them would attend any of the dorm events because they bare ly spoke English. But games have a relatively universal language in a sense. It’s not based on language for the most part. . . . It’s not standard communication, but you still have an understanding of what each other intends.”

Controllers and Community: Four Years of the TWU Games Club

David Witzke

Despitepen.

aleb Millard first broached the idea of a TWU Games Club to me in the fall of 2019 during our Foundations 101 class. We were both only in the second or third week of classes in our first year; I had no idea how he was going to make this club hap

Thinkingnights.

At this point in its existence, the Games Club seems to have become part of the fabric of campus, creating a new community within the undercurrents that flow around TWU. Despite a looming change in club leadership after he graduates, Caleb is still excited about the future of the club. He especially looks forward to the possibility of adding more official esports teams to the TWU roster. Other goals for the club’s future remain less lofty: the group would enjoy connect ing more with the Richmond eSports Club and adding more casual online events to connect with more students.

This community focus is made even more interesting by how little the club advertises on campus. Though the club hosts large events, it of ten has little to no advertising or social media presence. The club has an Instagram account, though there has been no active posting since 2020. Most of the members communicate on a private Discord which remains fairly active throughout the year. “It’s more of a friend and experience-based community,” says Caleb, “rather than just a club.” Rather than events forming the communi ty in the games club, the community shapes the events. Caleb also points out that another factor in their limited advertising is often a lack of funding and incentive. He feels that people would rather

create and attend events that they are passionate about rather than volunteering time curating a social media presence for the club.

Image: Instagram advertisement for the TWU Games Club’s first official launch, 2019

FYI: Putting a chair in a random parking spot does not save your spot. I WILL move your chair and park there out of spite

Watch Chainsaw Man this October pls for your own sake

“I think Kierkegaard says this, and I say Ki erkegaard, but really I mean Cal Townsend”

shout out to all the other turquoise lan yards: we got this!!

Hey Security, could you please remove the bar riers by Strombeck so that commuters don’t have to drive all the way around campus to get to the music build ing lot? Not only would it be more efficient, but also a lot safer as we’re less likely to encounter pedestrians. Thanks!

Mars’ Hill…. Why’d you do your insta so dirty? How are the first years going to know what you do when the only post is an MS eggs?Soadvertisement?Painthowaboutthem

maybe having 20 min ute intervals between heats in banana chal lenge wasn’t the great est way to keep whereGEESE?WHOthistwusaengaged…maybe.peoplehasasolidteamyearSTOLETHESeriouslyarethey??

Jacob Laubach gradu ate takechallengetwuoutof your tinder bio plEase

Twu really said let’s rebrand to the mid 2000s, but make sure it’s the ugly graphic designs from the 2000s that everyone tries to Iforgetcan’t believe they’re getting rid of declassi fieds #stopcensorship

Astrology can be a taboo topic amongst Christians, but we here at Mars’ Hill realize that even Christians need something to take away the responsibility of their own actions.

So instead of silly pagan star signs or out-of-context scripture passages, we’re basing your fate on something you can rely on—your major!

Helen Keller was fak ing it

the spartan knit toque stays ON during sex

cult, we have stickers.

If you are...

I’m live laugh loving the new gays and theys on joincampusthefned

Who knew that your future depended entirely on the degree you chose to earn?

The Robert G. Kuhn Building: A nostalgic landmark of bygone days when TWU students loved their Someonepresident

Natural&Applied Sciences

SAMC

You’re on the verge of a creative breakthrough, but it can only be reached by sitting in utter solitude while playing “Hayloft II” by Mother Mother on loop. Trust me.

Christian Horoscopes

tell the clock tower to shut up I cannot think anymore with all this ruckus

Sources reveal that Sodexo’s oranges, if left alone in a dark cabinet for long enough, induce visions of prophecy when inhaled. Want to unlock the un known? If yes, be aware that the orange only whispers its secrets to the worthy.

If you ever want to summon Glenn Han sen, leave one lamp in the collegium turned off, works every time

Do something special for Glen Van Brummelen when you can. Buy him Star bucks, wash his car, write something nice on his Wikipedia page. That man is God’s gift to this green earth, and he deserves a treat.

The first-week-back experience of people constantly asking you what your major is

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 reflect the opin ions of Mars’ Hill staff, the student association, or that of the University.

DECLASSIFIEDS

HKIN Pray extra hard for God to bless your food this week. We all know it takes fruits and veggies to get big and strong, and Sodexo really isn’t giving you much to work with.Business: In Wall Street, it is custom to touch the brass bull statue for good luck. TWU’s equivalent to this is giving an RGK Starbucks barista a gentle kiss on the forehead.

Bailey Frose

Education

Submit your own at marshillnewspaper.com/declassifieds

You know those creepy mannequins you folks practice on in Nursing labs? Better watch your back next time you leave their room. Apparently one of them’s got a vendetta against a student with bad syringe aim.

Social Sciences

Nursing

I can’t believe they’re changing the name from Mars’ Hill to Ura nus’ Valley.

Ring by Spring? Try Got ‘Em by Autumn. You’ve got somebody behind you in one of your classes positively twitterpated by you. Hurry though, they’ll lose interest by the end of Autumn’s Equinox, which is—today?! Better do something quick!!

Humanities

You’re about to witness a major historical event tomorrow! What, you ask? Beats me, but be sure to keep detailed notes of everything you see on campus, no matter how trivial it may seem.

Editorial note: What a lovely way to spice up your marriage <3

It is difficult to find a common ground, espe cially when things are uprooted and our foot ing is shaky. But that is how we grow, for when we root for something, we turn things over. In the genesis of The Agora, I insist our foun dation be built upon a community of diverse viewpoints. It was Aristotle’s hope that when exposed to a diverse viewpoint, one would react favourably in an environment structured for debate instead of recoiling. Instead of our opinions remaining independent of their oppositions, they should be brought together to interact with one another in the pursuit of fair and intellectual discourse.

source established firmly in facts; however, opinions in journalism make no claim to objectivity. Much like Steven Crowder’s popular YouTube videos, “Change my mind,” The Agora aims to be a space ded icated to our opinions and how they are as we see them or, in the light of public discourse, to challenge our minds without the sole goal of changing them.

Welcome to The Agora

Yours sincerely, Sadie McDonald

OPINIONS

I encourage you to take these narratives to heart. Let yourself contemplate them and toss them around. I urge you to ask questions, to search deeper, and to always keep exploring. If you have a story to share, speak up. If there is another side that begs to be explored, go find it. And if something seems foreign - as Aristotle has taught us - recognize that it is an opportunity to grow.

When we open ourselves to the possibility of the “other,” whether that be an opinion, belief, or point of view, we let ourselves in on a liberating realization: the world is so much more than a single story.

During its time, the Agora’s legacy was one of intellectual, artistic, cultural, religious, and political activity. In the book of Acts, Paul preached the gospel at the Agora. On the other hand, Socrates was known to hold court there through inquiry, which remains fun damental to Western philosophy today. The Agora was structured with limited barriers between events making compartmentalization nearly impossible, and yet there was a desig nated space near the edge to step back from engagement.

Dear Readers,

t is with great joy that I introduce to you the first installment of The Agora. This Opinions column takes its roots from the Agora of Athens, also known as the birthplace of democracy. As a Greek term, the word “Agora” translates to “open place of assembly” and was a place in ancient Greece where freeborn citizens gathered to hear civic announce ments, discuss politics, or assemble military campaigns. Later designated as a marketplace, the Agora was a space created for communal discussion, ranging from religion and philoso phy to legal matters. Therefore, much like the church, the Agora is defined by its people who gather, not just its place of gathering.

Like all projects, this column started with a vision: to create a brave space for the discus sion of all opinions, from humorous to con troversial, big or small, to be heard, engaged with, and reflected upon in a way that values all people and glorifies God. While that may seem like an impossible task, it is one that needs to be done. From an academic perspec tive, The Agora is for the intellectuals, the philosophers, and in the spirit of debate. For the community at large, it is an ongoing con versation, a reformation, or an invitation. The Agora is a place to listen and to speak, to wear our hearts on our sleeves while extending a helping hand.

Sadie McDonald

This section is a cumulation of opinions: some never told before, ones almost too controver sial to be published, and others that are sim ply honest as the author shares their experi ence. It is my hope that through the release of The Agora, readers will understand that our community—Trinity Western University—and all of the people included are each valuable in their own Journalismway.isa

Commute to Commune:

trayed by major media conglomerates. Andrew de scribes this corruption in an interview: “Both sides of mainstream media try so hard to create this ulti mate domestic enemy. . . . It’s really scary, because people really think there’s this boogeyman on the other side of the political spectrum.” The fabrica tion of truth by mainstream media sources has left a distaste for journalism in many people’s mouths, allowing this void of pure and unbiased media to create opportunity for the rise of journalists like Andrew JournalismCallaghan.asitwas known is fading away, but in its place a new type of journalism is being born. Andrew’s work in this new age has truly inspired me and given me hope to enter what seemed like a dying world. He and other journalists like him have breathed life into this career and redefined what it means to be a journalist; moving from paper to the fast-paced media machine we live in.

While I did not know it at the time, my commute soon became a part of “campus life,” despite not being on campus. The collegiums became a safe space to take a break and have a breather before my next class. My community looks like walking with other commuters past the pond and security guard to our first class and complaining about the bus’s contin uously late arrival time. As I became more comfortable commuting, my community life grew at TWU; to my surprise, what I had initially found the most disconnecting about my off-campus lifestyle soon became my most comforting.

Initially, as a commuter at TWU, I was happy to see the opportunities that were presented to commuters. However, like many other commut ers, I soon found commuting to be disconnecting and isolating.

Commuter

Taylor McDonald 16

All too often I would be sitting on the bus trying to look intimidating while blasting Taylor Swift’s “Red (Taylor’s Version)” when another TWU student would start a conversation with me. Even knowing there were other TWU students on transit was a comfort, because, even if we did not talk, there was still a sense of community.

ournalism is dying . . . at least the version familiar to us. The age of the newspaper, the news stand, and the paperboy is fading into the sunset. On the horizon lies a new world of media: information condensed into easy-to-digest videos. Our connection to the world around us is channeled through screens, not paper. Ironic that I write this for a newspaper, then.

With the constant use of and time commitment to public transit, I quickly began to solely focus on going to school, moving from class to class, and then rushing to catch the next bus home, justifying my lack of connection on campus to my commute and other activities. But what I soon discovered was that the community extended from TWU throughout my various routes.

to New Orleans to study journalism at Loyola Uni versity. He then dropped out after deciding to pur sue a more media-focused form of journalism. It was then that he decided to embark on a journey across the states, documenting the underbelly of the U.S.—a journey which became a YouTube chan nel called “All Gas, No Brakes.” This series became widely popular as Andrew and his team captured the raw extremities of American society. This se ries kickstarted a new wave of YouTube journal ism, replicating the formula created by ‘All Gas, No Brakes.’ Eventually, Andrew created a more es tablished and independent media company called “Channel 5.”

Diego Bascur A on the Lifestyle

Perspective

At the core of this revolution stands a man fueling revival in journalism, Andrew Callaghan, who is a true pioneer of this new age. Born in Philadel phia, raised in Seattle, Andrew eventually moved

s I enter my second year of nursing at Trinity Western Universi ty, I cannot help but remember my first year, not only because of the fantastic cafeteria food or my favourite Canadian geese, but because of a certain bus that always came at least 10 minutes late.

Journalistic Revival: The All Gas, No Brakes Story

However, I do not believe this chapter to be a grim time for journalism. On the contrary, I believe this to be an exciting start: a revolutionary rebirth of the way in which we explore the world and connect to it. I exist in a time where I can help to reinvent journalism, to help shape how we share news with the world

His work has undoubtedly shifted the path of journalism by keeping viewers entertained while spreading awareness on serious issues.

The raw and simple quality of this journalism shies away from the often biased and twisted news por

I parked with no sign of him anywhere. I opened the door, and with no classmates in sight, went up the steps. He wasn’t nearby. As I was taking my seat, I saw him. He beat me again. Being reasonable, I knew it was time to surrender.

David Witzke

Our Copy Editor Hates This Article

Humour Editor’s Note: This author has been terminated. No malicious tom foolery is permitted in my section. Humour is serious business.

rinity is a confusing campus, but I thought I knew it well. That is, until one of my peers started showing up to class before me, despite leaving later than me every single day. Clearly, he knew something I didn’t. Some faster route than mine. I had to find out

“Golfslip. carts.”

“How do you get across campus so fast?” I asked. “I walk fast,” he said. So, the next day I ran, but he still got there before me. Liar.

“You win—” I began to say, before I noticed a smell in the air and a bottle of Febreeze sticking out of his bag. I don’t know how, but I knew this was connected to his early arrivals. So I watched.

O ur Chief Copy Editor hates this article. You see, a copy edi tor’s job is quite simple but often overlooked. Copy editors have a job which requires them to find little grammatical inconsistencies and to fix them. For instance, Mars’ Hill the newspa per requires an apostrophe, but a Mars hill, as in a hill made of Mars bars, does not. Furthermore, a hill on Mars (perhaps called a Mars hill) also does not need an apostrophe. So when Mars’ Hill reports on a Mars hill from a Mars hill that mars the scenery, our copy editor goes quite mad.

The next morning I was giddy. I sped to class in my newly acquired 2022 Honey Badger Club Car. I passed every student I saw, confus ing some and angering others, but I didn’t care. I was fast, and I was going to get there first.

While this humour may read as rather boring to some, this is OK be cause it is mostly to incense our Chief Copy Editor. Especially since OK may not be used as okay unless of course everything really is all ok. The more verbose among you may wonder at the purpose of this article. What grand master plan do I have to continually vex the Mars’ Hill team? Perhaps I shall come for the visuals team next and create some aesthetically PLEASING lines. Perhaps I’ll give that Arts and Culture guy a piece of my mind and send him an article about the true cultural nature of palm fronds in the Galapagos Islands. Per haps the News Editor will feel my wrath with an article dedicated to the subtle art of grass species identification on campus (the people must know that there is Bermuda grass amongst our fields of rye grass). Chaos and anarchy must be allowed to reign in the humour section, unless of course, the Humour Editor decides to cut my arti cle off right before I get the chance to

Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way (To Class)

Tomorrow, I’m winning. I don’t care how bad I will smell or how dirty my clothes will be, I will get there first.

I showed up to my next class late, confused and dejected, but sitting next to him, I smelled what the Febreeze was trying to cover. The final piece clicked. He never lied to me at all. He did walk fast, he used a scooter, even the golf cart was true, but it was the smell that gave him away. The sewers. Not just any sewers, but Trinity Western Universi ty’s famously golf cart-sized sewers.

Don’t even get me started on the grey areas. If I wanted to make something like quotations even “harder,” I would do something like that. Yet that’s not as difficult as using European « quotation marks. » Especially if I use them for « absolutely no reason. »

I asked him again. “How?”

“Howmore. do you do it?” I asked, trying to stay calm, before he laughed me off with an easy, “Do what?” but I could see it in his eyes—he knew what I wanted to know.

Following him after class, he went into the bathroom. I waited. One minute. Then another two. After five more minutes, I knew some thing was off. Heading in after him, I saw what I dreaded most. He wasn’t there.

HUMOUR

Lorin Scaiano

In journalism, it is even more difficult because of style guides. A jour nalist must not use American standards, even if they are colorful. Words must always be spelt with a “u,” as in colour, armour, honour, and flavour. So it would be totally nonsensical to spell them as color, armor, honor, and flavor. Which is why things must be centred but not centered and a copy editor might go berserk when they see this article. So many different nonstandards and they mustn’t be left in (contractions are a no no as well) but they’re jokes so they must remain!

This time he told me he uses a scooter. So, I bought a scooter and started using said scooter. I noticed the speed difference immediately, arriving much earlier than I usually did. But he was still there before me. After another quick round of interrogation, he let something else

ith the recent completion of the long-awaited Robert G. Kuhn Centre, the new home of Trinity Western University’s business department and Global Engagement Office, TWU has announced their intentions to name every building after a different Robert.

They’redoesn’t?both

I know, I know, the whole “Disney is actually an evil corporate entity that indoctrinates children into its philosophy of greed and materialism with plastic toys and variations on the American Dream” motif is overdone. You get it. You probably watched all the same “Cursed Secrets Disney Doesn’t Want You to Know” videos that I did as a child of the Internet. A company as big as Disney likely has some skele tons in its gilded closet, just probably not real ones on the Pirates of The Caribbean ride (anymore).

I believe the dark truth lies in your high school English classroom.

is granted citizenship under the pig regime. The other animals are genetically altered likewise and coexist peacefully while the pigs work to establish their empire across the globe and wipe out human

If you weren’t assigned Animal Farm by George Orwell (or, perish the thought, you skimmed it and used Sparknotes instead), it’s a tale of sev eral pigs that gain control of their farm from its human owners and quickly begin abusing their power. They end up running a dictatorship that drives their fellow farm animals to misery, which was meant by Orwell to be an allegory for Russia under Stalin. Possibly one of the most iconic quotes from this book is the final law that the pigs thrust upon the animals: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” This con tradictory philosophy fits startlingly well into the world of Mickey Mouse and friends and reveals the truth about Disney’s beloved mascots: they are the main characters in a sequel to Animal Farm. Here is my theory on what happened between the events of the two stories.

Of course, that’s just a silly conspiracy theory, like alligators in the sewers or the death of world-fa mous monarchs. Those obviously aren’t true.

While the administration has been secretive about what buildings may be renamed next and who they will be renamed after, insider information has revealed that the names “Robert J. Smith” and “Robert H. Chen” have been discussed. The RJS build ing would be named after a childhood friend of President Husbands and the RHC building would be named after a high school student who took a tour of the campus in 1998.

Seth Schouten

TWU has finally done it. All the departments got together and genetically synthesized the perfect student: The Josh He’s still being beta-tested right now, and as you can see, he’s a little shy.

The Mickey-verse Never Made Sense . . . Until Now Bailey Froese

clearly dogs (to everyone who thinks that Goofy is a cow, you’re thinking of Clarabelle, a cow he occasionally dated. They look similar, but Goofy has the same snout structure as Pluto). [Illustrator, please draw a diagram next to this paragraph]. Editorial Note: We have no illustrator for this issue. Sorry Bailey

The animals, with Mickey as their leader, have achieved their goal, which was to start a capital ist authoritarian regime instead of a communist one. Walt Disney was merely a puppet the mice and their canine minions hid behind, pumping out films, shows, and amusement parks designed to convey the same subliminal messages. At the dark heart of every Disney product—the roots, you might say—lies the seductive whisper from the iconic Britney Spears tune: give me more, give me, give me more.

But why does Goofy walk on two legs while Pluto walks on all fours? Why is Pluto domesticated when Goofy is granted personhood? Furthermore, why is Mickey, a mouse, far larger than Chip and Dale, two chipmunks? Yes, I’m aware they talk and that anthropomorphism has lots of wiggle room, but even within a fantastical universe everything should abide by the laws within that universe. Con tradictions create plot holes, and either no one at this megacorporation on its way to overtaking the world noticed that gaping plot hole—or something is seriously wrong here.

That being said, why does Goofy talk but Pluto

Named after TWU’s former president, Bob Kuhn, the new building has been nicknamed RGK, which many students have noticed is similar to the three-letter acronym of another campus building, the Robert N. Thompson Building, or RNT for short. While many have taken to affectionately calling RGK “Bob the Building,” TWU’s administration has revealed that the naming of RNT and RGK is no accident.

Right?

“The similar names are entirely intentional,” said a TWU spokesperson. “When we were searching for a name for the new building, we were searching to name it after another man named Robert. We were delighted when someone suggested President Kuhn. It pays respect to a great man as well as continues our fun, three-letter nam ing Thetrend.”administration has revealed plans to rename all buildings at TWU’s Langley campus after various men named Robert, starting with Reimer Student Centre. “As much as we are grieved to make this announcement,” the administration spokes person continued, “we will be renaming Reimer Student Centre to the Robert Downey Jr. Student Centre. Although we are aware Mr. Downey has no immediate connection to Trinity, we wanted to pay respect to his legacy as an actor. Also, RDJ is a great name for a building.” No news on when the renaming will occur has been revealed yet, although some speculate it will occur next May to correspond with the tenth anniversary of Iron Man 3 (2013).

TWU to Name Every Building on Campus After a Different Robert

one factor the pigs don’t consider is the mice. The mice are surprisingly sympathetic towards hu mans and, due to their small size, escape the pigs to find human laboratories. There, they work with humans against the pigs, ingesting steroids that enhance their growth so that they make effective soldiers. They also wear clothes, though they don’t enjoy wearing shirts because they like showing off their new muscles from the steroids (you can’t see Mickey’s because his fur is black, but trust me, he’s jacked). With the mice on their side, the humans conquer the pigs and restore order once more. However, the mice request that in return for their help, they and the other altered animals must be al lowed to retain their humanoid states. The humans agree—falling right into the mice’s trap.

Theity.

THE JOSH

he human world? It’s a mess. Disney World, however, is the Happiest Place on Earth. Or is it?

In the final scene of Animal Farm, the pigs have come full circle, sitting down to dinner with the human overlords they once despised and becom ing indistinguishable from them. Let’s say this metamorphosis is literal, with the pigs evolving to become more physically human. They still look like pigs, but now they can talk and wear clothes and drive cars. You know, human stuff. In the book, the pigs secretly bred dogs to become their bodyguards and servants. Now that the pigs have human intelligence, their breeding methods become more complex. They teach the dogs to also talk and wear clothes and drive cars. However, some dogs rebel against the pigs. To ensure that there are no uprisings, the pigs subdue any potential dissenters by separating them from their humanoid brethren and raising them like normal dogs. However, even the anthropomorphic dogs are kept at a relative ly low level of intelligence and given diminutive names like Goofy. Thus, two separate species of dog emerge: one that is domesticated and one that

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