February Swinging Bridge Magazine

THE

THE PULSE MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

28

SEXISM IN SPORTS Female athletes on inequality

SHOULD MESSIAH

BE A DRY CAMPUS?

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ON TEATIME

DON'T AHHH

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A MATCH MADE

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PDA OR PLEASE

in Messiah Athletics

VOLUME 121 / EDITION 27 / FEBRUARY 2022

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS

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25

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28

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PDA OR PLEASE DON'T AHHH

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THE JOURNEY TO RACIAL RECONCILIATION

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SHOULD MESSIAH BE A DRY CAMPUS?

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A MATCH MADE ON TEATIME

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ANGEL ORITZ

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SEXISM IN SPORTS

WHAT'S OK AND WHAT'S NOT?

UNDERSTANDING ALLYSHIP WITH BSU

STUDENTS AND STAFF RESPOND TO ALCOHOL POLICIES

MAKING CONNECTIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

PEOPLE OF MESSIAH

FEMALE ATHLETES ON INEQUALITY IN MESSIAH ATHLETICS

AWARD WINNING STUDENT RUN MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JULIA MARY REGISTER

DESIGN MANAGER SHANNON BILLINGTON

AUDIO & VISUAL MANAGER LIAM FITZSIMMONS

STUDENT DIRECTOR EMILIE RUSH

ASST. STUDENT DIRECTOR JOSHUA MCCLEAF

WRITING SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR / ETHAN DYRLI CULTURE & ARTS EDITOR / GRACE WELLMON STUDENT LIFE EDITOR / KAYLEE GETZ

CREATIVE YEARBOOK MANAGER / ANNA HUGHES DESIGN ASSISTANT / CARTER CIGRANG DESIGN ASSISTANT / AMBER SWAISGOOD COVER PHOTO / LIAM FITZSIMMONS

DIGITAL & RADIO AUDIO & VISUAL ASSISTANT / HUNTER ROHRER RADIO MANAGER / MARIE MILLER WEBSITE MANAGER / MICHAEL STEFANCHIK MUSIC DIRECTOR / RAVI AHUJA

ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER / KELLIE CHANDLER SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER / ISABELLA KERN

JOIN OUR TEAM

S TA F F

MESSIAH UNIVERSITY'S

THE PULSE

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

JULIA MARY REGISTER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF had conflict and that led us to have some difficult but fruitful conversations.

I think Messiah is slowly starting to have those hard conversations to address issues on campus.

Through this magazine, we’ve been able to engage students and administrators in conversations that had not been covered before. I’m proud of what we’ve done so far, though I believe we still have plenty of room to grow.

LETTER FROM

T H E E D I TO R

After reading this letter, you may think, “Wow, The Pulse sounds like a real struggle bus, I’m glad I’m not on it.”

But you know what? Surprisingly (to me and you), I am glad I work at The Pulse.

Let me tell you why - first, this job has given me opportunities and helped me land big internships.

It’s been a great resume and portfolio builder.

And at The Pulse I’ve found some great friends I wouldn’t have known otherwise. I’m thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with my friends every week.

You know what’s ironic? The Pulse, Messiah University’s Media Hub run by communication students, struggles with communicating.

This year, our staff has struggled to be cohesive and communicative with each other. We’ve even had to hold meetings about it.

There’s been tension and stress in our office that’s affected our work and our office environment.

We’ve struggled to collaborate, to trust, and to be honest.

I’ve come to realize that we’re all flawed people and those flaws have gotten in the way of us producing an ideal work environment at The Pulse.

Why am I telling you this? I’m telling you this to give you an honest look into the lives of the people who put this magazine together and produce our campus media. Didn’t I call for more transparency in our last issue? Well, here you go.

I can’t expect honesty from others if I’m not honest myself. I can’t say Messiah’s administration or student body needs to do better in prioritizing openness if I’m not willing to take the first step.

The first step to fixing a problem is addressing it.

It’s admitting there is an issue that needs to be resolved. The Pulse team was able to admit that we

Finally, this job has stretched me to grow in many ways. It’s helped me become better at dealing with conflict and confrontation. It’s helped me grow into a more confident leader. And most of all, it’s helped me develop my voice as a writer with a passion to bring transparency to Messiah.

I believe this job has been invaluable to me, the good and the bad. It took some time to realize, and multiple instances in which I contemplated quitting, but I’m thankful for the way The Pulse has shaped my path.

The Pulse is starting to pave the way towards transparency between Messiah’s administration and students. I hope others will come alongside us and make honesty a priority.

Thank you for reading our magazine and making it to the end of this letter. Writing these letters each month is one of my favorite parts of this job.

Alright that’s it, Julia Mary

TIPS & TRICKS

WRITTEN BY JULIA MARY REGISTER ILLUSTRATIONS BY DANUTA DURAI RAJ Are you a senior about to graduate? Well then, you’ve got no time to waste! It’s time to complete the ultimate Messiah Bucket List. We’ve compiled a list of classic Messiah activities for you to check off as you finish your last semester. Hang up a copy in your dorm or apartment and check off all 15 items as you count down the days to graduation.

• Take a photo with KP - a very important college keepsake • Participate in the midnight scream every night during finals week • Go on a late night Baker's run (they're open until 10 pm) • Break it down at a SAB dance

• Make a podcast with The Pulse's radio station (come chat with friends about any topic and we'll make it a podcast!)

• Tubing down the breeches (wait until April for this one…)

• Go sledding down Cemetery Hill (carefully, no concussions please)

RY HIL L GO SLE DD ING DOW N CEM ETE

• Get 1 noise complaint in your dorm or apartment (we've gotta have a little fun, right?)

• Go swimming at the Eisenhower pool • Use the fire pit outside the Union • Take graduation photos with your besties (did you even go to Messiah if you don't get grad photos under the covered bridge?)

• Watch the sunrise or sunset from the Back forty • Get featured in The Swinging Bridge - do something cool and we'll write about you!

• Perform in coffeehouse (sing a song, tell a joke, juggle, we'll love anything you do) • Eat all you want at finals week pancake dinner

T H E P U LS E H T I W T S ODCA M A KE A P

FI N A LS W EE K PA N C A KE D IN N ER

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TIPS & TRICKS

FEBRUARY I'M

IN

LOVE

THE ROMANCE PLAYLIST

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IT'S

BY LANEY KUCZMYNDA

There’s nothing quite like a feel-good love song. No matter who you are, there is something about the sweet melodies and true messages that awake something within you. During the cold weeks of February, I hope these words LISTEN HERE

from the first song on our list reign true for you - “I don't care if Monday's blue, Tuesday's grey, and Wednesday too. Thursday, I don't care about youIt's Friday, I'm in love!”

Friday I’m in Love : The Cure

Wake Me : Bleachers

Words Of Love : The Beatles

Automatic : Colony

Little of Your Love : HAIM Hold Me : Fleetwood Mac Real Love Baby : Father John Misty Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You (I Love You Baby) : Ms. Lauryn Hill

Baby, I Love You : The Ramones I Would Do Anything

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House (feat. Fleurie) I’ll Come Too : James Blake Sofia : Clairo I Love Us : The Regrettes Every Little Thing She Does is Magic : The Police You Are in Love : Taylor Swift Us Against the World : Coldplay

for You : Foster The People

Dreams : The Cranberries

Lovesong : The Cure

Don’t Delete the Kisses : Wolf Alice

FEBRUARY 2022

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All I Want is You : U2

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Kline

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Climenhaga

Learn new facts about the world

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Express yourself

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FOLLOW @ACCLAMATIONDANCEMINISTRY ON

INSTAGRAM FOR MORE INFORMATION AND UPDATES.

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Brush off your dancing shoes and come join Messiah’s dance ministry club. Acclamation promotes creativity and worship through the art of dance, and perform on and off campus.

The classes, which are all taught by Messiah students, include ballet, tap, jazz, modern, ASL, and hip hop. The club is open to all students regardless of previous dance experience.

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Be adventurous

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ACCLAMATION DANCE MINISTRY

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THE OPPORTUNITY TO...

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IF YOU GOT MOSTLY C'S YOU SHOULD JOIN

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6. IN MY SCHOOL CLUB, I WANT

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Boyer

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CLASSES TAKE PLACE?

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5. WHERE DO MOST OF YOUR

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FOR MORE INFORMATION AND UPDATES.

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Musicals

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FOLLOW @MU_HISTORYCLUB ON INSTAGRAM

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Whether you are a history major or a history-lover, this club is for you! Through visiting historical sites, parks, and museums, listening to guest speakers, and analyzing historical films and documentaries, you will be able to expand your history knowledge.

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Documentary

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Swing dancing at the Green Door

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THE HISTORY CLUB

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Action

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IF YOU GOT MOSTLY B'S YOU SHOULD JOIN

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Trip to Gettysburg National Military Park

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FOR MORE INFORMATION AND UPDATES.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FILM GENRE? a

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FOLLOW @MUOUTDOORSCLUB ON INSTAGRAM

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Jamming out to your favorite album

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Kayaking along the Yellow Breeches

Meet and fellowship with other earth enthusiasts as you participate in a range of outdoor activities with the Outdoors Club. These activities include to camping, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, and more! Besides teaching you how to safely execute these recreational skills, the club also serves as a way to protect our environment and community through acts of service.

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3. IDEAL FIRST DATE? a

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Do some Wikipedia deep-diving

THE OUTDOORS CLUB

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IF YOU GOT MOSTLY A'S, YOU SHOULD JOIN

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IN YOUR FREE TIME? Going to the gym

Most likely to be on Broadway

TIPS & TRICKS

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Most likely to win Jeopardy

c

2. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO a

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Most Outgoing

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BY GRACE WELLMON

1. CHOOSE A HIGH SCHOOL SUPERLATIVE. a

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Which Club ? ? Should You Join? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

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THE SWINGING BRIDGE

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TIPS & TRICKS

THOUGHTS ON

STUDENT REVIEWS OF THE TIMELYCARE TELEHEALTH SERVICE WRITTEN BY JOSH MCCLEAF

I

n the fall of 2020, Messiah University announced it was launching FalconCare, a 24/7 telehealth service, in a partnership with TimelyMD. The program, accessible through the TimelyMD application, provided Messiah students with free and immediate medical and mental health assistance.

The TimelyMD platform was later replaced over the summer with a different application, TimelyCare. To give students easier access to telehealth services, the new platform debuted a combination of new features, including shorter wait times, flexible appointment schedules, and a more friendly user interface.

Here, Messiah students have shared their experiences using the free telehealth service.

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FEBRUARY 2022

ILLUSTRATIONS BY KATE TRIMBLE

TIPS & TRICKS Williams also shared how she struggled to get through to a doctor or other care professionals.

“A lot of it was that every time I tried to actually connect with someone, it wanted some sort of information specifically about my question that was meant to be asked by a doctor,” Williams said. “Almost as if the computer was trying to be a doctor if that makes sense.”

However, even when the students were able to connect with a care professional, they did not find the interaction to be helpful.

Samantha Fisher, a junior, previously used TimelyCare for scheduled counseling appointments and seemed pleased with the layout of the app.

“The platform was very easy to use and to navigate,” Fisher said. “I did not have any issues setting it up initially or any issues scheduling. They organize it well, with the ability to see pictures of the therapist along with their bios and specialties.”

On the contrary, some students have struggled to get into the platform, like Riley Williams, who has used TimelyCare for medical and mental health assistance.

“It wasn’t too difficult once you were in.

Getting in was the impossible part,” Williams said. “Like when I just needed a quick question that could’ve been done in 10 minutes, 15 of those minutes was spent entering information and a lot of it didn’t seem relevant to the small question I was asking.”

Despite navigation, neither Fisher nor Williams found the TimelyCare services to be beneficial for them personally. In fact, both students commented on how difficult it was to connect with a real person over the phone.

“I was seeking help through a therapist,” Fisher said, “however, the availability was limited, and they often canceled on me the day of.”

“I tried out one therapist for a few appointments and it was not a great fit. Sometimes you can tell you do not connect with a person, and that was the case with this,” Fisher said. “I believe being online and talking over a laptop makes this situation harder. Following that, I tried two other people, and simply did not feel like they were helpful either.”

Although Fisher and Williams did not get much from their experiences using TimelyCare, some students may be able to receive help from the application. Additionally, it is important to remember what role TimelyCare plays in providing care to Messiah students.

The TimelyCare telehealth service is not designed to be a perfect replacement for the in-person health and counseling services provided by the Engle Center. Instead, it aims to expand student access to care during times where the Engle Center may be inaccessible, including the summer.

"Being online and talking over a laptop makes the situation

harder."

If you have any questions about TimelyCare, visit

to find FAQs and technical support.

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TRENDING TOPICS

ACCESSIBILITY AND

ACCOMMODATIONS STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AT MESSIAH

BY GRACE WELLMON

F

or students with disabilities, one of the main deciding factors on what school they want to go to is based on how accommodating their facilities are. The availability of accommodations on campus, both in and out of the classroom, can largely affect their college experience.

In 2020, Messiah ranked #9 in College Choice’s list of the Best Disability-Friendly Colleges and Universities in the US. The Office of Academic Success supports and accommodates nearly 270 students on campus with physical, psychological and learning disabilities.

Amy Slody, the Director of Academic Success, helps to oversee the office and assist students.

As the director, she helps to run the Office of Academic Accessibility, supplemental instruction, the Learning Center and the academic strategies classes.

needs are,” Slody said. “[The students] will typically supply us with paperwork from a doctor, whether it’s a physical, mental or learning disability. Those doctors will normally make recommendations, or at least they’ll tell us how the disability impacts their performance. From there we’ll work with the student and we’ll come up with a plan that’s going to be the most helpful.”

One of the primary services the Office of Academic Success offers is to help students find accommodations that will best aid them in their academics.

For students like Ryan Brubaker, a sophomore politics and international relations major, who have undiagnosed disabilities, the Office of Academic Success can connect students to doctors or psychiatrists who can then give an official diagnosis and help them get the help they need.

“The accommodations that we offer varies and it’s dependent on what the student’s

"When students don't feel supported, stigma is created."

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FEBRUARY 2022

“I came to Messiah without any official diagnosis,” Brubaker said. “After the first semester, I realized that I need to find [a diagnosis] because this is not working out. After being connected with a doctor I was able to be diagnosed for my writing disability.”

The most common types of accommodations include having extra time to complete exams and being able to test in a private and quiet environment. Many students like Emily Eckert, a sophomore communications major, find these accommoda-

TRENDING TOPICS

"overall students find the professors to be respectful and accommodating to their needs."

“The professors have actually really helped me on things like giving me extra time for tests or assignments, and even offered to work with me outside of their office hours,” Johnson said. “They’re really supportive to me with that, which is completely different from how teachers treated me in high school.”

Eckert also appreciates that the professors keep their accommodations and needs private.

“I was diagnosed at a young age so I have had a lot of time to be comfortable with it, but I know that’s not true for everybody,” Eckert said. “The professors are really great at keeping it on the down-low in case there’s a student that doesn’t feel comfortable saying ‘yeah, I need help.’ ” ZiYan Horne PHOTO BY HUNTER ROHRER

tions to be beneficial and remove the anxiety of test-taking for those with attention processing-related disorders.

Overall, students find the professors to be respectful and accommodating to their needs.

“I can take tests in the library in the accommodation section, which is really helpful because the classroom can be really distracting,” Eckert said. “Without the extra time, I wouldn’t be able to finish my tests in time.”

“I’ve either had professors who were super accommodating or who just ‘let things roll,’ ” Eckert said. “I’ve even had a professor who would remind me when a test is coming up and that I needed to sign up for a testing time slot.”

Other accommodations that students can utilize include access to digital texts and audiobooks, having tests and texts read aloud, as well as devices such as automatic braillers and live scribe pens.

Payton Johnson, a sophomore HDFS major, appreciates how the professors have gone above and beyond to help him succeed in his classes.

While Julianna Hogdson, a first-year studio art major, is thankful for the accommodations she has received, she wishes that she could have flexibility with class attendance. While it is on her accommodations list, attendance is up to the professor’s discretion.

“It’s really difficult because some days I am bed bound and cannot leave my dorm, and it's up to their discretion whether or not they lower my grade or count it as an excused absence,” Hogdson said. “I wish there was more flexibility for disabled students, especially with attendance. We are not missing class just to ‘get out of it.’ ”

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TRENDING TOPICS

While students with disabilities find success in the classroom with accommodations and professor support, sometimes that support falls short. When students don’t feel supported, stigma is created.

“I think in some respects, there's this stigma that we put on ourselves because we don't want to be a hindrance,” Slody said.

The stigma that students put on themselves may be caused by the lack of disability representation. Johnson, for example, felt discluded from his wrestling team because most of his teammates didn’t have a disability.

“Coming in as a freshman on a sports team, I felt like an outcast,” Johnson said. “While we have a couple of guys who have disabilities on the team, for the most part, no one has a disability or talks about it. So I just felt different.”

Stigma can also be caused by microaggressions, which is a comment or action that indirectly or subtly expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group. An example of a microaggres-

sion experienced by students on campus is infantilization.

“There is a little bit of infantilism with being a disabled person,” Hogdson said.

“People sometimes treat me like I’m not a complete human being as an adult and treat me younger than I am. Because I need assistance, I’m treated more like a child than someone who’s capable.”

A new way for students with disabilities to find support on campus is through the Banquet Initiative, an initiative created by Minds Matter. The Banquet Initiative’s mission is to promote awareness, advocacy and accessibility for individuals with disabilities on campus. In the short amount of time that the Initiative has been around, it has already inspired positive change for accessibility at Messiah.

ZiYan Horne, a sophomore social work major, serves as the Initiative's Engagement Coordinator.

people with depth perception and visual impairment who have trouble seeing the steps,” Horne said. “We were also able to work with SAB in including subtitles on every three pm Saturday showing of Lost Films.”

Although Messiah is highly ranked as being one of the most disability-friendly schools nationwide, the school is still making progress to be more accepting and accommodating to students with disabilities. Students who are struggling and need help to get their needs accommodated are encouraged to seek help in the Office of Academic Success.

“Don’t be afraid to come into our office,” Slody said. “We encourage you to make that first step, which can be difficult for a lot of people to ask for help. We will do our best to help you in any way that can.”

For further questions about the Office of Academic Success’ services and appointment scheduling, email aslody@messiah.edu.

“With the Initiative’s help, we were able to get yellow lines on the stairs for

"the stigma that students put on themselves may be caused by the lack of disability representation."

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FEBRUARY 2022

* Applicable for eligible, qualified new donors. Fees vary by weight and location.

TRENDING TOPICS

PDA ...

or Please Don't AHHH WHAT ' S O K AND WHAT ' S N OT ?

BY KAYLEE GETZ Have you ever walked past a couple who was getting a little too comfortable with each other in public? Public displays of affection (PDA) can often be seen in main buildings on campus, like Eisenhower or the Union, making those passing by uncomfortable.

There are a variety of opinions regarding PDA at Messiah and many factors to consider. Keep reading to learn about the rules Messiah has regarding PDA and hear what students and administration have to say about this uncomfortable topic.

Some students think that PDA is okay for couples who love each other and just want to show it.

“I don’t mind people expressing affection for one another on campus,” Clayton Miller, a senior film and media arts major, said.

On the other hand, some students are completely against the idea of PDA. “I do not agree with the idea of PDA on campus,” Ellie Kauruter, a sophomore nutrition and dietetics major, said. “I believe anything more than making out in public is not appropriate on campus. It makes everyone around uncomfortable, and quite honestly, nobody wants to see that.”

There are others who think it’s acceptable under certain conditions.

“I feel as though PDA on campus is acceptable within certain margins,” Derek Murphy, a junior history major, said.

But the lines between what is okay and what is not okay are still a little fuzzy. Sometimes

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FEBRUARY 2022

there is not a black and white answer when it comes to PDA. Some see the “basic” romantic couple things as acceptable.

“Holding hands, hugging, kissing and cuddling are fine,” Murphy said. “These are things couples normally do, so why should we be mad or offended?”

But as many students know, sometimes couples take things a little too far and make others uncomfortable.

“What I don’t believe has a place in public locations on campus is when people make out with each other or feel each other up,” Miller said. “I’ve been to a lot of school dances and

have seen a handful of couples that seem to think that dances are a great place to grind on each other and make out aggressively with each other. I’ve also witnessed younger couples getting tangled up in booths at the Union.”

Messiah’s student handbook outlines a few rules related to PDA. Under “Sexual Behavior Expectations” on page 36, the handbook reads, “While it may be appropriate for male/female couples to hold hands and even kiss, care should be given to avoid more intimate behavior.”

TRENDING TOPICS

Associate Dean of Students Doug Wood also pointed out that the “Respect for the Rights of Others” section of our student handbook also limits PDA. This part of the handbooks reads, “Our right to free expression is limited not only by general community concerns, but also by individual needs and biblical standards. Sensitivity to the rights, needs, and concerns of others should be evident across campus.”

The majority of Messiah students seem to agree with the handbook’s rules regarding PDA. “I don’t have an issue with the rules,” Miller said. “I think they are appropriate and should apply to everyone.”

Kauruter appreciates that Messiah does give students some freedom and is not completely restrictive of PDA. “I agree with Messiah’s PDA rules,” Kauruter said. “While PDA might not be something everyone wants to see, students should be allowed their freedom to be able to make wise and respectful decisions regarding the issue.”

There are only minor consequences to students breaking the rules regarding PDA for the first time. Instead of being penalized, administration addresses the issue with a conversation with those involved.

“In general, our approach as an administration is that if there’s behavior of an intimate nature that needs to be addressed, we identify an educator of the same sex to have a conversation with each student,” Wood said. “If the behavior doesn’t change and there is a pattern of disregard, then there could be sanctions.”

Messiah promotes. This model, created by John Van Epp, describes how couples should grow emotionally before growing physically.

Messiah’s rules on PDA were not always what they are now. When Messiah University was Messiah Bible School in the early 1900s, PDA and even many aspects of normal relationships were prohibited.

“In the days when we were a Bible school, if you wanted to court someone, you had to seek the permission of the hall director and, I think, the dean of women or the dean of men,” Wood said. “If you got permission, you had to pursue an outdoor activity.”

“ W H I L E PDA MI G H T N OT B E SO ME TH I N G E V E RYO N E WA N TS TO SE E , ST U DE N T S SHOUL D BE A L LOW E D T H E I R FREED OM TO B E A B L E TO M AKE W IS E

A N D R ESP ECT F U L D ECIS ION S R EG A R D I N G THE IS S UE.” - EL L IE KAU R U TER

Although there are a wide range of opinions about PDA, the majority of Messiah students seem to agree that Messiah’s student handbook does a pretty good job of balancing PDA restrictions with freedom in heterosexual relationships.

While Messiah students may have many different opinions about what’s acceptable PDA and what’s not, for the most part holding hands, hugging and kissing seem to be tolerated while things like making out and inappropriate touching are crossing the line.

There is also a model called the Relationship Attachment Model that

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TRENDING TOPICS

THE JOURNEY TO

RACIAL RECONCILIATION UNDERSTANDING ALLYSHIP WITH BSU

BY ROSEMARY JONES

I

t has been two years since the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and the sidewalks of Messiah have been quiet. There have been no protests, nor peaceful marches or anything of that sort. Herein lies an entrance into the world of social trends and how racial reconciliation has been caught up in all of it.

Two years ago, current Black Student Union (BSU) President Kiersten Gilmore started at Messiah. She recalls how countless students on campus pursued education for how to be an ally and were vocally and digitally advocating for racial justice.

However Gilmore also remembers that as time passed and students’ workloads grew heavier, the call for change lulled.

“People had that ‘advocate high’ and then when things stopped being on the news, or articles stopped being published, then everything starts dwindling,” Gilmore said. “Whenever we get to something that’s as major as say the George Floyd movement, we need to keep that same level of advocacy throughout everything. We need to be willing to do peaceful marches and protests through anything, not just when something big happens.”

The pursuit for racial justice is not a straight path; in fact, one could say it is constantly looping back on itself over and over, as history and justice seekers circle around one another.

PHOTOS BY JULIANNA CHEN

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FEBRUARY 2022

Vice President for Diversity Affairs, Dr. Todd Allen states, “I think the pursuit of justice is part of that journey of reconciliation, and reconciliation is a complex and long process.”

TRENDING TOPICS Seeing people rush into situations expecting fast solutions while not looking for change is something Allen observes often.

“People sometimes want to rush that process of reconciliation and give sort of a half hearted apology and expect the person who’s been wronged to quickly forgive, and not just forgive, but forgive and forget,” Allen said. “And you know, they just go back to business as usual and keep causing the same harms that were happening before and then say, ‘I don’t see a problem.’ ” Allen doesn’t want people to get caught up in “doing” things without also taking the time to “see” and respond to what the problem is first.

“When it comes to race, my brother Daniel Hill says, ‘it’s not so much about what you do as it is what you see,’ ”Allen said. “Because if you can’t clearly see what’s going on and the condition we’re in, you’re going to be prone to misdiagnose what the problem is and you may find yourself running off trying to implement a solution that maybe isn’t a solution at all, or is making things worse rather than better because you’ve misdiagnosed it.”

Allen made it clear that the journey to racial reconciliation is a long one, and one that will come with some mistakes.

“We get caught up looking for and wanting a quick fix rather than realizing this is a journey, this is long term,” Allen said. “The work of reconciliation is relational, we’re gonna make mistakes; it’s not about being perfect, but about being faithful.”

So, what is racial reconciliation? Messiah’s website defines reconciliation as “a journey of listening, lamenting and allowing our hearts and minds to connect with people’s stories of pain, marginalization and injustice.” To apply that to race, one could only summarize the words both Gilmore and Allen have spoken.

Racial reconciliation is the faithful discipline to serve and love our neighbors of all colors.

It is learning and listening to experiences you

"the pursuit for

racial justice is not a straight path."

may not have in your own repertoire, celebrating when good things happen and grieving when hard times come. It is not necessarily an end point, but a constant pursuit to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God and His people.

There is no single path we can take to racial reconciliation, but one step our students can take to further their journey is meeting people who are not like us and genuinely listening.

“Allyship is hearing other people’s stories because you can’t always say, ‘Oh I know,’ or ‘I get that,’ so listening to people’s stories and asking them, you know, how you can help directly instead of just assuming,” Gilmore said.

According to Gilmore, taking the time to ask questions of others in order to understand is critical. “[For both students of color and non-students of color,] bringing [everyone] into conversations, not excluding them and saying ‘Oh well, you don’t relate to me in this way so you can’t respond,’ but always giving that time for questions to be answered rather than assumptions to be assumed,” Gilmore said.

Allen agreed with GIlmore’s assertion that conversation is needed, stating that oftentimes connections with others need to be sought out.

“You will be surprised to find out that some of the people who are so unlike you because of what you’ve seen on the surface are more like you than you realized,” Allen said. “But we only find that out in conversation with one another, in relationship with one another, in encounters with one another.”

Students interested in learning about conversations regarding racial reconciliation can check out BSU meetings biweekly on Thursdays at 6 pm in the Multicultural Office.

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SCHOOL RULES SCHOOL RULES

TRENDING TOPICS

A COMPARISON OF CHRISTIAN SCHOOL POLICIES

BY KAYLEE GETZ

Have you ever wondered how other Christian colleges and universities compare to Messiah? How are their rules different? Is Messiah more strict or less strict in comparison? Well, we asked some current students and graduates from other Christian schools about their rules and experiences so that you can see for yourself!

Pensacola Christian College Curfew: 11pm Sun-Thur, 12am Fri-Sat Visiting with opposite sex: not allowed Dress code: knee length skirts/dresses and dress shirt for girls, dress pants and dress shirt for guys Chapel requirements: four times per week Bible/faith-based academic requirements: required Bible minor, at least one Bible course each semester Answers provided by Caleb Feaster

Libe rty has a uniq ue rule they inclu de that Mes siah does not: clea nline ss room che cks. Wou ld you be okay with some one insp ecting your room twic e a wee k?

Liberty University Curfew: 12Am Monday-Friday, 12:30 Saturday-Sunday Visiting with opposite sex: 1-3 times a month Dress code: modest (no shorts, sweatpants, leggings, spaghetti straps) Chapel requirements: 2 times per week with two skips per year Bible/faith-based academic requirements: 2 theology classes, 1 evangelism class, 2 Bible classes, 1 religion class Other: cleanliness check twice a week (students must clean, make beds, and take out trash) Answers provided by Mia Morris

C om p ar e d to M e ss ia h , P e n sa co la C h ri st ia n C ol le ge h as a ve ry st ri ct dr e ss co de .

Im ag in e h av in g to dr e ss up e ve ry da y of th e w e e k.

Cedarville unive

Curfew: 12

Thursday, 1A M Friday-Sa turday h opposite sex: not allo wed Dress code: no shortsm sweatpants, jama pants, paspandex, legg ings Chapel req uirements : every day M day-Friday w onith limited sk ips Bible/faith -based aca demic requ ments: requ ireired bible m inor (five clas ses) Visiting wit

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FEBRUARY 2022

rsity

AM Sunday-

May be hold back your comp laint s abou t Mes siah ’s 14 chap el cred its each sem este r afte r read ing Ceda rville ’s requ irem ents .

At leas t we don’t go ever y wee kday , whic h woul d averag e arou nd 75 chap els.

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Lancaster Bible College Curfew: 1AM Visiting with opposite sex: twice a week (6pm-10pm) Dress code: None

Southeastern university

Chapel requirements: 32 per semester

Curfew: 1AM for students 19 years old and under

Bible/faith-based academic requirements: Required Bible minor

Visiting with opposite sex: different days and hours for each residence hall

Answers provided by Julia Snare and Branden Wittenbrader

Dress code: Back covered, naval covered, mid-thigh covered, no camis or tube tops Chapel requirements: 35 per semester Bible/faith-based academic requirements: 6 religion courses

Like man y of the othe r Chr istian scho ols, Sout heas tern Univ ersi ty holds thei r stud ents to a curf ew. be ca us e it ha s No t a hu ge su rp ris e t La nc ast er BiBib le in the na me , bu all stu de nt s to ha ve ble Co lle ge re qu ire s is an oth er 18 cr ed its a Bib le min or. Th at jor /ot he r min ors . in add itio n to you r ma

Messiah university We foun d that if you comp are Mes siah to othe r Chr istia n scho ols, our rule s are actu ally pre tty rela xed. We don’t have a curf ew or a dres s code , we have the most visit ation hour s, and our chap el and faith requ irem ents are mini mal. Sur e, Mes siah isn’t Pen n Stat e, but we could be muc h more stric t.

Curfew: None Visiting with opposite sex: varies depending on year and housing, 4-7 days a week Dress code: None Chapel requirements: 14 per semester Bible/faith-based academic requirements: 1 Bible class, 1 theology class

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TRENDING TOPICS

SHOULD MESSIAH BE A DRY CAMPUS? STUDENTS AND STAFF RESPOND TO ALCOHOL POLICIES

BY ETHAN DYRLI

A

s a follow up to the November issue’s article on drugs and alcohol at Messiah, student opinions were collected to gauge the student body’s thoughts on the university’s policies relating to alcohol. The following are student responses to prompted questions, as well as responses from Messiah’s Associate Dean of Students, Doug Wood.

What kind of on-campus culture do you think is created by Messiah’s policies on alcohol?

“I would say the community is more stable, there are less issues involving destruction of property.”

- Evan Clark, sophomore “I feel like it’s very sheltered, we have a very bubble-like community, where it’s like we’re not really allowed to do much on the weekends. I’m not necessarily for alcohol or against it, but it seems like there could bemore leniency.”

- Nate Jalozynski, sophomore “I believe maintaining a dry campus helps to promote a safe, learning-positive environment for students. We have students who have expressed gratitude for not having to deal with alcohol-fueled issues.”

- Doug Wood, Associate Dean of Students

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FEBRUARY 2022

Do you think that Messiah does a good job on making the policies related to alcohol well-known?

“Yes. Everyone knows you’re not allowed to drink here, everyone knows that if you get caught drinking here it’s a big deal.”

- Jorge Zambrano, senior “I think that when Messiah implicates their policies, especially when they send out emails, they don’t consider the student’s perspective and they should be putting themselves in the shoes of the student. It sounds like reprimanding more than explaining.”

- Elizabeth Stapp, junior “We can always do better in promoting the educational reasons for why we have the alcohol policy that we do. Understanding that as a community of Christian-scholars focused on a common educational mission, we desire for the achievement of this mission to occur without impediment.”

- Doug Wood, Associate Dean of Students

Do you think Messiah’s policies on alcohol are good overall or bad overall? Would you change the rules on alcohol if you could?

“I think the intentions of them are good, but the execution of them are not always good.”

- Phoebe Lim, sophomore “Personally, I’m not a huge drinker, so I think it’s overall a good idea because I wouldn’t want drunk people on campus that’s just messing up my life and being a disturbance to the facilities, so I think overall it’s a good thing.”

- Bryan Chang, senior “I would definitely change the rules on alcohol. People who want alcohol will be able to get alcohol regardless, and I feel like it puts a lot of people in danger if they’re going behind the school’s backs to get alcohol.”

- Mason Powers, sophomore

What percentage of Messiah’s students do you personally believe adhere to the alcohol policies?

“Maybe like five percent. Maybe 10 percent.

I have, honestly speaking, met three or four people that do not drink alcohol that are not freshmen.”

- Jorge Zambrano, senior

TRENDING TOPICS

“I’m going to say 80-90 percent, including me.”

- Evan Clark, sophomore “Low, it’s a lot lower than we want to talk about or acknowledge because we want to keep up the image of a Christian campus.”

- Phoebe Lim, sophomore

Do students abuse the confidential reporting system? Is there a snitch culture?

“I don’t think there is a snitch culture, but I do think people abuse confidentiality policies. It has happened to me, where someone snitched on me for their own benefit.”

- Jorge Zambrano, senior “I’ve seen a lot of situations where people want to get back at someone else and so they use that… it’s used for all the wrong reasons.”

- Phoebe Lim, sophomore “Just because something is submitted anonymously doesn’t mean that it is a credible report. It raises the question for the Department of Safety to investigate further but does not always equate that a crime has occurred. The Silent Witness reporting system

is intended for crimes reporting only and should never be used to harass or ‘get back’ at someone.”

- Doug Wood, Associate Dean of Students

Would you feel comfortable reporting an incident that happened while alcohol was involved?

“No matter what that person means to me, it’s my duty to take care of other people, especially if they are in a situation where they have the potential to be harmed or they are harmed. I have the obligation to report that because it’s the right thing to do.”

- Phoebe Lim, sophomore “Probably not, just because I wouldn’t want to be caught up in all the mess of it all. Even if I was the one reporting it and doing ‘the right thing,’ I don’t think I’d want to be a part of it.”

- Nate Jalozynski, sophomore

Do you have any questions for those in administration relating to the alcohol policy?

“How would you handle internationals coming to a different country and explain-

ing those rules to us? I’ve been [of the legal drinking age] since I was 15.”

- Phoebe Lim, a sophomore “Students choosing to enter this community must agree to abide by these policies during their time as members of the community.

In the same way, if I was going to live in a different country, I would be obligated to uphold the laws of that country while there.”

- Doug Wood, Associate Dean of Students “I’m just confused as to why there is an alcohol policy, so long as you’re above 21 you should be able to make your own decisions.

Some say it’s because we’re a Christian campus, but there’s no Christian rules prohibiting people from consuming alcohol as long as they’re abiding by the law.”

- Mason Powers, sophomore “Our alcohol policy is rooted in promoting the well-being of our educational environment, separate from our being a Christian community… Some Christians embrace responsible alcohol consumption, others avoid any consumption because of the potential for misuse/abuse. Messiah has declared that our alcohol policy is in place to promote a healthy learning environment.”

- Doug Wood, Associate Dean of Students

"So long as you’re above 21 you should be able to make your own decisions... there’s no Christian rules prohibiting people from consuming alcohol."

- Mason Powers

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TRENDING TOPICS

A Match Made on

TeaTime

BY MACKENZIE CHRISTIE It’s no secret that building connections in a pandemic isn’t easy. With restrictions on social gatherings, mask mandates, and the hyper-vigilance of avoiding illness, making connections with fellow students has become harder than ever.

In the face of all these obstacles and more, Messiah TeaTime decided to play the middle man for students in need. Their method was simple; they created a google survey for students to fill out and then matched students whose answers seemed the most compatible.

“People were clearly struggling and feeling lonely,” TeaTime said. “We thought it would be a unique way for people to meet new friends or even something romantic.”

Questions on the survey included information like year and major, preferences, hobbies/interests and if you were looking for a romantic partner or

a new friend. TeaTime worked their magic behind the scenes, and a few days after submitting their survey, students would receive an email that would connect them with their match.

“We matched people based on interests, characteristics, and what they were looking for in a match,” TeaTime said. “We spent a lot of time carefully reading through the submissions and finding people we thought would be compatible.”

Cece McCrory, a junior marketing major here at Messiah, was overwhelmingly happy with her experience.

“My purpose for participating in the matchmaking was to make a new friend," McCrory said. "It was fall of 2020 and I had just transferred in from community college, in the middle of the pandemic, so making friends was very hard. I saw this as a great opportunity to meet someone new and possibly have another friendship, so I did it.”

After McCrory submitted her survey, she was matched with Teresa Oscilowski, a junior public relations major.

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FEBRUARY 2022

“I think for me and Teresa we got matched up really well," McCrory said. "She introduced me to her friends and now we all hang out as a group and do things together.”

McCroy and Oscilowski want other students to realize that even though meeting new people can be intimidating, it can certainly lead to unexpected blessings.

“I feel like last year was so much more exciting after meeting Cece and I constantly think about what my life would look like if I hadn’t filled out the form,” Oscilowski said.

“If you’re the type of person who struggles meeting people in authentic situations or struggles with approaching people you’d like to get to know, I highly recommend meeting people through the TeaTime survey.”

Amidst all of the positive reviews, there were plenty of participants who didn’t get the experience they were expecting. Students like Hannah Varghese, for example, submitted their survey responses, but a match never came though.

“As much as we would have loved to match every person, there were some issues that we encountered," TeaTime said. "There were a lot more female applications than male, so it was difficult to find a match for everyone

TRENDING TOPICS

in that area. Keep in mind that Messiah is a smaller campus, and it wouldn’t be realistic to match every individual. The last thing we would want to do is randomly match people with nothing in common.”

Luckily, Varghese didn’t let it get her down.

“I liked the idea of this service even though I did not receive an email back for a match," Varghese said. "I think if TeaTime decided to reupload their survey, I'm sure a lot of people would submit their surveys; including my friends and I.” Sophomore education major Julie Nelson felt a bit let down by her experience as well, but for different reasons.

“I did end up meeting the person I was matched with," Nelson said. "We got along great, and hung out regularly. Going in, I was hoping that the friendship would turn into something more, but it never did. I am not sure if we would have been compatible to date, however it was great for a friendship.”

Nelson advises students to go with the mindset of finding a new friendship rather than a new relationship.

“The only advice I would have for people is try to not go into it with a headset of finding the person they are going to date," Nelson said. "Who knows, maybe something would come out of it, but start with a solid friendship.”

Despite the range of experiences that students had, the overwhelming opinion was in favor of TeaTime’s matchmaking efforts.

Many students want to continue finding new friendships and relationships through the survey.

“I probably would resubmit a survey if possible," Nelson said. "It was a lot of fun to get to know the person I was

paired with, and I would love to meet more people.”

Regardless of whether or not TeaTime reuploads their survey, their efforts to alleviate the social challenges of life in a pandemic proved that a little risk can go a long way.

“We thought it would be a unique way for people to meet new friends or even something romantic.”

- TeaTime

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TRENDING TOPICS

ENGAGEMENT

A N NOUNC E M E N T S JO SH MCCLEAF & ALYS SA FORTNEY Josh McCleaf : Sophomore, Broadcasting & Media Production Alyssa Fortney : First Year, Music Education Josh and Alyssa met in 2018 through their high school's musical production as stage crew and pit members, respectively. They have been dating for over three years and got engaged on December 23, 2021, after recreating their first date. They're both from Waynesboro, PA, and plan to get married in May 2023.

CALEB DA NE HOWE R & C ARIS SA BLUN T Caleb Danehower : Messiah ‘21, Mechanical Engineering Carissa Blunt : Senior, HDFS “My freshman year, I swore off guys because I wanted to focus on my relationship with the Lord and my studies, however, I kept myself open to the possibility of meeting someone in college. My first day of freshman year, a guy walks into my 8 am psychology class and little do I know he will be my future husband. I ran into him constantly at Lottie during J-term, (2019) and we had our first conversation at the yogurt bar.

I was too shy to ask his name, so I decided to call him yogurt boy. Believing I would never run into him again after that, I tried to forget him. Spring semester comes around and yogurt boy walks into my 8 am Spanish class. Through this class, we became friends and began dating that following July. Caleb proposed December 26th, 2021” - Carissa Blunt

JIM H Y & HOPE TRE N KL E R Jim Hy : Senior, Theater Hope Trenkler : Senior, Theater

2234 S MARKET STREET MECHANICSBURG, PA 717-766-7656

Jim and Hope, had been dating for 2 years before getting engaged this past fall. They met their freshman year and became fast friends, both being in the same major and having multiple classes together. They began dating in September of their sophomore year, got engaged on November 22, 2021 and will be getting married on October 22 of this year. After graduation, they will be moving to upstate New York and working together in the theater together.

TRENDING TOPICS

PEOPLE OF MESSIAH:

ANGEL

ORTIZ

BY ETHAN DYRLI

Y

ou’re sitting in the Union, getting work done, when you suddenly hear a loud hiccup or expletive echo through the air.

Not knowing what it was, you continue to do your work, and the source of the sound remains a mystery to you.

However, that sound is Angel Ortiz, a sophomore student at Messiah with Tourette’s syndrome.

While many may recognize Ortiz by his Tourette’s, he’s definitely more than that. A business and film double major, Ortiz can be seen around campus getting to know basically anyone around him and making many friends. He loves playing guitar, watching movies and spending time with others. Ortiz, however, has gotten used to people seeing his Tourette’s as part of his personality.

“I feel like I get recognized by the general public when my classic tics come out,” Ortiz said. “It’s strange, that’s who I am to them, I’m just the guy who tics, that’s all they know about me.”

Tourette’s syndrome is a nervous system disorder often developed in childhood that can result in unwanted movements or sounds called tics. One estimate from the CDC found that 0.3 percent of children are diagnosed with Tourette’s, and that more than half of those children with Tourette’s are undiagnosed.

Ortiz hasn’t always had Tourette’s, it was something that started for him in the 11th grade. Starting as just small neck twitches, he assumed little of it, guessing it was something that happened to everybody. However, once he got to college, he noticed his tics were starting to become more intense.

“For some reason coming here put me in a position to tic more,” Ortiz said. “It turned out to be more physical tics, my arm would move more, my neck twitches became more dramatic, sometimes minor sounds, nothing too coherent.”

After some time experiencing these more intense tics, Ortiz decided to seek professional help for a clear diagnosis.

“Eventually I got it checked out and found out I had signs of Tourette’s, and since then it got dramatically worse,” Ortiz said.

While at college, Ortiz has had plenty of conversations with people, explaining and talking about his Tourette’s with them. He says that he rarely feels any form of hostile judgment or mockery from people, but often it is a learning experience for those who may be unfamiliar with Tourette’s and how different it could be for many people. Ortiz has found that many who are used to popular media’s portrayals of Tourette’s are extremely curious when they find out about his disorder.

“The media just shows people cursing and spazzing out, and sometimes it’s like that but generally that’s not the case and I think that’s why people are fascinated because they learn more about it,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz’s tics may be the occasional curse or expletive. Despite popular belief, only 10 percent of those with Tourette’s exhibit uncontrolled cursing.

On the other hand, his tics may include twitching or quoting a video or movie he’s seen. The most recognizable for those who don’t know him though, is a tic that sounds very similar to a hiccup, often heard while in Union or chapel. The similarity between his tic and the sound of a hiccup has helped him play off some of his ticing in public situations where not everyone may be aware of his Tourette’s, such as the classroom.

“I personally do not tell most of my professors that I have Tourette’s because subconsciously, if I tell someone I have Tourette’s, it gives my mind an invitation to tic more, or I become comfortable ticing,” Ortiz said.

“So, in order to prevent that I don’t say anything at all.”

Ortiz has adjusted to living with Tourette’s, seeing it as part of who he is.

“I’ve honestly accepted my Tourette’s, if I have it for the rest of my life I’m fine with it quite frankly, it’s just become a part of my personality,” Ortiz said.

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Earn up to

650

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this month!

Donate today at CSL Plasma Mechanicsburg 4880 Carlisle Pike 717-620-5155

* Applicable for eligible, qualified new donors. Fees vary by weight and location.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

UPCOMING CAMPUS

ART EVENTS A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD

“PARKSIDE PRESENTS - TOGETHER AGAIN!”

FEBRUARY 24-26 & MARCH 1-2 AT 7 PM, AND FEBRUARY 27 AT 3 PM MILLER THEATER IN CLIMENHAGA

MARCH 12 AT 2 PM PARMER HALL IN THE CALVIN AND JANET HIGH CENTER FOR WORSHIP AND PERFORMING ARTS

A Year with Frog and Toad tells the story of a friendship that endures throughout the seasons and celebrates the differences that make them unique and special. The jazzy, upbeat score of A Year with Frog and Toad bubbles with melody and wit, making it an inventive, exuberant and enchanting musical for the whole family. $10 —ADULTS; $7—MU STUDENTS (W/ID), MU EMPLOYEES (W/ID), YOUTH (UNDER 18); SENIORS (60+)

“RE-IMAGINING RECONCILIATION” HUMANITIES SYMPOSIUM FEBRUARY 25-26 AT 4 PM POORMAN BL ACKBOX THEATER IN CLIMENHAGA

The theme for the annual Humanities Symposium dance concert is “Re-imaging Reconciliation” featuring works from dance faculty Gregg Hurley and Eileen Beth Mitchell.

FREE TO THE MESSIAH COMMUNIT Y AND PUBLIC .

RESERVE YOUR FREE TICKETS IN ADVANCE.

KUHLMAN COMPETITION FEBRUARY 27 AT 7:30 PM HIGH FOUNDATION RECITAL HALL IN THE CALVIN AND JANET HIGH CENTER FOR WORSHIP AND PERFORMING ARTS

The Keith Lance Kuhlman Performance Award has been established as a memorial to Keith Lance Kuhlman (d. October 13, 1983), the son of Dr. and Mrs. Edward Kuhlman. As a trumpet player, Keith Kuhlman was a member of the Mechanicsburg Senior High School Band and the Messiah College Orchestra. The Kuhlman competition, as it has come to be known, was established as a memorial to Keith’s stellar musicianship and honors his memory by promoting the growth of that same musicianship in past, present, and future students at Messiah. The competition is open to all music majors at Messiah University.

Join Parkside Harmony and Parkside Melody as they return to LIVE singing, Together Again!, at Messiah University’s Parmer Hall. Both ensembles will share their award-winning a cappella harmonies, featuring music from Pop to Doo-Wop and Barbershop to Broadway. Enjoy Parkside Harmony as they recreate familiar tunes from artists like The Beatles, Doobie Brothers and Don McLean, as well as Parkside Melody’s fresh takes on recognizable classics from stars like Bonnie Raitt, Megan Hilty and Ella Fitzgerald. $20-25 (PRICES VARY DEPENDING ON SEATS)

THEATER AND DANCE DEPARTMENT SPRING SENIOR SERIES MARCH 18-19 AT 8 PM

An evening of performances created and performed by theatre and dance department seniors. The seniors include Jim Hy, Hope Trenkler and Rachel Switzer.

GENER AL ADMISSION - $5

MESSIAH UNIVERSIT Y CONCERT CHOIR MARCH 25 AT 7:30 PM PARMER HALL IN THE CALVIN AND JANET HIGH CENTER FOR WORSHIP AND PERFORMING ARTS

Hear the vocals of the Messiah University Concert Choir conducted

by Dr. Joy Meade.

FREE TO THE MESSIAH COMMUNIT Y AND PUBLIC

For more information on the events and to purchase tickets visit www.messiah.edu/tickets or call 717-691-6036.

FREE TO MESSIAH COMMUNIT Y AND PUBLIC

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SEXISM IN SPORTS Female athletes on inequality in Messiah Athletics

BY ETHAN DYRLI

A

hotly debated topic in athletics is how to approach equity between male and female sports. It often brings up the question: why are women’s sports generally viewed less than men’s?

This is an issue worldwide, but also in Messiah athletics. Athletes, athletic staff and fans all have different responses as to why women are not treated equally and how this affects the players.

Logan Plosker, a junior basketball player, sees culture as one of reasons there is less attendance at women’s games.

“I think that culture has kind of embedded it into our mind that men’s sports are more entertaining than women’s sports,” Plosker said. “There is definitely a toll that it takes on every female athlete.”

Plosker feels like seeing more administrators, staff and fans at men’s games can affect the self-esteem of the players, even when they focus on their sport.

“You get that internal feeling like, ‘Why don’t they want to watch us?’ ” Plosker said. “If a men’s team is losing game after game and the women’s team is winning game after game, it’s like, ‘Why aren’t we getting that same fanbase?’”

Sarah Gustin Hamrock, athletic director at Messiah University, thinks that people generally support those who win.

In some cases, women’s teams have much larger attendance than certain men’s teams.

In other cases, such as men’s and women’s soccer, the difference in attendance is smaller.

Hamrock has often heard the argument that male athlete’s physicality makes them more entertaining, but she disagrees with that notion.

“I think that that’s an old school train of thought, that women are less entertaining,” Hamrock said. “I honestly think it depends on the sport. I think there’s some sports that women are much more entertaining to watch.”

Hamrock believes that at the collegiate level, athletic events often have much more to do with how the teams engage with their fan bases and build a following.

“I think teams that do a really good job at community engagement and get a good following are going to maintain that following regardless of what gender they are,” Hamrock said.

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FEBRUARY 2022

However, according to a few of Messiah’s female athletes, they are limited in their ability to engage with their community in the same way as their male counterparts. Shelby Burger, a junior on the women’s soccer team, sees a discrepancy not in funding or support, but in publicity.

“They [the men’s soccer team] have more opportunities and publicity than we get, even from the school itself,” Burger said.

Burger feels that men’s soccer events allow for more community involvement, but does not see those same opportunities for her and her teammates. The men’s team has the Marshmallow Bowl and other big events, leading Burger to wonder why her team can’t do something like that to make the women’s team more of a cultural centerpiece.

“You have the Marshmallow Bowl for the guys for example, which is an awesome time, but we don’t have anything in comparison to that

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT “It’s up to the individual to choose what sport they want to go to because it’s their time to freely spend,” Seubert said.

Seubert believes that Messiah does a good job supporting their athletes of both genders in an equitable and fair way. Specifically, she appreciates the way in which the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) encourages athletes to go to each other’s games as “brother and sister sports.”

However, Seubert also sees room for improvement, hoping that Messiah can be more creative in the ways they hold women’s athletic events. She believes holding more entertaining events at women’s games could hopefully lead to larger student attendance.

“For soccer games they sometimes have white outs, but typically those are for the boys’ games,” Seubert said.

except Homecoming,” Burger said. “I know everyone would be so open to starting something exciting and fun.”

As well, men’s soccer games are often scheduled at the ‘prime time’ time slots later in the evening when more students are free to go to their events. Women’s games are early in the afternoon, leading to less attendance.

"I think we can do better as a society and as a school"

enterment,” Plosker said.

tain-

Seubert believes that while things can be improved on the professional level, change can also start here at Messiah.

Another issue Plosker identified was promotion, but on the professional level. For example, Plosker thinks that if publications like ESPN posted about women’s athletes’ performances more regularly, that interest in female sports might increase.

“It’s 2022, I think we can do better as a society and as a school, I’m not saying Messiah is responsible for any of this, but I do think that Messiah can jumpstart that conversation and say ‘How can we do better?’ ”

“Social media is such a prominent part of our world, maybe it starts there, even with highlight reels, because people respond to

To find game schedules and updates on Messiah athletic events, students can visit gomessiah.com.

Burger isn’t resentful towards her male counterparts for the support they receive, but Burger can’t help but notice a pattern of Messiah’s culture being built around men’s athletics.

“It’s exciting for them, but it just seems like when the big events are big, they have the better time slots,” Burger said. “I play the sport because I love the sport and I want to play, but of course you want to entertain people.”

Lauren Seubert, a junior on the field hockey team, believes the reason why people go to women’s games less is very much a personal decision that she hopes would not be based on gender. She believes people are going to spend their time how they want to spend their time.

PHOTOS BY LIAM FITZSIMMONS

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS FOR

DUMMIES W I N T E R O LY M P I C S

BY ETHAN DYRLI

T

his February marks the beginning of the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games. Starting in France in 1924, the winter olympics are for athletes who love the snow and hate being cool enough for the real Olympics. But what are they? In case you aren’t familiar with the glacial games, we’ve got you covered.

HISTORY: The Olympic motto is “Citius, Altius, Fortius” meaning “faster, higher, stronger.” The lesser known winter olympic motto is “that but colder.” The 1968 Winter Olympics were the first games to be shown on Color TV. These games also set the record for most Color TV sets turned off at the same time.

The founder of the Olympic Movement, Pierre de Coubertin, died in 1937 and was buried in Lausanne, save for his heart, which, on his instruction, was interred in a memorial near the ruins of ancient Olympia. This is absurd enough and requires no punchline.

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FEBRUARY 2022

The Summer and Winter Olympics were held in the same year until 1992. This tradition was halted after critics called the winter olympics “a vibe killer.”

Winter olympic events have been popularized in pop culture in projects like “Cool Runnings” and “Game of Thrones.” Today, there are 15 sports, spanning a record 109 events. For more information on some of this year’s sports, see below.

DID YOU KNOW? US ice hockey player Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson scored the fastest two goals by one player at a Winter Olympics – just six seconds apart at PyeongChang 2018.

This was because they had used a snowman as the goalie, a tactical error on the Russian team’s part.

BOBSLEIGH: ICE HOCKEY: Created after the premier of the inspirational film “The Mighty Ducks,” hockey remains a wildly popular sport both at the Olympics and outside them. It is recognized as the first martial art to take place on ice.

The word “hockey” comes from the old French word “hocquet” meaning stick. The word “ice hockey” comes from the English word “ice” meaning “ice.”

The World’s first Bobsleigh club was founded in Switzerland. Ever since, Switzerland has answered the question: “What could humanity invent if they didn’t have to worry about wars?”

DID YOU KNOW? Bobsledding works for the bourgeoisie!

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SNOWBOARDING: Snowboarding was made an Olympic Sport in 1998 after the International Olympic Committee decided they wanted something new to talk about other than Saving Private Ryan and the Lewinsky scandal.

ing started as ice dancing in the 1800s after a harsh winter had the Vienna Skate Club begin to mimic waltzing on the ice. Today, the sport is similar, as Olympic athletes will be judged by their ability to complete TikTok dance trends on the ice.

Originally played in the 1500s with sticks and stones, Curling reminds the average man what it means to be human. While the world’s technologies advance and our world grows increasingly distracted, at the end of the day, we are all just pushing sticks and stones across some ice.

Competitions for snowboarding are based on measuring both technical skill and speed, all while giving points to the athlete who can fit the most sponsorships on their gear. Snowboarding is officially cited as the most dangerous winter olympic sport because it is “pretty dope.”

Figure skating’s best known athletes Chazz Michael Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy rose to international fame in 2007 after successfully performing the Iron Lotus, a move that had previously left athletes seriously injured. Today, no one else has successfully performed the dangerous and controversial move.

DID YOU KNOW?

DID YOU KNOW?

The most flips ever done on a snowboard is four. The most flips landed is three and a half.

Ice skates used to be made out of bones!

The bones were typically from elk, oxen, reindeer, and the lesser competitors.

A meta-analysis of data collected from the largest dating apps found that men who included mentions of curling in their bio were 98 percent more likely to get positive response to their profile.

FIGURE SKATING:

CURLING:

The truest art form displayed on ice. Figure skating athletes are known for their graceful feats and tense marriages. Figure skat-

Curling is peak competition. A mixture of art, frace, patience, drive, and grit, curling is quite possibly the best sport to ever exist.

And there you have it, a brief overview of everything you need to know related to the Winter Olympic Games.

Considered to be “chess on ice,” curling achieves what an IQ test never could. It tests true, strategic intelligence, pushing human minds to their limits. It is a sport for the sophisticated, and politeness is required.

DID YOU KNOW?

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ALBUM REVIEWS: Fix Yourself, Not the World by the Wombats Written by Emma Bane The Wombats left me skeptical that their recent experimental album, Fix Yourself Not the World, would be as disastrous as Coldplay’s leap of faith in Music of the Spheres. With a dedication to “push themselves past their limits,” an 8-bit album cover reminiscent of the Glitch Gum’s “Kyoto” cover art, and space-themed opening lines like “seeing all these stars and planets intertwined,” there was much to be concerned about. Luckily for them (and for us), the 2022 album didn’t disappoint. With new electro-pop influences injected into their classic indie-rock style, the album offers fun new sounds without being over the top. However, the album still does not quite match their previous work. The band has a trademark style that I wish they’d held to a little more.

Standout tracks include “If You Ever Leave, I’m Coming with You,” “People Don’t Change People, Time Does,” and “Fix Yourself, Then the World (Reach Beyond Your Fingers).” A solid album nonetheless, I recommend this if you’re looking for bright, catchy music to play on your afternoon walk.

Rating: 7/10

DawnFM by The Weeknd Written by Keegan Hurley This January, the Weeknd released his highly anticipated album Dawn FM; a concept album which assumes the role of a radio show in purgatory. Dawn fully commits to the synth-pop genre, with rich synth embellishments and solos throughout the tracklist. This sound allows for club bangers such as “How Can I Make You Love Me” and “Sacrifice,” as well as slower, more reflective songs such as “Here We Go…Again.” The most surprising and thoughtful part of this album was the narration by Jim Carrey, encouraging listeners to reflect on their mortality.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the Weeknd” was a phrase that rang out loud and clear throughout 2021 and shows no sign of stopping with the release of Dawn FM. Rating: 8.5/10

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FEBRUARY 2022

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Sick! by Earl Sweatshirt Written by Mackenzie Christie If you were in need of even more pandemic fueled angst-rap, Earl Sweatshirt’s newest release Sick! is a 24 minute speed run of the growing genre. In an interview with HipHopDX, Earl described the album as an attempt to “lean into the chaos of the world,” and the listening experience of his work certainly emulates that chaos. Through his lo-fi beats, grungy samples, and quick-witted rap verses, Earl creates a unique sound that reflects the defining elements of his previous work, while simultaneously forging into new artistic territory. From a lyrical perspective, tracks like “2010” and “God Laughs” read like poetry, demonstrating Earl’s traditional artistic skill on top of his musical inclinations. Although the album seems to lack a defining song or a standout moment, each track is rich with emotion in it’s own impactful way, making it well worth the quick listen.

Rating: 7/10

Brightside by the Lumineers Written by AJ Jerome Brightside is the fourth studio album from the cult-favorite indie folk band The Lumineers. The band dropped three lead singles before the release of the album: “Brightside,” “A.M. Radio,” and “Big Shot.” The folk sound of their album is consistent with their previous albums, but that gives the songs a nostalgic feel, even on the first listen. Although the songs on this album sound similar, the lyrics take you through several different stories of love, heartbreak, hope and confusion. This is the perfect album for the struggling college student; many songs highlight fear of the future but choosing to persevere.

Rating: 9/10

Butterfly 3001 by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Written by Ravi Ahuja King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard is back with another album, this time a remix collection of songs from their last studio album Butterfly 3000. Their new album, Butterfly 3001, takes the original 10 songs and turns them into 21 remixes made by a variety of artists including DJ Shadow, Donato Dozzy and Deaton Chris Anthony among others. Many of these remixes lean into a techno/hypno direction, which seems to be KGLW’s style of choice for this album, but there are exceptions like the very hip-hop inspired remix of “Black Hot Soup” which opens the album. Unfortunately, with a few standouts like the prior named “Black Hot Soup” remix, the Flaming Lips remix of “Ya Love,” or Confidence Man’s “Interior People” remix, the tracks are for the most part inferior to the original album versions. While I can appreciate the spotlight KGLW is putting on many small artists in this album, this album is more for dedicated fans than the general public.

Rating: 4/10 THE SWINGING BRIDGE

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