THE
SWINGING BRIDGE MESSIAH COLLEGE//THE PULSE
VOL. 94//ED. 2//SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
Welcome Back From Your Friendly SGA! [page 5]
Another Kind of
Summer Hero
[page 8]
Strength Crew’s Weightroom Opinion [page 10]
Photo provided by Keane McCullum
Where Passion Meets Vocation By Nicholas Tay FEATURES EDITOR
Senior Keane McCullum shares experiences and thoughts of a summer working and serving in Zambia
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“I started my experience with a threeweek long May term course to Macha, Zambia with Dr. [Larry] Mylin and [Phil] Thuma. Afterwards, I continued on as a lab scientist as the Macha Research Trust (MRT) researching malaria drug resistance in Macha, Nchelenge (both in Zambia) and Mutasa, Zimbabwe. I also shadowed in the adjoining BIC Macha Mission Hospital, getting medical experience and being in a missions environment.”
“Malaria affects millions of people worldwide and especially plagues developing nations. The disease is constantly evolving; it’s becoming resistant to the drugs that we throw at it and the mosquitoes carrying the parasites have adapted to our insecticide use. It’s devastating to communities, especially to children, which in turn adversely affects economies and social progress. If society or an individual is battling an infectious disease, the resources spent in fighting it makes it a lot harder to pull yourself out of poverty that you’re stuck in.”
McCullum appreciates the richness of relationships in Zambia, a feature he believes is very often lost in developed nations. “The notion that we have an overabundance of resources sounds clichéd, because almost every college students either has their Africa or South America experience, but I would also say that we neglect so much that is very close to us. For example, I was struck by the material poverty in Zambia, but the people there continued to bless with their generosity. I was also struck by the intentionality of relationships in Zambia, especially the way they pursued family and community relationships. I feel that’s something we lose by being so rich and developed. We tend to forget the things that are closest to us.”
hile many college students spend their summers working in internships or at a local institution near home, Keane McCullum, a senior biochemistry major with plans to enter medical school after Messiah, spent his entire summer in Zambia.
McCullum notes the importance of doing malaria research, especially in a developing nation such as Zambia.
often in the United States. It was challenging to witness the struggles the doctors had. It let me see difficult situations that I would never want to be in.”
Photo provided by Keane McCullum McCullum states that his motivating factor for doing malaria research in Zambia stems from a desire to understand the effectiveness of collaboration between research and medical outreach. “The research done at Macha has helped control the number of malaria cases. They managed to bring down malaria case numbers from over a 1000 to about 50 or less cases a year. I was highly interested in learning how a laboratory and public health initiative could work effectively to combat such a devastating disease.” McCullum also notes that the hours spent doing research and shadowing
doctors was long, but he feels that the time spent has been insightful, especially regarding the state of healthcare in a developing nation such as Zambia. “I spent about 40-60 hours in the lab working on malaria research with American, Chinese and Zambian lab scientists. I was also able to shadow Dr. Thuma throughout the hospital and get a feel for a mission hospital’s daily operations. It was interesting to see how the hospital managed with its financial constraints, especially since a lot of its funding comes from a relatively poor government. They don’t have the money to spend on elaborate medical treatments that we take for granted so
McCullum believes that his Zambian experience has left him with a desire to bless others, especially after interacting with individuals who lived their lives with Christ-like sacrifice and intentionality. “We’ve been blessed with so much and I believe we have a responsibility to better others’ lives. I was able to interact with scientists, doctors, sociologists and missionaries who were genuinely seeking Christ and pouring all they had into the lives of the Zambian people. I was able to see so much sacrifice and I realized that I take so much for granted in the United States.” McCullum would also like to thank the generous Paul and Elaine Wengert Endowment for Humanitarian Service for funding his Zambian summer research experience.
NEWS
September 26,
The Swinging Bridge 2013
Dining Dollar$ Open Forum By Hang My Nguyen STUDENT WRITER
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n September 10, Student Government Association (SGA) and Dining Services hosted an open forum discussing students’ feedback regarding the new meal plan for this academic year. The forum presented in-depth information about the meal plan and provided answers to questions from attending students. As to why implementing a new meal plan was necessary, Mark Wirtz, Director of Dining Services at Messiah College, said that the new meal plan was mainly designed to give students more flexibility on dining locations. “Students were basically forced to eat at Lottie and they shared with us that they wanted more freedom and ability to dine at any location on campus,” said Wirtz.
He added that the dramatic increases in food costs in recent years made the old meal plan model, especially the unlimited plan, “no longer financially sustainable.” “The old meal plan model was designed with the understanding that some students would not eat all their meals, therefore, students who ate fewer meals actually paid for those who ate more. The new meal plan allows all students to pay for only what they choose to purchase,” he said. A number of students expressed their concern at the forum on whether the new meal plan would be able to cover an entire semester if they choose to have three full meals a day at Lottie. To answer their question, Wirtz went to the numbers. He said with a balance of $895 Dining Dollars, students will be able to purchase 275 Lottie meals each semes-
ter, equivalent to 91.6 days of the total 107 in a semester. Based on their research of past statistics, Dining Services have carefully estimated that $895 Dining Dollars is an average amount needed for the vast majority of Messiah College students to spend each semester. If a student chooses to dine in Lottie for the full 107 days, or 321 meals, Wirtz said an additional $146.55 would be needed to cover the cost; however this only occurred in 1% of Messiah students in the past. As for any potential adjustments to the new meal plan, Wirtz said that it is not possible, at least for this semester, as the plan had been approved by the Student Government, Student Senate, President Cabinet, and the Operations Board of Trustees.”The meal plan model included a tremendous amount of student feedback, support and development over the past 18 months to implement. Thus, the administration will evaluate and review the performance of the meal plan this semester for potential adjustments in the future,” said Wirtz.
News 2
Bethany Seiter, an attendant at the open forum, said that she gained a much better understanding of the new meal plan after the session. “The forum was really enlightening. I felt that it gave us the full grasp of the content we did not really know about. I think it was good when they had everything laid out, had power points, good visuals and students could ask questions. I left there with an understanding that definitely helped me out a lot,” she said. Wirtz also believed that the forum was indeed helpful, especially since there is still misleading information regarding the new meal plan circulating campus.. “I think we have done a good job communicating the meal plan information on our website and in our operations but there is still a lot of incorrect information out there,” said Wirtz. He added that SGA and Dining Services would be more than happy to conduct additional forums should students still have further questions regarding the new meal plan.
Active Shooter Training Implemented on Campus
New Procedures Put Into Place in Case of an Emergency By John Moulton STUDENT WRITER
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n recent years, a growing epidemic has been plaguing American society. In all parts of the country, school shootings have become a constant headline in the news and have brought forth changes to policies and procedures in place. That is why Messiah College has now implemented a crisis management plan if an active shooter scenario were to take place. Although most students believe that an active shooter is something that would never happen here at Messiah, you can never be so sure. Because Messiah is a Christian institution, someone may target it if they are against Christianity. There are many other reasons besides this that may drive someone to become an active shooter and that is why it is important to have a plan in place. Messiah has already developed a plan and implemented the training process so that everyone on campus knows how to react if an active shooter was on campus. Last spring, every staff member was provided with a poster explaining what to do and what not to do if this were to happen and were given training to handle such situations. This same training will be implemented for current students this fall and the hope is to have every incoming class to go through this process as well. Messiah understood the importance of getting the correct procedures in place; so they took a year of extensive research to see what other schools and businesses were doing, looked at the needs for our specific campus, and collaborated with both local
and Federal agencies for guidelines. So what does the training entail? According to Cindy Burger, Director of Safety and Dispatch Services at Messiah College, there are three specific options available if the situation were to happen. She said that you can “go into lockdown mode, you can escape, or if needed you can fight; i.e. take out the shooter.” She stressed that although lockdown procedures were once considered the best, “if you can leave the area safely and quickly, do it!” said Burger. She added, however, “that you should notify your RA or RD so they have a headcount of their floor or building.” Burger also addressed the notion of fighting the shooter further in detail. “If you make the decision to fight, you need to be absolutely positive that you can follow through until the gunman is incapacitated,” she said. “If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, you shouldn’t make the attempt.” “This is just one option available and you need to be mentally and physically prepared,” she added. Lastly, the training also describes how information will be relayed to students. The crisis management team will mainly use the existing text alert system to notify and update students of the situation as well as other forms of media on campus like email and The Pulse. Alongside the training session, police involvement is explained so that students understand that if/when police arrive, they will be the one in charge.
They have a job to do and the more quickly students and staff members follow their orders, the easier their job of accounting for everyone becomes. This part of the program is explained to help students understand that law enforcement officers are not trying to
Photo by: Danielle Gingrich be rude, they’re just doing their jobs. With this training in place, Messiah students will be prepared and know how to react properly to different situations should there be an active shooter on campus.
South Side Café Reopens By Danielle Burkett STUDENT WRITER
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ce cream lovers can now satisfy their taste buds at South Side Café. Located in the basement of Mountain View, South Side Café is officially open for the fall semester, providing students with a place to hang out with friends and enjoy delicious ice cream. South side Café opened its doors about five to six years ago, according to Katheryn Whiting, current manager of South Side Café. It was started by the Business Club, who had a vision of opening a business on campus specifically for business students so they could get real world experience of how to run their own business.
Since South Side is run by students, they are the ones who decide what to and not to sell in the café. “I’m pretty sure that we will be getting rid of our party cake flavor because it’s not a huge seller,” said Whiting. With the party cake ice cream on its way off the menu, it will most likely be replaced with flavors that have been requested fairly often, according to Whiting. “I’ve had a few requests this year for sugar-free ice cream or low-fat ice // CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE
September 26, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
News 3
SGA Finalizes Cabinet for the 2013-2014 Academic Year Sophomore Music Performance Major Elected Vice President of the Student By Jennifer Morgan STUDENT WRITER Student Senate meetings, organizing the student election for the new SGA cabinet during the spring semester, and meeting monthly with Messiah President, Kim Phipps and Dean of Students, Kristen Hansen-Kieffer.
Photo by: Caroline Phillips
Twitchell decided to run for the position after speaking with a few of her friends in the Lottie Nelson Dining Hall. The topic of the new Dining Dollars meal plan came into the conversation, and after hearing what suggestions she would like to make about the meal plan, her friends encouraged her to run for the position which had recently become available.
he slogan “Vote JT for VP” was sophomore Jordan Twitchell’s tactic for helping her fellow students to remember her name while casting their vote for the new Student Body Vice President.
Since she already knew some of the current cabinet members and had previous political experience in high school, she thought that she would fit well into the group and serve as a positive influence on campus.
Her clever rhyme caught the eye of many students, and earned her the win in the recent campus election.
During her high school days in Central New York, Twitchell served as the Treasurer and Secretary of several after-school clubs. She was the Student Council Secretary as a junior; and was later elected the Student Body President her senior year of high school. She said that these leadership positions allowed her to connect with her fellow students and gave her valuable leadership experience that she has used in other academic ventures. In order to have a successful and productive year as a member of the SGA cabinet, Twitchell hopes to offer her public speaking skills and enthusi-
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Voting for the Student Body Vice President took place on September 5 and 6 through an online poll sent to students via email. The other candidates running for the position were junior Amanda Thompson and sophomore Victoria Moder. As the newest member of the Student Government Association’s leadership cabinet, Twitchell’s responsibilities include facilitating weekly
South Side Café Reopens Continued...
cream for people with diabetes or just health concerns in general that still want to enjoy ice cream,” said Whiting. She is considering adding such options for popular ice cream flavors such as cookie dough, thus creating more variety for the customers. South Side Café also serves hard scoop Turkey Hill ice cream in a variety of ways. Students can get milkshakes, flurries, malts, and root beer floats. There is a wide variety of toppings available as well such as whipped cream, peppermint, M&Ms, chocolate chips, caramel syrup, and oreos, among others. And of course, students can also just get ice cream in a cup or a cone. Other than a wide selection of ice cream, you can also purchase sodas, water, Turkey Hill pints, cookies, and brownies. Prices range from $0.50 for a waffle cone to the most expensive items on their menu, the large ice cream scoop and the hot fudge sundae, both priced at $3.25. Currently, South Side only accepts Falcon Dollars and cash, but Whiting
hopes that sometime this semester, it will begin accepting credit cards as well. Whiting said that she has been researching ways to get a credit card swiper for the café. The idea has been proposed to the faculty advisor, Dr. David Hagenbuch, who presented it to the Student Government Association at the end of last year. Whiting feels “pretty certain that this will start to show up, hopefully this semester.” She also said that the addition of a credit card swiper will make it more convenient for students since not everyone carries cash around and credit cards are more readily available. South Side is the perfect location for people looking to grab a late night snack since it is open late. The café’s operating hours are Tuesday-Thursday 9pm-12am, Friday and Saturday 8pm-1 am, and Sunday 8pm-12am. Whiting also wanted to remind students to be on the lookout for upcoming events at South Side Café in the future.
asm to the student body. She wants to make sure that the cabinet is focused on the work required, but also plans on reminding them that it is important to make the job exciting and fun in order to engage more students. As for Messiah as a whole, Twitchell says that her goal is to make sure that student opinions are heard. She encourages attendance at any of the weekly Student Senate meetings, in addition to other various meetings throughout the school year that discuss issues related to the student body, such as the open forum about the Dining Dollars meal plan that took place on September 11. Twitchell adds that she would love to have as many students as possible to
vote during scheduled elections. With only 210 votes cast in the recent Vice President election, Twitchell strongly recommends voting the next time the polls are open for elections in the spring. In order to connect students to one another, the SGA cabinet, and the Messiah College faculty, Twitchell encourages students to “Like” the SGA page on Facebook by searching for “Messiah College Student Government Association,” and follow them on Twitter at @MessiahSGA. Twitchell says that she looks forward to serving the student body this year as the Vice President, and encourages any student to speak with her if they have questions or suggestions.
College Pastor Eldon Fry Retiring May 2014
By Ashlyn Miller STUDENT WRITER uring chapel on Sept. 5, Messiah College pastor Eldon Fry officially announced his upcoming retirement following the 2013-2014 school year. A long-time member of the College Ministries staff, Fry has seen the transition in a ministries staff that was mainly led by one chaplain, to one that employed an entire team to provide the student body with a diverse and varied faith base.
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Fry first came to Messiah in 1984, after pastoring a large church in Manhattan, KS, home of Kansas State University. “We thought we were there for life. The church was growing, we had it up to three services,” said Fry. God, on the other hand, had other plans in store, as an ad in Christianity Today brought Fry to Messiah as the Director of Campus Ministries. “[College ministries] seems to be something that God gave me a heart for. I’ve written some articles on how important it is to reach college students, and sometimes the church hasn’t been really effective with that,” said Fry. This passion has made it especially difficult for Fry to think of retirement. Much thought has been put into this decision, including silent retreats and contemplation. Fry emphasized the importance of prayer in his decision, saying he was constantly meeting with spiritual companions praying for the right timing. “There’s been enough encouragement that I feel that [retirement] is the step I need to take,” said Fry. Fry also noticed that with his upcoming 68th birthday this summer, he is not able to provide as much availability to the student body as he would like. “The college pastor needs to be available, and at 10 o’clock I’m not really thinking so much about coming back on campus, I’m thinking of going to bed.” Although he will not be on campus, Fry plans to remain in the area at his cabin on a serene, two-acre property dotted with
Photo provided by Eldon Fry
oak trees. He plans to focus on his new callings: working on legacy writings, and providing mentorship to other pastors. As Fry is fond of mentioning, he had many precious childhood memories growing up in “the hills of Idaho”, and he hopes to record those moments in order to pass them along to his grandchildren. His goal to provide assistance to other pastors developed during his time at Focus on the Family earlier in his career. The non-profit organization ran a toll-free line for pastors and spouses who were in trouble. Fry experienced a time of growth there that stayed with him to this day. At his arrival, they received 100 calls a month, but 3 years later when he left the organization, there were 400 calls a month. For the time being, Fry is still fulltime at Messiah. Campus Ministries is prepared for him to go to half-time in February, allowing Fry to still be influential during the planning for next year in January. There is a nationwide search going on this fall, assuring there will be a new college pastor announced by May of 2014. Until then, Fry plans to enjoy the interactions he experiences every day on campus. “I love being around students because they do some amazing things. I also love interacting with educators and hearing different points of view.” We want to thank Pastor Fry for his years of ministry with Messiah College.
OPINIONS
September 26, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
Opinions 4
Welcome Back By Kristen Houser STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
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from your Friendly SGA!
elcome back to campus from your friendly Student Government Association! As the semester gets underway, the many changes Messiah is currently facing has boiled the blood and stirred the interest of students across campus. Perhaps many of you have engaged in conversations regarding the new Dining Dollars Plan; or maybe you have rekindled the discussion about the Josh Ritter concert last fall and its implications on homosexuality and the Community Covenant. Do you have concerns about the new Focused Prioritization letter emailed by President Phipps this summer? How will this new plan impact your college experience? Where can you find answers to these questions or express your concerns for these topics? The answer is a simple one: the Student Government Association. Our purpose: The purpose and role of the Student Government Association as described by our Governance Manual is as follows: “To provide leadership for the student body; to promote spiritual growth; to provide opportunities for students to serve others; to support and recognize quality services and activities; and to represent students before the Administration, Faculty, Board of Trustees, and surrounding community.” As student leaders, it is our desire to help provide you with the best college experience possible. We do so by
hearing the concerns of students and providing them with a voice before the administration (“to represent the students before the Administration, Faculty, Board of Trustees, and surrounding community”). We promote spiritual growth through the support of the Chaplain Team. Finally, SGA oversees the smooth functioning of the 75+ organizations on campus to provide leadership development and personal growth while enhancing the college experience. Much like the Federal Government, there are three branches to SGA: the Executive Cabinet, Student Senate, and Peer Review Board. Cabinet is comprised of student-elected leaders and serves as the executive branch of SGA. The current officers are as follows: Kristen Houser-Student Body President Jordan Twitchell-Student Body Vice President Zachary Kantner-VP of Finance Ben Hemphill- VP of Organizations Christina Thomas-VP of Diversity Michael Skolka-Chair of Peer Review Board Cassy Baddorf-Executive Secretary As a Cabinet we hear and address student concerns and serve as the primary voice before administration, faculty, and the Board. Our executive Cabinet members are always ready and willing to provide a listening ear. Our office is located in Larsen 202 and we can be reached at sga@messiah.edu. Please feel free to
drop by or send us an email at any time! The second branch of Student Government is the Student Senate. This division is chaired by the Student Body Vice President and meets every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in Boyer 131. Student Senate is comprised of petitioned students and representatives of SGA-funded organizations. It is the role of this body to “recommend policy changes and initiatives” and to serve on committees that explore the college experience of students. In Senate, we hear from a various departments across campus who discuss hot-button issues. Some speakers we are looking forward to this semester include Faith Minnich from the Intercultural Office and Mark Wirtz
We want students to reach their full potential from Dining Services. Any and all students are welcome to attend Student Senate. For more information email Jordan Twitchell at sga@messiah.edu. The final sector of the Student Government Association is the Peer Review Board (PRB). Students who sit on this board hear the cases of those who have failed to follow the Community Covenant, and they work to reconcile these
students back into the Messiah community. New to the PRB this year is the Parking Appeals Panel, which, in collaboration with Campus Safety, reviews student appeals for parking violations. Each of these boards is comprised by student-petitioned members. For more information about the functions or opportunities with PRB, please contact Michael Skolka also at sga@messiah.edu. For some, the Student Government Association has been a familiar part of his/ her time here at Messiah. For others, this may be the first time that you are hearing about our organization. If this is your first exposure to SGA, I would encourage you to keep the aforementioned purpose in mind. As a student of Messiah College, you are entitled to have a positive college experience, and the Student Government Association is here to help. It is our job to seek out answers to the questions posed at the beginning of this article and to hear your concerns about campus happenings. Additionally, we want you as students to reach your full potential while at Messiah and beyond; we want to see you exceed your expectations as students and eventually as workforce leaders; we want your voice to be heard before the administration and faculty to provide a good college experience; and, ultimately, we want you to enjoy your time at Messiah. SGA is ready and willing to help you achieve this—let us know how we can help! Welcome back and let’s get ready for another great year!
Facebook Friendships
The Status of
By Susan Ryder STUDENT WRITER
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efore 2004 there was no such person as a Facebook friend and the word “friend” was only ever used as a noun. Has Facebook ushered in a new idea of friendship? Friendships have always been difficult to define because there are many different types of friendships. I have friends that I talk with nearly every day and friends I talk with once a year. I have friends I go to the movies with and friends I tell my secrets to. Sometimes they are the same person, sometimes they’re not. When discussing the significance of Facebook friendships with fellow Messiah students, I received similar feedback. Upon asking the question how many Facebook friends you have, many could at least estimate a number, which ranged from 200-1000 friends. Defining a Face book friend was easy. However, when I asked the question “How many friends do you have outside of
Facebook?” the response was different. The response wasn’t a number but a question. “What do you mean by friend?” Defining friendship isn’t simple. I’m tempted to pull out an academic description of friendship, but that would be a cop-out. Friendship isn’t defined by experts, it’s defined by experience. Friendship is be able to call someone and say “I need help,” knowing that they will drop what they’re doing and help. It’s people listening to problems that they can’t fix or problems they’ve heard many times before. Friendship is being able to list a friend’s flaws, but still calling them friend anyway. Friendship is laughing in celebration and crying in shared grief. So the answer to the question “Are Facebook friends real friends” is “Yes.” However, the caveat is that not all friendships are equal. Not all friends are willing to listen to us grumble about our problems or inconvenience themselves for us.
I would best define Facebook as a collection of friends. For instance, some of my Facebook friends are acquaintances that I know from my children’s schools. Some are close friends, with whom I share my thoughts and feelings. Others are friends from times past, people with whom I work or professors. Facebook even assists with these delineations by allowing friends be sorted by degree such as close; or by association, such as where the friend lives or attends college. Interestingly my close friends and I rarely communicate on Facebook. A study aptly titled “Nobody Has 257 Friends” supports this idea. It states that most people prefer to have closer contact with intimate friends and use social networks for more distant relationships. Perhaps a better question than “Are Facebook friends real friends” is “What is Facebook’s purpose?” Many students that I spoke with use Facebook for managing their intimate friendships.
They coordinate schedules and send invitations to events. Research suggests that Facebook is more a method to stay in contact with existing friends, and less a way to make new friends. Facebook hasn’t changed the definition of friendship. What it has done is offer users a unique means to remain linked to those with whom they have little personal contact. According to Oxford researcher Robin Dunbar, “fewer than ten percent of Facebook relationships are close friendships.” This statistic indicates that most people recognize that these fringe friendships are different than the committed friend relationship. So people can scoff at the idea of 500 Facebook friendships, but the truth is Facebook is a way of keeping track of the people we have met and people we know. The degree to which we do that is up to us.
September 26, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
Opinions 5
Katy Perry’s “Roar”: A Message of Sex Appeal as Self-Worth By Timothy Swartz STUDENT WRITER
a fearless jungle warrior-princess. She no longer needs “her man” and instead spends her time conquering her fears and painting an elephant’s toe-nails.
ast week I contributed my share to the 65 million views received by Katy Perry’s music video “Roar”. I’ve never really been a fan of Katy Perry, (though for some reason “Firework” seems to get stuck in my head frequently). I’m not a music critic. And even if I was, I doubt that I would spend my time reviewing Katy Perry music. But what I do want to criticize is the way that Katy Perry portrays powerful women. I think that she draws a direct connection between being a strong, independent woman and having high sex appeal. She thereby makes her self-worth dependent on men viewing her as attractive, aloof or untouchable.
I think it’s great that Katy has found a way to overcome her timidity and dependence on a man. I’m also impressed that she can calm a tiger just by roaring at it. But here’s the thing: when she learns about the tiger’s power through reading the cave drawings, she is transformed from an attractive- but fairly average- Katy Perry to a provocative, scantily dressed, powerful, jungle Katy Perry. Her mental triumph over her fear is directly tied to a physical transformation from plain to “sexy.” This is what I find disturbing about “Roar”: Her newfound power expresses itself through sex appeal.
Katy Perry has always portrayed an image of independence and self-sufficiency that many of her fans admire. The music video for “Roar” portrays Katy and a self-absorbed man stranded in the East Asian tropical rainforest. A tiger soon eats the man and Katy spends the rest of the video alone. She gradually learns to survive in the jungle. The character progression that seems to be implied by the video is one of a woman who is fearful of life alone without “her man” but gradually is transformed into
After watching the video I had some of the following questions: Why did she spend time making lipstick out of berries? Or why on earth did she tie her leopard-skin “blouse” so darn tight? I think she (or her producers and agents) recognize that her power to bring in the big bucks lies in her ability to pair a message of independence and self-worth with being a sex symbol. But what this means is that this young woman’s worth lies in her body, clothes, and heavily made-up face (and coincidentally her voice, I suppose).
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Photo provided by http://www.billboard.com I have less of a problem with Katy being proud of her body than I have a problem with her sexuality being used as her primary statement of independence and self-worth. Sexiness is so contingent on other people’s (culturally informed) opinions that a woman who has so defined her self-worth will be forever dependent on others, not free. To be sure, the world needs women who are confident and capable. And I will not criticize female celebrities who encourage other women to be themselves. But
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the world certainly doesn’t need any more women who use their sexuality to promote messages of self-worth. Sadly, rather than provide an inspirational vision of female empowerment, the utopian jungle life of Katy in her skimpy leopard-skin “blouse” and minimalist leaf-skirt is simply a tropical-themed mirror of today’s society where confident and self-reliant women are those who display more of their sexuality.
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Is Higher Education ? ? ? ? Worth the Cost? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? By Erin Zakin STUDENT WRITER
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t seems that more often than not, the price of a college is more likely to catch our eye than the actual purpose of the college: to provide higher education. People are so concerned with the growing cost of higher education that they begin to wonder if it’s really worth it to pay thousands of dollars just to get a college degree. With the economy still struggling, we are faced with the question, “Is higher education worth the cost?” The most pressing issue to address is the rise of student loan debt, which has reached the trillions. With the high interest rates in mind, it’s not hard to see why many people decide to either drop out or not go at all. Around 40% of students leave college with debt, the average of of which is $22,000. That being said, individu-
als with a college degree earn on average 74% more, or around $1.3 million, in a lifetime than those without. While it seems as if unemployment hits graduates hard, the fact is that graduates always had, and still have, an easier time getting jobs than those without a degree. According to epi.org, the unemployment rate for recently graduated college students is 9.4%, while recent high-school-only graduates is 24%. Students must remember that more often than not, the first job obtained out of college is not an accurate representation of the career and income they will have for the rest of their life. Despite the fact that college grads earn higher wages, students are still dealing with debt. College expenses are between three and four times higher than they were 20 years ago, and it takes a long time to pay back.
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This debt tend to get higher the longer it takes to graduate: around 40% of all college students aren’t able to graduate from a four year program in under six years. It also depends on your major choice; The lower the vocational demand, the higher the chance of being unable to secure a job post-college. Christy Hanson, Director of the Career Center at Messiah College says, “More statistics show that students may be challenged during their initial jobs, but have greater success later because of earning a degree. This generation has on average eight to ten careers during their lifetime. The beauty of earning a college degree is the key transferable skills students learn. Employees are looking for these skills because they are the skills needed in the workplace.”
How hard a student works determines whether or not college was a
worthwhile investment. If you are a hardworking student who earns high grades and is sincerely invested in advancing your career, knowledge, and academic skills, then college is going to be more than worthwhile. With that said, do not be a student who coasts by in school with just-passing grades and little interest or involvement in the future. You might find yourself in a lackluster job, wondering why you even bothered to earn a degree.
College is a way to increase your value as both a future employee and an individual. For some, the investment is difficult but the payoff makes the challenges worth it. For others, there may be a struggle as to whether or not the price was worth the results. Earning a college degree may not be for everyone, but if you make smart decisions and apply yourself, the future look a lot brighter.
September 26, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
Opinions 7
Go Ahead, Wiretap Me...
vzzzzvzvzvvvz Photo provided by http://www.wbaltv.com By Jeremy Jensen STUDENT WRITER
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n recent months, it has been brought to the attention of the American populace that the National Security Agency (NSA) launched a wide-scale phone tracking system to gain information on civilians that might have ties to terrorist organizations. The only problem with these well-intentioned plans were that they did not target suspected terrorists, but the entire US population. Apparently many people were outraged and surprised at this revelation which led to multiple views on the issue. Some thought that it was good that the government was trying to keep tabs on terrorists. Others could see the benefits, but were a little skeptical of the massive steps the NSA was taking to gather information. The final group was completely outraged and saw this as a government overstepping its boundaries and trying to creep its power into the personal lives of its subjects Personally, I am shocked that people were shocked by this news. After the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, President Bush managed to pass the PATRIOT Act, which gave the government permission to wiretap civilians’ phones if they were suspected to have terrorist ties. The problem is that as terrorism fear turned into mild paranoia, it became harder and harder to pinpoint who qualified as a potential terrorist because anyone can be dangerous when paranoia reaches a certain point. It is no surprise that the wiretapping expanded and with the rise of social media and technological communication as a whole, there were many different ways for the government to track multiple people on a large scale with relative ease. All that being said, is there really any problem with all this tracking? It has
been going on for years without anyone knowing about it, and as far as I am concerned, everyone seems to have led relatively undisturbed lives. So, in a sense, there is nothing wrong with this monitoring. In a post 9/11 world, things like this happen so that the good, upstanding American citizens do not fall prey to another terrible terrorist attack.
tion about you then to you, this is not an issue. If you think privacy is one of the founding principles of America (which a completely separate discussion) then dealing with this issue will take some time. If you have yet to form
an opinion, then keep this in mind: take a step back and form your opion around the facts. Just remember, the government is taking these steps for our protection and continued liberties.
However, concern about government overreach has been rising during much of the Obama administration. Obama signed in extensions of the PATRIOT Act back in 2011. These included roving wiretaps, business record searches, and investigations into “lone wolves.” These are individuals suspected of terrorist activity without any specific ties. If it sounds a little invasive, it’s probably because it is. I do concede that the vocal objectors to any amount of NSA tracking have a point. It is a bit much to launch an investigation into an individual based on the fact that you may think he or she is a terrorist with no ties to any terrorism. It is hard to argue against that. However, I subscribe to the philosophy most Americans have taken regarding this: I have nothing to hide, and, therefore, nothing to fear. The people who are okay with this searching but take issue with the more invasive parts are straddling a thin line. I find that with enough probing that these individuals can be persuaded to go full one way or another. I think that speaks to just how divisive this tracking is. Some people think one way, others think the exact opposite, while some are just confused as to what all this means. In the end, this issue boils down to one core question: How much do you care about your privacy? If you couldn’t care less about the government tapping your phones or gaining informa-
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
September 26, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
Arts & Entertainment 6
Another Kind of SUMMER
HERO By Colleen Dente STUDENT WRITER
I
It was a summer characterized by coming-of-age stories.
This past year’s movies discussed the stuff of heady nostalgia and unhurried imaginings: boys breaking free of childhood while still clinging to naïveté; growing pains uniquely associated with the simultaneous existence of mature childhood and immature young adulthood. Mud; The Kings of Summer; The Way, Way Back; and even
Monsters University each approached the subject in its own way, some more successfully than others. The former two suggest that nature, adventure, and friendship will eventually, inevitably concede the keys to freedom. Monsters University and The Way, Way Back, by contrast, focus on the outcasts, the misunderstood, the underdogs – and both set their stories in relatively controlled, immediate environments. Set loose within small ecosystems unto themselves, our summer heroes writhe within the borders of a quintessential college campus and a seen-betterdays family water park, respectively.
Photo provided by http://hollywoodtheatre.org Monsters University reintroduces the audience to Mike Wasowski (Billy Crystal) and James P. “Sully” Sullivan (John Goodman) in their formative years, nearly unrecognizable despite minimal physical change. The genial monsters (previously witnessed as confident and admirable at the height of their scaring careers) are humbled severely by college. They are not friends; in fact, they are more like enemies. Mike is not a good fit for the prestigious scare program – the “crown jewel” of MU – but is determined to make his dream a reality. Sully coasts on the goodwill of his father’s name, and despite having the right physicality, struggles with a constant sense of failure. Circumstances push them together, however, and the pair must figure out how to balance each others weaknesses for either to succeed. The Way, Way Back puts us in the awkward 14-year-old shoes of Duncan (Liam James), an average kid whose major flaw is, tragically, being 14. Duncan is looking for any adult to display evidence of sanity: someone to acknowledge the banality of what he perceives while still reassurPhoto provided by http://www.studiosystemnews.com ing him that adulthood contains more than heartbreak, disappointment, and dead ends. Seeing through the adults’
increasingly desperate charade, Duncan finds unexpected truth and friendship in the local water park’s manager, Owen (Sam Rockwell). Like the park, Owen has seen his heyday; and like the park, reality often fails to live up to expectations. Owen’s relentless optimism, however, sustains both the park and those around him – including Duncan, who discovers a bit about his own strength as well. The heightened reality of each protagonist’s surroundings cause their flaws to be laid bare. It is uncomfortable to see those we care for arrive at the end of their own resources: to squirm under pressure, to fail spectacularly when given a chance simply because failing is all that has come before. But growth is The incremental – it happens in the small, deliberate tweaking of our attitudes and orientations towards others and ourselves. The best movies this summer remained truthful about this process; and when truth is told, it doesn’t much matter whether the hero is a shy, 14-year-old kid or a shaggy monster and his one-eyed friend. Monsters University and The Way, Way Back will come to campus as part of SAB Lost Films’ semester series. For more information visit facebook.com/sablostfilms or email sablostfilms@gmail.com.
September 26, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
Arts & Entertainment 8
Putting the Right BOOK in the Right HANDS at The Right TIME By Megan LaTorre STUDENT WRITER
A
small, independently owned bookstore in Carlisle, PA, Whistlestop Bookshop makes it their mission to merge man with book – and not necessarily the one he or she intended upon when first entering their store. The store opened in 1985 in Gettysburg, located a dozen feet from railroad tracks – which is where their name derives from. Fascinatingly enough, whistle-stop actually refers to a short appearance in a small town, typically on the observation platform of a train. Upon the relocation to their current store (in Carlisle) due to expansion, they found themselves once again located near a railroad track and the name seemed rather befitting. Whistlestop Bookshop is a husbandand-wife operation, led by Jeff and Betsy Wood, and it has expanded so that they hold a staff as well. However, the drive to sell books did not begin with the opening of the store. Jeff Wood sold books throughout middle school, high school, at flea markets, and then
went on to manage an independent book store at a mall when he was in college. At graduation, he knew that he wanted to open a store despite the odds against privately owned stores. The philosophy of Whistlestop Bookshop is to put the right book in the right hands at the right time. They believe that the quest for knowledge is a two way street. That means that the reader must meet the book halfway. Life experiences, development, and other factors often attribute to the relational capability of a book to a reader, which is where the Wood’s and their team comes in. Jeff Wood said that, “The book is there ready for you… Giving you entertainment that makes you forget your troubles for a few hours.” Their goal is to match the factors of each customer according to each person’s background and preference, to the right book at the right time. They hope to surprise their customers with unbeknownst or additional treasures than they originally intended upon entering the store. (I
know I walked out with marvels I did not expect or intend to find!) There are three things that make Whistlestop Bookshop different from a larger chain bookstore, and those are: ambiance, selection, and service. Ambiance refers to the overall atmosphere of the place. Selection (or “curated” as the customers amiably phrase it) refers to the method in which they choose the books for their store – they hand pick books rather than choosing commercially driven books on the best seller list. Jeff Wood often picks books that are not frequently found in bookstores. He says that it is not their top priority to move “product” in and out of the store quickly. “Books are not products,” owner Jeff Wood said, “they are much more personal than that.” The last of the three differentiating factors of Whistlestop is their service. Jeff Wood believes in personal, neighborly service; and that to be a good in customer service, one must have good manners – which exactly
what he desires from his staff as well. Good manners, a passion about books, and self-motivation are the three characteristics that make-up their staff. As far as the content of the books of the store, as mentioned previously, Jeff Wood handpicks all of the items in the store. Their merchandise includes a wide variety of miscellanea such as: books, journals, CDs, DVDs, secondhand books (paperback and hardcover), magazines, cards, postcards, calendars, art by local artists, local honey, beeswax products, jigsaw puzzles, bookmarks, bookplates, tote bags, and other gifts. Particularly, their honey products are acquired from a local beekeeper. Honey holds many health benefits such as acting as an allergen elixir. Upon my inquiring as to if he had a preferred genre, Jeff Wood conveyed a slight partiality to American, English, and Japanese literature. He then concluded by quoting Neil Gaiman: “Picking five favorite books is like picking the five body parts you’d most like not to lose.” He feels that his choice of stock at the store reflects his enthusiasm for his eclectic taste of books, which has been developing over 28 years. As far as items that are not stocked at Whistlestop, there are few – those being: erotica, romance, new age, and wicken materials. Whistlestop also accepts books or material written by new authors both locally and regionally – believing that all literature was once new. Advertising has changed due to social media even for a store such as Whistlestop. They mainly rely on mediums such as Facebook, websites, sponsorship to charitable events, fundraisers, gift certificates to school affairs, baskets for raffles, and online advertising with newspapers. They also have events, but they are very selective. Whistlestop holds signings and poetry readings, birthday parties, concerts (in their upper room titled “Platform 9 3/4), bridal showers, book parties, film releasing parties, and more. These events are largely oriented toward pleasure versus sales.
Whistlestop Bookstore, picture courtesy of http://www.visitcumberlandvalley.com/listings/Whistlestop-Bookshop/724/
Whistlestop Bookshop is located at 129 West High Street in Carlisle, PA. For more information, visit their Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/pages/Whistlestop-Bookshop/198774500136711
September 26, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
Artist Profile:
Kathy Hettinga
By Sam Dougherty ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
B
efore Professor Kathy Hettinga helped build Messiah’s graphic design program over twenty years ago, she lived in Colorado and received her MFA at Colorado State University. It is in the Centennial State where one can see the influences to her acclaimed artwork. Hettinga tragically became a widow at the age of twenty-four. While dealing with her loss, she designed her late husbands monument and started photographing the cemetery in San Luis Valley, Colorado where she
was struck by the surrounding gravestones. She says she was comforted by a sense of “shared sorrow” and “the way people of faith deal with death.” She was particularly fond of a monument placed where an eight year old girl had passed away. The monument featured the picture of a lamb and the words “God is Love.” Photos of monuments like this would become the basis of her 2009 book Grave Images: San Luis Valley which she hoped would bring comfort to viewers. Some
Arts & Entertainment 9
photos from the book were recently featured in a gallery at the witf Public Media Center in Harrisburg. Hettinga’s photography has adapted to the technology of the times, and this can be seen in her digitally built collage, Goodbye to JohnPhoto by Sam Dougherty stown Farm and other “Johnson Farm” Farewells which was disA picture from Professor Hettinga’s gallery, played earlier this month displayed at the State Museum of PA. in an art exhibit at the State Museum of Pennsylvania. extensive fracking in Colorado. Fracking is a method of releasing At the center of this collage is an natural gasses from underground old farmhouse in Johnstown, Colorocks, which Hettinga protests rado where Hettinga used to redue to its environmental hazards. side. The home is seen through an ominous red and black tint, When Hettinga returned to visit complimented by blackbirds and her old house she noticed fracking a warning sign. This conjures up tanks in the backyard and found bleak emotions as a protest of the the area to be “one of the most totally fracked places in the whole United States.” Hettinga calls these actions irresponsible, and with Goodbye to Johnstown Farm she advocates a message of “good stewardship over what God has given us.” Hettinga recently taught a digital prints class where students made small books out of folded paper, a technique she also used for a project titled Like Bees Consumed by Burning Thorns. In this book, Hettinga compares a verse from the book of Psalms to her fight with cancer ten years ago. She describes it as a way of overcoming “all kinds of modern enemies” whether physical or environmental. She says of her work “I hope it brings comfort to the viewers.” Kathy Hettinga’s work has been widely recognized and can be fund in places such as the New York Public Library, Harvard Art Museum and the National Museum of Women in Arts.
“WITF Grave Images” A recent display from Professor Hettinga’s gallery at the WITF building in Harrisburg.
A Quick Look at By Derek Sullivan STUDENT WRITER
I
f you’re looking for new music, check out the five fall albums below!
Sept 24. CHVRCHES – The Bones of What You Believe This past March, Scottish electronic trio Chvrches debuted their impressive Recover EP, five tracks of bright, neon-tinged Europop. The Bones of What You Believe, the band’s official studio debvt, promises to enliven their already dynamic, danceable soundscapes as heard in their first single, “The Mother We Share.” Out September 24 on Virgin Records, The Bones of What You Believe promises to stand out in the crowded synth-pop scene.
Sept 30. Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2 Riding on the creative momentum of March’s critically acclaimed and wildly popular The 20/20 Experience, JT continues and expands the project with eleven new tracks only six months later. Statistically speaking, you’ve probably heard “Suit and Tie,” and you’ve probably danced to it, so you know what to expect. The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2, featuring Drake, Jay Z, Timbaland, and J-Roc, is out September 30 on RCA Records. Sept 30. Danny Brown – OLD Danny Brown’s eyebrow-raising, outrageous, yet personal first album XXX proved to be one of the most interest-
Photo by Sam Dougherty
Fall Music ing releases of 2011. Since then, Brown has repeatedly lent his piercing verses and eccentric persona to an impressive list of tracks, landing him new fans at an exponential rate. His new album, OLD, out on Fool’s Gold Records, is sure to maintain the same intensity, experimentalism, and chaotic craftsmanship he’s famous for.
Oct 14. Tim Hecker – Virgins With 2011’s Ravedeath, 1972, Tim Hecker drew an audience for experimental ambient music not by smoothing over the genre’s natural difficulty, but by drawing out intensely poetic experiences of pure sound. Hecker stands in stark contrast to
those who associate ambient music with soft, soothing meditations and calming, oceanic imagery; his sound ranges from tranquil to turbulent and even nightmarish. His new album, Virgins, is out October 14 on Kranky. Oct 22. Best Coast – Fade Away Feel-good folk-pop duo Best Coast crafts relentlessly tuneful, stick-in-your-head songs known for their warmth, simplicity, and the way the bright and sunny climate of their home state of California seems to permeate each note. After finding some success with 2012’s The Only Place, as well as being featured in a few commercials, Best Coast is set to release their next album, Fade Away, on their new label Jewel City.
SPORTS
The Swinging Bridge September 26, 2013
Sports 10
Strength Crew’s Weightroom Opinion By Dylan Thomas STUDENT WRITER
W
hen asked to give my opinion on the current Messiah College weight room, I had to take a deep breath and hold my tongue. I’ve been known to rant, and of course I’m especially prone to do so when I’m passionate about the topic. That being said I believe the culture of mainstream fitness needs to change. It needs to catch up with those who are already exceeding their goals. The strongest and most explosive athletes in the world, powerlifters and olympic-style lifters, train with simple equipment, and programs that revolve around the barbell. Those who wish to embark on the journey of fitness must educate themselves using the resources around them. People don’t just become great carpenters by picking up a hammer and a nail. They get an apprenticeship with a master carpenter who teaches them the ins
Photo provided by http://www.toonpool.com and outs of how to properly use tools and all the tricks of the trade so their practices are as effective as possible. Chatter tied to the current weight room situation revolves around the facility’s size and equipment. People say “I wish we had a bigger weight room”; “Messiah needs to buy new equipment, then I could start making some gains.” Well, I can tell you right now that a bigger
facility and new equipment aren’t going to help anyone get stronger, faster, or more athletic. It starts with legitimate motivation and will to reach one’s goals; then add simply a barbell, some plates, and a pull-up bar and you’re off. The majority of those who use our current facility are there to become greater athletes. Athleticism is based on strength and to develop a strong base of strength my team, I, and many very strong people believe the athlete must learn 5 basic movements; pull ups, bench press, shoulder press, squat, and deadlift. These are movements used by
truth is you “Thesimply don’t
need all the fancy and expensive machines
“
Those who wish to embark on the journey of fitness must educate themselves using the resources around them.
competitive powerlifters like myself and my teammates, and are based off of the natural mechanics of the human body.
Photo provided by http://blog.stack.com
Sure, the weight room isn’t a first class facility, but it has everything we need; you just have to look past the clutter. Unfortunately, culture has conditioned us to think that we need all this “stuff” in order to accomplish our goals, but the truth
We have a place on campus where we can train
!
is you simply don’t need the all fancy and expensive machines, and since our space is limited we need to be selective. A larger, well planned facility that is backed by hard research and consulting from successful strength athletes should be on Messiah’s to do list. Such a facility will increase the student body’s quality of life and will procure a greater, more diverse assemblage of student athletes. In the meantime though, I believe that the space in our current weight room could be utilized more efficiently through the removal of some bulky, unnecessary pulley machines, adding some more free weight equipment, and doing some rearranging. My team and I are so grateful for this opportunity to share our thoughts about something we have a lot of fun using four days a week. We have a place on campus where we can train! I encourage students to strive towards stewardship and patience regarding our current facility. Let’s make the most of what we have been blessed with, and when given the opportunity, help in any way that we can to move forward.
September 26, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
”
By Celal Kamran STUDENT WRITER
J
ennie Kamel is a sophomore peace and conflict studies major. She plays center forward on the field hockey team. A transfer student from Arcadia where she also played field hockey, Kamel has a lot of inside of the division. When asked she replied,
why
field
hockey,
played and I “ My mom always wanted to
be like her.
Kamel has been making her mother proud, playing for over thirteen years. She started in second grade for the Doylestown field hockey as-
Why do so many Messiah College graduates choose a Millersville University master’s degree? Obtainable - Over 75% of our full-time students finish their master’s degree in one to three years.
I just wanted a Christian “ environment to study at.
“I chose Millersville University for the quality of the MSW program and its welcoming and inviting community.”
Arcadia just wasn’t a good fit for me. I’m so glad to be at Messiah where everyone is so supportive.
“
Emily S. Messiah College, Class of 2010 Millersville University Social Work master’s degree student. Graduate Assistant, Student Programs.
Open House
with Program Coordinators
Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Stayer Hall Multipurpose Room RSVPs appreciated, but not required. To RSVP or for more information
www.millersville.edu/gps or 717-872-3099
Master of Education
• Art • Early Childhood Education • English • Foreign Languages • Gifted Education • Language and Literacy Education (ESL, Reading Specialist) • Leadership for Teaching and Learning • Mathematics • School Counseling • Special Education (online program) • Sport Management (Athletic Coaching, Athletic Management) • Technology Education
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Master of Social Work • Regular Standing • Advanced Standing
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• Emergency Management (online program) • Integrated Scientific Applications (Weather Intelligence & Risk Management, Climate Science, Environmental Systems Management, GeoInformatics) • Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education) • Psychology (Clinical, School)
We also offer a variety of post-baccalaureate and post-master’s certification/ certificate programs.
Although Arcadia wasn’t a good fit for her, Kamel still won rookie of the year for the conference, led her team to a first team all region and first team all conference. Kamel and the Messiah field hockey team are off to a great start this year. A 3-1 start, only falling to Salisbury. When asked how she likes Messiah, Kamel states,
“ I love it so much, its
so much fun. I love the stress relief.
A random fun fact about Jennie, she doesn’t like tomatoes in her sandwiches. Welcome to Messiah Jennie Kamel, and best of luck in the upcoming season.
Millersville University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. A Member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. 5362a6-0913
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After playing in youth leagues, she played for her school, Central Bucks High School West where her team won the first team continental conference title. In this time Kamel developing into a versatile player, not only playing center forward but also forward. After her eventful high school campaign, Kamel attended Arcadia, one of our rivals, but left after just one year because of personal reasons. She says,
Respectable - We are a top ranked, public university with nationally accredited programs, supported by outstanding faculty.
Flexible - A variety of evening, blended, off-campus and online course delivery options will suit your busy schedule.
Photo provided by Messiah College Athletics
sociation. On what is is like playing field hockey as a second grader, Kamel explains, “It was great, basically they would throw a ball into the field and we would all run after it”.
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Affordable - More than 40% of our full-time master’s degree students receive a graduate assistantship, which fully funds their tuition (48 credits).
Jennie Kamel
“
The Pulse accepts and encourages letters to the editor, but reserves the right not to publish submissions, giving preference to student writing. Letters containing inflammatory content or language will not be accepted for publication.
Player Profile:
“
“
Letters to the Editors
Sports 11
9/11/13 12:36 PM
September 26, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
Player Profile:
This season has been shaping up well for the team, and Ramirez commented on this, saying, “We are doing the little things well. All the time we put
Regarding the team’s future, he exclaimed, “I love the freshmen. It’s another new and exciting responsibility on our shoulders to be good models but they are solid Christian kids who work hard and are humble.” Ramirez is posed to have another great year, so come out and watch him play.
Photo provided by Messiah College Athletics
After attending a camp at Messiah, he fell in love with the college. Ramirez says “I met the people and loved it. They cared for each other and treated me with so much love and respect”. When asked why he plays soccer, Ramirez said, “Soccer is my everything, I live, breathe, and dream soccer. Also I love the guys on the team. They are intentional with each other and Christ. That is the focus.” He said that the team’s success, “...is all about humility, work and striving. Our identity is in Christ not winning”. Ramirez went on to add that,
THE
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After his eventful sophomore year, Ramirez had to move back to Guatemala where he joined club leagues. On his experience in Guatemala, Ramirez says, “They were more technical there and in the US it’s more athletic. It was a great experience getting to know both sides of soccer”. Ramirez explains that many of the other players in the clubs were very disrespectful. He says, “They conducted themselves with unchristian behavior and I was sick of environment”.
Ramirez has had two stellar years, already playing for the team not ito mention their undefeated season thus far. He has been named an All American, MAC championship final most valuable player and he lead his team to MAC conference first team.
in is paying off. Also the great relationships and how we work with each other which isn’t always easy. Other teams are selfish but here everyone is working for one another. For example Arron Myers broke his ankle, but he is still contributing off the field. He is a spiritual leader”.
SWINGING BRIDGE
Brian Ramirez is a Junior midfielder on the Messiah men’s soccer team majoring in cross-cultural ministry with aspirations to play in the MLS. Ramirez has played for fifteen years and says, “I’ve loved every minute of it”. He started off playing in private clubs in Guatemala, where his parents serve as missionaries. He was homeschooled until high school when Ramirez moved back to the States and attended Harrisburg Christian School. On his experience there, he explains, “it was fun and easy. To be honest, I killed it in high school”. He even won most valuable player sophomore year.
Brian Ramirez “I am never going to forget the time I spent here. It had the biggest impact on my life. Some of the relationships I’m gonna have for the rest of my life”.
By Celal Kamran STUDENT WRITER
Sports 12