THE
SWINGING BRIDGE MESSIAH COLLEGE//THE PULSE
The
Vol. 95 // ED. 5 // November 14, 2013
Nontraditional
Experience
Susan Ryder
Rethinking Achievement [page 5]
Local
Attractions [page 9]
Swim To Get Slim [page 14] Photo by Caroline J. Phillips
A Recollection Of A Nontraditional Student’s Experience At Messiah College By Nicholas Tay
W
hile Messiah’s undergraduate population are in their early twenties or younger, there are a few students on campus who do not fit into this demographic. Susan Ryder, nontraditional student, is one of these people. At Messiah, nontraditional students are typically defined as individuals 23 years or older and/or married. Ryder is both. She chose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in communications after a 25-year academic hiatus, a decision largely influenced by a divine calling on her life. “I felt God pushing me to a new direction in my life. Although I didn’t quite know what it was initially, but I came to realize that He was calling me back to school. At first, I hesitated. I thought it was too much work for me to handle. So I put this thought off for a year. However, I eventually succumbed to this revelation and decided that if it was God’s will, then I should pursue it”.
intertwined with learning. I was at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) for two years prior to Messiah.” “My friends asked me where I applied to and my response was just, nowhere else. Just Messiah. There was no plan B. I came here because I believed that it was what God wanted me to do, and it’s been a great experience so far.” Yet, before Ryder entered Messiah, she had to readjust back to nuances of academia. “I wanted to try out higher education before applying to Messiah. Although I have my Associate’s degree from about 25 years ago, it has been a long time since I’ve been in school. I knew I needed to brush up on a few things. HACC was also cheaper and more flexible for me. However I knew Messiah was my final goal.”
“
“
FEATURES EDITOR
Nowhere else. Just
Messiah
Ryder’s decision to pursue communication studies at a Christian college was dependent on her desire to integrate her faith and learning.
When considering Messiah, the most pressing issue for Ryder was her ability to juggle school and her family.
“I chose Messiah because I wanted to study communications, but in an environment where Christianity is
“One of my biggest concerns when I was thinking of returning to school was my family. I have a husband and
three children. Being able to meet the demands of raising a family is difficult. Coming back to school is similar to returning to the workplace after a long hiatus. Like a job, I carry my work back home with me. There’s always something to do – be it papers or homework. My schoolwork does intrude on my main priority, my family time. Thus I have to be especially careful to balance my family life and school life.” On a traditional day, Ryder’s schedule is unlike the traditional student’s. Instead of Lottie meals and dorm rooms, Ryder prepares her meals and keeps her home. “On my Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule, I usually arrive at Messiah around 9 AM for my only class of the day. On those days, my neighbor helps to put my younger son on the bus. My older son is cyberschooled, so I usually go back home after classes to check on him. I spend the rest of my day doing homework and running errands. On Tuesday and Thursdays, I come in later in the day for my classes, which end at 2. I send my older son to piano practice while getting my younger son off the bus. I then do more homework while preparing dinner as well. Then there’s swim practice and the occasional church meetings. That’s my typical day during the week. Given her responsibilities, Ryder finds it difficult to break into the extracur-
ricular scene at Messiah. Thus she finds that writing for the school newspaper is a great way to contribute to the student body without overcommitting herself. “As a non-traditional student, I think it’s hard to make the most of extracurricular activities on campus. I’ve had to decrease some of my involvement in church and my children’s school events as I didn’t have the time to fully commit to every activity. Plus, my family’s important to me and I have to maintain them as my primary priority. Taking care of my home, transporting my kids to and back from school, making dinner, helping my children with their homework, etc. These are responsibilities that I have to meet while tackling my schoolwork as well. “That’s why I write for the Swinging Bridge. I can do most of the work at home and there are minimal meetings to commit to. Plus, I can meet some of the other (traditional) students. Ryder is careful to keep her priorities in check. While education is important to her, Ryder maintains that her family is most important. “I’m currently a part-time student. I was full-time when I first started. I had four classes and it was just chaotic. But when my family experienced some personal troubles, I came close to quitting. I wasn’t sure if I could manage my time CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 //RECOLLETION
NEWS
November 14,
2013
News 2
The Swinging Bridge
Leaves of Fall A Look Back at the Messiah College Fall Fest Students enjoying Catering’s Fall Fest Treats
Photo by Paul Ney
By Jen Morgan STUDENT WRITER
M
essiah College’s annual Fall Fest took place outside of the Larsen Student Union on Saturday, November 2nd. The event was sponsored by the Messiah College Special Activities Committee, part of the Student Activities Board.
Junior Alexa Kern is the Special Activities executive of SAB, and played a large role in ensuring a wonderful event. The free event started at 1 P.M., and included a variety of fall favorites. Featured snacks were pumpkin shaped sugar cookies, pumpkin flavored pretzels, caramel apples and caramel popcorn.
I loved the festive...atmosphere
A perfect
fall day!
The drinks that were available were ice water, hot chocolate, and apple cider. One of the highlights of the afternoon was an interactive pumpkin carving station. Pumpkins were available to students free of charge, in addition to carving supplies. There was a special area designed for students to sit together and create their own designs onto the fall classic. In addition, students were able to make other fall-themed crafts. Many groups or roommates and friends gathered together to make these crafts. Contemporary music was provided as well, which served as a relaxing background for all of the fun activities. Photo by Paul Ney
Sophomore Rachel Sutton attended the event, and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon with her friends. “I loved the festive atmosphere created by all of the activities and foods. It resonated well the season of autumn, and the weather made for a perfect fall day!” said Sutton. The next event sponsored by the Special Activities Committee will be the Zombie Weekend, which will take place on November 15th and 16th. On November 15th, a zombie laser tag competition will be held at Hitchcock, and on November 16th a viewing party for “The Walking Dead” will take place at the Union with prizes up for grabs.
Z ombie Weekend November 15th & 16th
November 14, 2013
News 3 The Swinging Bridge
West Shore By Megan LaTorre FEATURES EDITOR
L
ike many private Christian schools, Messiah College requires its students to attend chapel twice each week. Many students come to Messiah with the knowledge of their prescribed chapel requirement: 12 common chapels and 12 elective or alternate chapels. The consequences of missing this prescribed number are the dreaded chapel tapes and chapel probation, which are bestowed at the end of the semester. However, until students are upperclassmen, they often do not realize that there are chapel alternatives. West Shore Evangelical Free Church provides one such alternative. There are two women’s ministry programs that Messiah students are involved in: Women’s Bible Study (WBS) and Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS). Students have the opportunity to care for children between a few months of age to upper elementary, giving the mothers of the children the ability to attend churchled Bible studies and other programs. Terry Allison, Pastor of Children’s Ministries, says that there are a couple of main goals for this ministry: to provide a safe, secure, and loving environment for the children so that the mothers who leave their children can have the peace of
mind knowing that they are being cared for. This permits mothers freedom to open themselves up to being refreshed. A second purpose, Allison said, is spiritual training for the children. This tratining can be supplemental to what the children receive at home or at church, but it may also be the only opportunity for them to receive spiritual nurturing. Molly Miner, Childcare Director of West Shore and Messiah College graduate, leads approximately 50 Messiah College students every semester to participate in this ministry on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. However, Miner has not been involved with West Shore the entire time following her graduation from Messiah. She has been working at West Shore for four years – which may be surprising given her comfortable and confident aura at the work place. Prior to her position as Childcare Coordinator, Miner was a Human Resources major at Messiah College, and earned her Master’s in Human Resource Management from Webster University in Florida. Miner had two young infants, but missed working with people and managing a program, which is what led her to West Shore. “I didn’t discover the programs until I had a baby and was not working,” said Miner.
Thursday Roundtable By Ashlyn Miller STUDENT WRITER
T
he Student Senate meeting on Thursday, Nov. 7 was opened by a different official as the students in attendance were informed that Vice President Jordan Twitchell is on medical leave. They were also informed that Twitchell’s condition is improving and she should return to campus soon. This week, Mark Wirtz, Director of Dining Services, met with the Senate to follow up on the progress of the new dining plan for this year. Wirtz also had recently discussed the dining plan with students at the Innovation Conversation forum on Oct. 28. “I understand that there was a lot of miscommunication at the beginning of the semester; stories that we couldn’t even dream up ourselves [at Dining Services)],” said Wirtz, “but I am happy to say
Nov. 7 Senate Recap
that those have largely cleared up and the dining plan is functioning quite well.” The changes in the dining plan for this year were motivated by feedback from students telling Wirtz that they “didn’t like being forced to eat at Lottie” under the nearly 25-year-old plan that featured a specific number of meals at each facility. After 18 months of collaboration with the SGA, mainly through Student Senate, Dining Services revealed the new plan this year. According to Wirtz, 92 percent of Messiah students are tracking to end the semester with a balance of zero dining dollars or a rollback, meaning that the new plan is helping the majority of the student body to save money. Students still need to be conscious of their balance to make sure they are on track. Dining Services has post-
Childcare
Ministry A Chapel Alternative The women’s ministry was appealing because it provided Miner access to a network of other moms. Today, Miner has gone from attending the programs to running them. Kristin Pepper, Awesome Adventure Preschool Ministry Coordinator at West Shore, shares an office space with Miner. Pepper attested to Miner’s multitasking work ethic: “She balances a lot. Taking care of two little boys and making sure things are running smoothly at home and that things are running orderly here.” The Pastor of Children’s Ministries described his first impression of Miner: “She was crazy, fun, and extremely competent. I knew from the start that she was going to do very well in this ministry.” He also believed that Miner would be a great fit considering her background. “Because our staff of childcare workers are primarily college students, I could tell she was going to be someone that the college students would connect with and she would connect with them in return – a mutual relationship.” Every semester Miner recruits, trains, and tracks the payments and hours of approximately 50 Messiah students. Miner also organizes childcare throughout the week at West Shore and keeps ongoing statistics of the program’s progress (which illustrates the program’s growth). ed reminders showing the balance needed by certain dates, and based on positive student responses, this will continue for Spring semester. Wirtz pointed out that Spring semester (including J-term) is 11 days longer than Fall, making it even more important for students to be aware of their spending. The new dining plan has also brought changes for students who live in apartments or those who are commuters, as they have the option of the A-La-Carte plan, which provides them with 500 dining dollars. Also in attendance on Thursday was Executive Chef Percell Green, who polled Senate members on different questions relating to food on campus, particularly the selections served in the Lottie Nelson Dining Hall. Green asked those in the audience to call out chain restaurants that they liked to visit off-campus, looking to record the types of food that students enjoy and the reasons why they visit locations like Texas Road-
“It’s only going to grow. We’re only going to need more students, there’s no question about that,” Miner said. These carefully plotted statistics have shown steady growth in attendance. Miner has been tracking the numbers for four years, during which time WBS and MOPS programs have grown over 30% since 2009. What used to be a steady attendance of 50-65 children are now about 150 children. “We love to partner with Messiah students,” Miner said. “But at the end of the day, the students are serving the women more so than the children. They are serving these women because this is the only break from their children they get. They trust Messiah students with their children. Many of the students end up working in the homes of moms as nannies or babysitters. It’s a relationship that just continues.” Through this alternative, students are given the opportunity to network with other families and members of West Shore, build relationships with their peers, provide care and nurturing for the children, as well as provide a much needed break for the mothers. If you are interested in participating in West Shore’s WBS and MOPS ministries as a chapel alternative, email Molly Miner at mminer@westshorefree.org for more information. house, Chick-Fil-A, and Olive Garden. “I need to hear your voice so we can give you what you want to eat. You dictate the menu,” said Green. Topics of discussion also included the campus tradition of serving chicken cordon bleu for lunch on Sundays. This brought on a spirited discussion among students, some claiming that the long-standing tradition is a trademark of the school, others saying that variety would be beneficial. To close the evening, Wirtz issued an important announcement regarding recent issues with theft from the Union Café and The Falcon. The college has recently ordered security cameras that will be installed at both facilities, and administrators are considering the placement of enter and exit gates to lessen the ability of potential thieves from being able to exit unnoticed. Coming to the next student senate on Nov. 21 will be Craig Dalen, Director of Sustainability.
November 14, 2013
News 4 The Swinging Bridge
Mapping The Quest for Sexual Purity
By Huy Nguyen NEWS EDITOR
I
t all started 11 years ago, when thenMiller Residence Director Mike Blount took his expertise and core passion to action as he founded Men Achieving Purity (MAP), an on-campus group designed to work with men around sexual sins and addictions. With a background in counseling and history of having lived in a part of the world where sex trade is prolific, Blount is fully aware of the importance of men being able to combat sexuality issues. “One of my callings was to provide a safe place for healing and recovery for men in their sexual struggles,” said Blount. He added that the main reason why he came to Messiah in the first place was to get an opportunity to work with Messiah men on this issue. Currently serving as the Assistant Director at the Messiah College Internship Center, Blount has been leading MAP throughout the group’s existence. He had singlehandedly led the charge for the first seven years until an encounter with current Assistant Director of Residence Life David Downey four years ago. “When I came here, we connected and realized we had a similar passion,” said Downey. Blount and Downey coordinate MAP group meetings on a weekly basis. A regular, 45-minute meeting opens and closes with prayer, includes story-sharing and discussion among members regarding sexual triggers they have experienced during the week and how to resist them. While participation is completely anonymous to anyone outside of MAP, the nature of sexuality being an uncomfortable topic of discussion still makes
it difficult for group members to “let themselves be vulnerable” and open up to another, especially in the early stages. As part of the orientation process, on the very first MAP meeting of each semester, Blount plays a short video about a spring break trip organized by a similar group in Bethel University. The video serves as a model and gives members a rough idea what they should expect from MAP. Downey also helps ease new members in by sharing his personal stories regarding sexuality struggles and invite members to “take their masks off” and “break the silence.”
With a wealth of wisdom and experience collected over the years, Ryder offers a piece of advice to her younger counterparts – make the most of your current opportunity. “You get only get as much out of something as the time and effort you put in.
With the recent spike in attendance, MAP is looking to expand further. According to Downey, members of the group are organizing smaller satellite groups among their friends and dorm/apartment-mates. “We are trying to get our name out to campus even more,” said Downey. Recently, MAP teamed up with the LOFT team and organized a Men’s Adventure Retreat. The theme of the retreat was “Out of the Darkness and Into the Light, together.” The goal was for Messiah
“To break the silence is the first step to break the barrier of shame,” said Blount.
“It takes time for trust to build,” said Blount. The core principles of MAP are accountability, education, and self-awareness. While it is important that one realizes his own sexual problems, it is extremely difficult to deal with them singlehandedly. This is where MAP comes into play. Apart from the education received from Blount and Downey, accountability among members is also a key aspect of the group. MAP allows members to be part of a setting where one can “learn to manage with other men” and “be real with one another.” This year, MAP has grown to 14 members, the largest turnout in their his-
You can learn something from any class, even if you hate it. Even if you hate that philosophy or public speaking class, you still have the opportunity to learn something useful. You have a unique opportunity to spend four years of your life learning. Don’t waste it. Ryder will graduate in the spring of 2014. She maintains that if given the opportunity to pursue her bachelor’s degree 25 years ago, she would refuse the offer. “I love my life right now, so I wouldn’t change it at all. Is it difficult coming back after all these years? Absolutely. But I wouldn’t trade my wonderful husband and children for anything.”
men to “leave the darkness of sexual sin behind and pursue sexual purity with a life that desires God above all else.” As all male students at Messiah were eligible to sign up for the retreat, MAP was able to get their name out to non-MAP participants. According to Downey, a number of them have expressed interest in joining MAP in the future in the quest to achieve sexual purity.
Male students at Messiah, if you are interested in being part of MAP next spring, please send your inquiry to Mike Blount at mblount@messiah. edu or David Downey at ddowney@ messiah.edu.
2 Week Outl
Having said that, they acknowledge this is a process that takes time; and they are perfectly comfortable with that pace. “We don’t expect guys to come in and be comfortable right away,” said Downey.
//RECOLLECTION well. School is important, but it wasn’t my primary responsibility. However, my husband was a great encouragement as he helped me through this difficult period. Eventually, I was able to make the necessary adjustments and I’ve been able to keep my grades up and my family intact. Being successful in school would mean nothing if my family fell apart.”
tory. Average in previous year’s attendance was around 10 to 12.
k:
Nov. 14 - Nov. 28 Compiled by News staff
A
nother Swinging Bridge issue: another edition of the Two-Week Outlook! This time, we take a look at what’s happening under the Grantham sun spanning the week of November 14 all the way to Thanksgiving.
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SAB’s Zombie Weekend: Rejoice, zombie fanatics! The Students Activities Board will spice up the weekend of Nov. 16-17 just for you with their Zombie Weekend event. Activities include zombie laser-tag on Saturday from 8 P.M. till midnight and watching the newest episode of AMC’s The Walking Dead on Sunday night at the Union. So sign up your laser tag team now and prepare your zombie outfits.
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Infuse: On Sunday night, Nov. 17, Brubaker Auditorium will be the venue for a night of worship titled Infuse. Christian speaker and artist Eric Samuel Timm will be speaking in the event. A renowned artist who carries Christian influences in his works, he is the founder of the critically-acclaimed No One Underground.
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The Good Doctor: From Nov. 14 to Nov. 24, Messiah College Department of Theater and Dance will take center stage at Miller Theater with performances of a Neil Simon classic, The Good Doctor. There will be daily 8 P.M. performances from Nov.14 to Nov. 16 and from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23, alongside 3 P.M. Sunday performances on Nov. 17 and Nov. 24. Tickets are on sale now at $7 for Messiah students and $10 general admission.
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Faith and Politics: On Tuesday, Nov. 19, Mechanicsburg pastor and 2014 Pennsylvania governor candidate Max Myers will be speaking at Messiah College. The topic of discussion will be the relation between faith and politics and how Myers has been able to incorporate both in his life. The speech will take place at Frey 110 from 7 to 8:30 P.M. Alternate chapel credits will be provided.
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What would Jesus Invest in? At Frey 150 on Wednesday night, Nov. 20, Howard Leonard, founder and CEO of Stewardship Partners, will lead an informative lecture on handling money in a Biblically-responsible way. This event is hosted by the Messiah College Investment Club. Finally, on behalf of the Swinging Bridge, we would like to wish our readers a happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your break, don’t overspend on Black Friday and get some rest in preparation for Finals Week. Again, if your club or organization are planning to host an event in the near future, don’t hesitate to contact the News section of the Swinging Bridge at hn1169@messiah.edu so we could promote your event to Messiah students and faculty via “Two-Week Outlook.”
OPINIONS
November 14, 2013
Opinions 5
The Swinging Bridge
RethinkingAchievement jors and flourish, and several friends keep their pre-med majors and flourish. Not everyone would say it, but I say congratulations to both groups of people: developing a deeper sense of one’s unique vocation is worth celebrating. Truly. This is a theme in higher education. We take some majors more seriously than others, as though some are better than others. We do the same for certain life goals after college. Prestige, fame, and potential salaries are dangled in front of us like a carrot. The rest of the world looks down on those who refuse that carrot. Why can’t they accept the fact that not everyone wants the same carrot? By Katie Tyrpak STUDENT WRITER
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’ve been told over and over, “Never sell yourself short.” Well, I stand about 5’2.” Though not exactly midget status, it’s short enough for me to know the disappointment of reaching for that snack on the top shelf and falling short, left hungry. That being said, I have always found that little quip particularly encouraging, because when it comes to tasks and abilities, the intent of the phrase says, “Follow your dreams. You are capable, so believe in your potential.” I do believe that we all need to hear that message. We all have a great deal of potential, and further developing that potential is what our time at Messiah is for. However, especially the realm of academia, I’ve seen this well-intentioned quip- and others like it- go a bit sour.
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It all started in high school. I worked pretty hard in my public high school, and when it came to colleges, my guidance counselor tried to push Ivy-league schools on me. Fact is, I wanted to get out of the rat-race for A+s and 4.0 GPAs, instead, I wanted a school where I could be academically challenged and developed spiritually and socially. I’m sure anyone can do that at an Ivyleague, but I knew for me, Messiah was an excellent fit.Yet my guidance counselor looked down at me when I told her I was excited about Messiah. She thought I was selling myself short. I entered college as a Biology major and soon found a new hierarchy with its own downward glares. Pressure to go on to medical schools, graduate schools, and be competitive surrounds us. I watched several friends drop their pre-med ma-
How to Grow Up (Not)
By Lynda Heller OPINIONS EDITOR
S
ome days I walk past the Union and see groups of children screaming and playing outside. It still surprises me to find that I am no longer that age. For better or for worse, time seems to have nudged me, as well as the rest of Messiah students into full -fledged adulthood. Yet, as adults, we do not have to leave all our childish ways behind us. There are several life skills that children possess that are very beneficial to hold on to. Children are fun. They single-mindedly pursue the most fun possible. This is something that adults lose. We start to have other goals, like making sure we don’t run out of food in our dorm fridges, and trying to get enough sleep to pass the next exam. While we can no longer make all our goals center around fun, we can still find ways to make a quick transition into adventure-mode. I am by no means a fun-master, yet here
are some observations I have made from those who are more playful than myself. First of all, fun-masters are willing to look ridiculous. For example, my housemate Andrea McIntosh, consistently attends house meetings in a hot-pink onesie with moose feet. As in the oneie has little moose on the feet. Its the weirdest thing. In addition, she has walked across campus in this attire. I admire her for her ability to transition from looking nice (which she usually does) to looking unashamedly ridiculous. Being willing to look ridiculous is about more than what one wears. Its an entire attitude that allows one to take oneself less seriously. This opens one up for spontaneousness, and strangeness. There are few things more fun than those moments one spends with friends doing something utterly bizarre. These CONTINUE ON PAGE 8 //GROW
In Created and Called for Community, Messiah tries to redefine “carrot.” I read Schweitzer’s quote “A career does not define a person, nor does it determine a calling. If anything, the opposite occurs. God defines the person and gives that person a calling. Then he or she is free to use a career for God’s kingdom purpose…Instead of, ‘You are what you do,’ calling says: ‘Do what you are.’” I’ve kept this quote on a post-it by my bed ever since. From it, I took the idea that God is more pleased with me if I can use my career as an extension of my calling, than if I use my career as a defining fac-
tor of my identity. If my personal calling is to love people, use my intelligence, live a balanced life, and promote peace, can’t I live that out in whichever career is most exciting to me personally? Yet academia, even at Messiah, still pushes “quantifiable” success on us— the highest degree, the top program, the furthest travels, the biggest salary, the most published works. It is the graduates who achieve these things that return to be put on pedestals, and give talks, write articles. These people do deserve to be recognized. But success is beyond quantifiable; quality success is loving and living right. There are tens of thousands of alum and current students who live out their remarkable calling every day. They are the heroes of their students, their patients, their clients, their co-workers, their families and their friends. They show Jesus to their world, spread love, and they found their calling, applied it to vocation, and lived it out. Are they famous? No. But Messiah ought to take just as much pride in them. God does. So find your calling. Find a vocation where you can maximize it. Work passionately, as hard as you can, and never give up. You are not selling yourself short.
November 14, 2013
Opinions 6 The Swinging Bridge
Perils of
The
Dating
By Celal Kamran STUDENT WRITER
D
A Guide To Staying Single At Messiah
ating can be dangerous to your health, we all know that. Well maybe not dangerous, but if you’re not interested in a relationship, Messiah College can be a bit of a minefield. That is why I have come up with a fool-proof plan to help you keep you out of the mess they call dating. Of course, I can’t speak on behalf of girls so this advice is for the single men of Messiah who don’t want a woman. This might seem like an easy task, but trust me, it isn’t. New research shows that a third of people on facebook found their spouse at college. Not only that but Messiah was ranked tenth for guys finding #futurewives in the whole nation. That is scary. Not saying anything against marriage, but most guys aren’t ready for that. College is for learning to take naps, playing ultimate frisbee, eating ramen and studying (if you find time). Future spouses should be the furthest thing on our minds. I get all sweaty just talking to girls, I can’t even imagine marriage.
But anyway, these are my tried and tested, Celal approved ways to stay single: Rule number one: Always hang out in a group rather than one-on-one. If you hang out with a girl one-on-one you might give her the wrong idea and won’t know it until she tells all her friends about your first date. It’s never a good idea to go on a date without knowing its a date. Use the buddy system, gentlemen, and have a friend who will always stick with you in a mixed group of people. This is important for those moments when people in the group wander and you are left one-on-one with a girl. With your trusty sidekick this can be prevented. Remember, there is safety in numbers. Rule number two: Never go on walks with a girl by the breeches. Let me repeat that. NEVER go on walks with a girl by the breeches. This can lead to all sorts of miscues and unintentional communication. For the same reasons, never get ice cream with a girl at the union.
Rule number three: Do not talk about marriage or having children around girls. This is a no-no. If you do, they will find you a suitable mate and you do not want that. I know it is hard because kids are adorable (and who doesn’t want to procreate?) but trust me when I tell you: never say that to a girl. They will think you want to marry them when that is the opposite of what you want to do. Rule number four: Be mean to girls so they don’t misunderstand your niceness as flirting. This is hard, because like all men at Messiah, I know you are nice. Unfortunately, girls think nice is flirting and you do not ever want to flirt with a girl. If you flirt with a girl you will die, and by die I mean put yourself in a postion where you could end up in a relationship. This being said, also don’t be too mean to a girl. For some reason, girls think that when a guy is really mean to them, he likes them. This of course is only true in kindergarten, but many girls don’t know that. So find that per-
fect balance of mean and stick with it. Rule number five: Do not voluntarily do group projects with a girl for class. Try not to even sit next to a girl in class. We all know, from Twilight, that if you are lab partners with a girl it will end up in a horrifying relationship saga that spans four books and five unwatchable movies. Try not to even talk to girls. Don’t even look at girls. If you do, you will die. Follow these rules and you will have a successful four (maybe five) years at Messiah without having to get a ring by spring. You are young, there is plenty of time to find a girl. Enjoy your time in college without being tied down. And for all of those who are in relationships or are looking to be in one, well good for you. This article is in no way meant to bring you guys down. This is just for all the brothers who just want to be independent and girlfriend-free for the immediate future.
Composting Convenience By Ethan Eldred STUDENT WRITER
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anana peels find their way onto the sidewalks and accidents happen. Furthermore, banana peels rot in the open, or worse, are put in the trash where the nutrients and energy stored in them go to waste. Same with orange peels. Same with apple cores. And so on and so forth. The madness has to stop. It’s wasteful, it’s smelly, and it’s a nuisance. I don’t like it when I slip in the shower on my roommate’s discarded fruit refuse.
http://www.sheknows.com/home-and-gardening/articles/998467/can-you-compost-eggshells
It’s too bad there isn’t an easy solution. It isn’t easy to find containers to put such things in, and it certainly is not a simple matter to put them in or even outside every building on campus. It’s also quite a shame that no system exists to recapture all the nutrient value in such scraps and put them back into the earth, maybe even growing more
food from them. It could even happen at something like a Community Garden. But if it did exist, the simple solution might look something like a little green compost bucket. It could even have a lid to keep gophers and graphic design students from trying to survive on the refuse inside. One bucket could be placed on each floor of each building on campus to collect the little bit of organic “waste” produced in each place each day. Saving energy that would be used to haul the trash away might make it affordable to compensate a student worker or two to collect the compost. Volunteers could also supplement their efforts, and our food scraps would live another life and continue to nurture us through the next generation of food after them. It truly is tragic that such an idea is so complicated and will never be practical here, or if it is, it will surely be a long, long time from now.
November 14, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
Opinions 7
Tablets vs. Textbooks
Is It Time To Replace The Paper, Or Not?
By Breanna Whitelock STUDENT WRITER
W
ith the new age of technology, society is changing and adapting to the use of innovative gadgets and devices. Written homework is becoming a rarity as assignments are now due online via sites such as Canvas and Sakai. In a cause to save the environment, many schools are promoting gogreen campaigns, entailing less use of paper and paper products. From this effort arises the question of whether students should also go entirely paper free. This would require that students purchase their textbooks in an online version rather than buying the textbook in print form. Are textbooks outdated? Are tablets the new textbook? Messiah students answer “no”. Advocates in favor of tablets say that they, “are much lighter than print textbooks, and improve standardized test scores.” Along with this, tablets also have the capability to store multiple different textbooks making it easier and less strenuous for students to carry around with them from class to class. Online textbooks are also less expensive compared to print textbooks. Over time, the purchasing of textbooks puts a dent
in many college students bank accounts as the fees add up. This is certainly a factor to take into consideration when deciding between textbook or tablet. Adversaries of tablets say that they, “are expensive, too distracting for students, easy to break, and costly/time-consuming to fix.” Tablets afford such easy access to the internet and other sources such as games that they allow students to get off task in class. The result could be unfocused classes with poor discussions and lower test scores. Tablets can also be rather costly depending on the make and model, not to mention the cost of repairing one if it were to break. This needs to be compared to the cost of textbooks though, as the overall cost of a tablet and the online textbooks is significantly less. Students also brought to attention that not all textbooks are in online form, causing the difficulty of not being able to go completely paperfree. Therefore, while having access to some textbooks online, they would still be required to purchase and carry textbooks around. Finally, many students enjoy being able to mark and highlight within their textbook, feel-
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ing a better sense of gained knowledge. The deciding factor in the debate between textbooks vs. tablets is the students themselves. After polling Messiah students, it became clear that textbooks are not outdate and are instead the primary choice for many college students. Students prefer the hands-on experi-
Helen’s Helpline Dear Helen,
ence that textbooks in print form allow and are not ready to see the end of textbooks. The tablet vs. textbook controversy will continue as technology progresses. Students are the voice of this issue and as promising as tablets may seem, textbooks won’t be going anywhere until the students find more benefits in tablets than textbooks.
Have a question for Helen? Let us know at thepulse@messiah.edu
Dear Caught-inthe-Clean,
I have an apartment-mate who is very neat. I am not. We don’t usually have a problem with this until he goes ENTIRELY CRAZY. He’ll go into these fits of cleaning where he vacuums every surface in the apartment four times, cleans everything in the common area, making sure every item is stowed away somewhere, even if they aren’t his. There have been a few times that important things I’ve set on an end table overnight have disappeared in one of his fits of cleanliness. I know that he can get annoyed with some of my clutter at times, but this is going beyond reasonability. What should I do?
Having different ideas of “clean” sure can cause problems. Clutter can produce significant irritation for those who prefer tidiness. It sounds as though your roommate tolerates the clutter without complaint for so long and then goes “entirely crazy” as you put it. This may be bothering him more than he’s actually saying.
Sincerely, Caught-in-the-Clean
Sincerely, Helen
I would suggest that you talk to your roommate about the situation. Perhaps he hasn’t been completely honest about how much this bothers him. Also, you need to convey that disappearing items are unacceptable and frustrating to you. Sometimes to keep the peace, roommates don’t verbally express their concerns, but they usually surface in other ways You both will need to compromise. Consider keeping a basket in the living room in which to keep your items, such as books, papers, keys etc. The basket would keep things nice and neat for your roommate and should be off limits to his cleaning sprees. However, if you want him to respect the basket, you must accept that anything outside the basket is fair game for being straightened up.
November 14, 2013
Timeless Love
Opinions 8
The Swinging Bridge
What Do Older Couples Have In Their Relationship That Younger Couples Are Lacking ? By My Nguyen STUDENT WRITER
Y
oung couples often encounter difficulties that they did not previously expect before committing to their relationship. These obstacles can either degrade their love or end the relationship completely. In contrast, old couples seem to less likely face up those challenges because they have spent so much time living with each other. One wonderful elderly couple, Richard and Janice Hughes, shared their insight into the differences between young and old couples. Both Hughes are professors at Messiah College, and have been married each other for fifty years with no great challenges in their marriage. How have they overcome the challenges that so many younger couples must still struggle through? First, young people often have immature priorities in a relationship. Unlike older couples, they fail to take into consideration crucial elements to maintain their relationship. They are often attracted to each other physically rather than mentally or emotionally. Young people idealize their partners and hence, fail to take into account important factors for the sustaining of the relationship. They pay little attention to how to create the kind of bond that results from mutual understanding and desire to learn about each other. Reflecting on this point, Mr. Hughes agreed that one of the factors helping to sustain his marriage is a deep understanding between him and his wife. Though they married when they were rather young, their decision was not a mistake as they had known each other well and felt ready to make a life commitment. Additionally, according to Mr. Hughes, young couples today lack direct communication and common interest in their relationship. They don’t have enough time to talk and share with each other face-to-face rather than commu-
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nicate through technological devices and lack passion or common subjects to enjoy together. This lead to an absence of cohesion, and couples can easily drift apart and break-up. Mr Hughes contrasted this issue in young couples’ relationships to his own situation with his wife. “We are both curious people who like traveling around the world, singing while sitting on the car, reading books and in fact, we are now teaching together at a same class, too.” - he shared. Another factor that handicaps young couples nowadays is the perspective on splitting up or divorce. Mr Hughes addressed the issue of young marriages. In his era it was normal for people to get married while still students, but he finds it concerning today. This is because when he got married to Mrs.
Richard and Janice Hughes
Hughes in the 1960s, divorce was an uncommon term. “Nobody had their parents divorced, divorce just did not exist.” - Mrs. Hughes added. Nonetheless, divorce is increasing annually because young couples today lack good parental models of behavior. Mr. Hughes also expressed his concern about the “divorced but not divorced” situation. That case happens when two people decide to commit a relationship for mutual benefits from each other rather than being motivated by love. Mr. Hughes pointed out that some couples live in the same house but they do not stay with each other, they even have different rooms and different shelves. Their relationship is two signatures on a legal paper instead of stemming of mutual feelings and a connected bond. Personally, I find some young couples usually lack the awareness to aim for firm and stable relationships like most old couples do. They do not aim at a long-time relationship from the start but want to “throw” themselves into experiences. The young tend to be changeable and reckless in their thoughts and actions, whereas, the old aim at a specific destination: the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with. Therefore, old couples often have more lasting and healthy relationships than young couples do.
Photo by Lynda Heller
Mrs. Hughes concluded by sharing her opinion that in order for young couples to better improve their relationships, they must change their perspectives. Being in a romantic relationship
is not just staying with someone, it is knowing someone who grows with you and helps you to become the person that you always dream of being.
//GROW moments are critical for building group cohesion. For example, to the crowd of girls dressed up like anime- character walking around at midnight, I salute you. I don’t know what you were doing, but you were obviously enjoying yourselves. Another common casualty of growing up is a loss of one’s sense of wonder. This may seem impossible to control, but one can make it a discipline to wake up and see the world afresh every morning. Notice the little things, like the colors of the leaves on the ground and the white of the first frost. If new things are noticed with every experience then we can hold on to that sense of surprise that adults so often lose. Therefore, having “been there, done that” before is no excuse to find it boring. Instead, we must look at our increased years as a challenge to look harder for newness. In short, let’s mature, but not get stale. We are still allowed our foolish hopes and carefree adventures. We can still make treasures out of trash, act foolish and have fun. We just need to get over the idea that adulthood requires some sort of uniformity of attitude, attire and behavior. True maturity allows us to discern when its appropriate to “behave” and when we can loosen up and act like children.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
November 14, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
Arts & Entertainment 9
Musica
Nova By Jen Morgan STUDENT WRITER
T
he fall semester Musica Nova concert, sponsored by the Messiah College Music Department, will showcase the talents and hard work of student composers later this month. Musica Nova highlights the accomplishments and achievements of Messiah College’s music composition majors, in addition to general music majors with a composition concentration, those taking composition lessons, and other students who express interest in musical composition. Professor Yurko, M.M., is the faculty
member that organizes and advises the Musica Nova performances. He is the one that gives approval to students in regards to their pieces, and also speaks with non-composition majors who are interested in performing an original piece. The Musica Nova program was originally created by retired professor Dwight Thomas. This fall’s concert will feature approximately 10 students, who have all prepared an original piece for the concert. The styles of music that will be perform range from classic to contemporary. Ethan Eldred, a junior music composition major, will also perform music that was in JB, the theatre department’s most recent production.
Although students are allowed to meet together to practice their music with one another in order to preview what their peers will be completing, the performances always end up being unique and often a bit different than they originally expect from one another. Sophomore music major Addie Gingell attests to this, saying that “it’s always a surprise, since everyone writes so differently. It’s a very eclectic set of music, always.” Gingell also spoke highly of the Musica Nova program in general. “There’s not a lot of recognition for composition majors in particular, so it’s nice to have something for us. This performance also gives me a goal for
my composition lessons, since instead of aimlessly writing something, I know that I’ll be writing the piece with the opportunity to perform it” said Gingell. In addition to student performances, faculty are also welcome to participate in the concert. Gingell noted that previously Dr. Michael Harcrow wrote his own piece for Musica Nova and was able to perform it alongside his students. The concert will take place on Sunday, November 17th at 7pm in Parmer Recital Hall, located in the High Center. All students and staff are encouraged to attend this free performance.
Local Attractions Frozen Yogurt By Danielle Burkett STUDENT WRITER
T
he frozen yogurt industry has seen an increase in popularity recently and like many other people, I am a huge frozen yogurt fan. Luckily for me there are many places around Messiah to enjoy this delicious and low-cost frozen treat. Probably the closest place to get frozen yogurt off campus is the Frosty Llama. Located just up the road in the Dillsburg Shopping Center, the Frosty Llama provides a great place to hang out with friends and eat some delicious yogurt.
Favorites
There are plenty of flavors to choose frommy personal favorite is pomegranate. If there’s a negative, its that is that there are limited toppings to choose from. If you want something to warm you up after eating your yogurt, the Frosty Llama also has a coffee bar. As you eat your frozen yogurt, check out the ipad bar where you can play games, read the news, or visit your favorite social media sites. If you need another reason to visit, they have a rewards punch card. After 10
punches you get a half pound of yogurt free. Oh, and did I mention they offer double punches to Messiah students? Froyos is another great place to visit if you want some delicious yogurt. Located on the Carlisle Pike in a small shopping center, this shop is a great place to eat if you want some unique frozen yogurt flavors. What I love about this shop is that they offer dividers so you can get 2 totally different flavors without cross contamination.
My favorite froyo is a Nutella cupcake flavor one on side of the divider, with peanut butter and chocolate chip toppings on the other side. Another great option is the pomegranate-raspberry flavor with fruit toppings. My only complaint is that there is limited seating. These are only two of the many places in the area you can go to enjoy some frozen yogurt and I encourage you to get off campus and visit them for yourself.
November 14, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
Arts & Entertainment 10
Lost
FRUITVALE STATION Films: & SHORT TERM 12 By Colleen Dente STUDENT WRITER
T
here is a bevy of exceptional young actors currently rising through the ranks of Hollywood together. They are redefining available roles, the depths they reach, and ultimately the kinds of stories being told. Gone are the typical teen coming-of-age stories focused on formula or structure; emerging in their stead are complex, character-driven performances that can only be classified as non-acting.
As audiences become increasingly immune to emotional manipulation, the market for honest rhetoric on screen – depicting the experiences of our peers, not role models – has begotten films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Spectacular Now, and Chronicle. Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller, Dane DeHaan, and Michael B. Jordan (all in their twenties and frequent collaborators with one another) depict the current generation’s pathos so authentically that witnessing their vulnerability on screen is sometimes uncomfortable,
though never gratuitous, and perhaps that’s the point: discomfort is reality, and in reality resides truth. From among this group comes two of the most poignant and affecting films this year: Short Term 12 and Fruitvale Station. Short Term 12, written and directed by Destin Cretton after his experiences working in a foster care facility, follows Grace (Brie Larson) in her daily role as facility supervisor. Grace is not a psychiatrist or psychologist and only has a few years of experience, as does her co-worker and (secret) boyfriend Mason (John Gallagher, Jr.). She is, however, naturally gifted at communicating with the kids in her care: she helps them heal and grow despite struggling herself to open up. She fulfills whatever role the kids need, which, thanks to Larson’s subtle performance, never borders on self-congratulatory. In fact, there is not one bad performance in the whole film (including the kids, who you’d expect to have come from actual foster homes instead of casting calls).
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The secret to this impressive little film is how the story unfolds so organically; there is never a moment where it tries to be impressive, yet it somehow is. Fruitvale Station is also based on a true story, written by first-time director and Frisco native Ryan Coogler. In 2009, BART officers detained Oscar Grant and a group of friends at the Fruitvale stop just hours after the New Year. While allegedly resisting arrest, Grant (who was unarmed) was shot in the back by a rookie officer who claimed to be reaching for a taser. Because the incident occurred in front of a train full of passengers with cell phones, video was uploaded to YouTube and viewed millions of times, sparking both peaceful and violent protests across the nation.
Photo Provided by http://www.impawards.com/2013
The film opens with real footage from this scene but then rewinds to 24 hours prior, from which point we live with Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan) until his death. Grant was not a hero and the film does not make him out to
be one. In reality, he’s not even a very exceptional person (in the sense that most of us are unexceptional). Both Jordan and Coogler convey his humanity with deft, unflinching honesty, however. It is ultimately this honesty that endears him to the audience and allows us to recognize desires inherent in all people: to experience love, to belong to a family, to be touched, to be forgiven, to see justice done. These roles will bring recognition in the upcoming awards season for both Jordan and Larson. They each deserve nominations for their exceptional work. Regardless of outcome, however, if you enjoy seeing good stories and great characters on screen you won’t find better this year than Short Term 12 and Fruitvale Station. Short Term 12 and Fruitvale Station will come to campus as part of SAB Lost Films’ semester series. For more information, visit facebook.com/sablostfilms.
November 14, 2013
Arts & Entertainment 11 The Swinging Bridge
Student Recitals And
Holiday Concerts By Sam Dougherty ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
W
ith the Fall semester finish line in sight, the holiday event season is about to be in full swing. Let’s take a look at some performances and recitals coming up in the next month and a half! For those craving a specific sound, there are multiple ensembles coming up, beginning with the oft-touring wind-ensemble. Directed by Bradley Genevro, these students play both new and classical music, and will be at Parmer Hall on November 22nd. The Brass Studio will play in Parmer three days later on Nov. 25th, in what’s sure to be a fun show. Likewise, the
Percussion Ensemble will perform on Dec. 10th, and the Guitar Ensemble will be featured in Recital Hall on Dec. 14th. We can look forward to some holiday tunes in these upcoming ensembles, which are all free to attend. For a more up close audience experience, Recital Hall will be hosting student recitals throughout November. Coming up on the 17th are two separate performances. Abigail Feder with a violin recital and Mary Grace Friedell with a horn recital. A little farther down the road on the 23rd, Elise Bordner will perform a piano recital and Shannon Speen will hold a voice recital. The final student recital will be on December 6th, with Tetyana Pyatovolenko playing the cello. A seasonal highlight is the annual Christmas Concert, which will bring together the different sections of the
music department for one fantastic event. The show will be presented twice on Dec. 8th; Once at the St. Lawrence Chapel in Harrisburg, and later at Parmer Hall, where tickets will be required. As with other listed concerts, the seating will be general admission. Past Christmas Concerts have been large in scale, and you can expect to hear music from groups like the women’s ensemble, men’s ensemble, and the Handbell Choir. Overall, this fun Christmas music should make for an entertaining evening. Next, we have the lively school choir, United Voices of Praise, in what will be a very festive performance. Lead by Dr. Dwight Thomas, United Voices of Praise are known for the diversity of styles they bring to traditional songs of praise, and that will likely be the case
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here with the abundance of Christmas themed tunes at their disposal. The choir will close out their year on December 15th at 3pm in Parmer Hall. One hour later comes the final performance of the semester, with One College Ave putting together a Christmas show at the Recital Hall. One College Ave is a vocal ensemble directed by Elaine Henderson, that sings and performs with a wide range of styles and source material from jazz classics to acapella pop arrangements. All in all, the end of the semester will be jam-packed with good music to enjoy before Christmas. For more information on any of these concerts or recitals, check out campus events (messiah.edu/campus events) and head to the ticket office to grab some seats for the Christmas Concert.
November 14, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
Arts & Entertainment 12
The Minnemingo Review By Megan LaTorre STUDENT WRITER
As Selections Ensue
E
of this current semester. This group of dames amiably refers to themselves as either “the Editors” or “the Ethels.”
Students who wish to publish works they have written or created may do so in this open submission. Submissions are not limited to creative work, but can be academic papers or nontraditional creative pieces as well.
All of the editors have submitted their own work for consideration for publication in The Minnemingo Review. They have attested to some of their favorite personal submissions, including an “Oxfordified” parody of a Mackelmore ditty, a collection of poems about cityscapes and train stations, and a photograph featuring the word “HELP” etched into a Welsh door pane.
very semester, Messiah College Press produces the literary journal The Minnemingo Review, which features poetry, prose, and other artwork by current students and alumni.
Unlike other submissions, The Minnemingo Review encourages submissions by all students from all majors. Submitters can send in poetry, prose, photographs, and pictures of personal artwork – all within that semester’s chosen theme. Themes are chosen at the beginning of the semester and announced by the editors. This semester’s overarching theme is “wit”. The editors of this semester’s review are: Carrie Bisciotti, Kaylee Schofield, Heather Burdsall, Ali Mosley, and Rachel Bauman. Bisciotti and Schofield have been editors since spring 2012, Burdsall has been an editor since spring 2013, while Mosley and Bauman have been involved since the start
Apporximately two-thirds of the way though, the editors hold a review session where anyone is welcome to attend and contribute insight. The selection process is aimed to be as objective, constructive, and positive as possible. This semester’s review sessions took place on November 1st and 2nd. Authors, photographers, and artists whose pieces are selected in The Minnemingo Review will, upon going to the release party for the unveiling of this semester’s selections, receive a free copy of the current issue where their piece is featured. For all other submitters, the staff sends emails with
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feedback on the pieces for those who were not chosen for the current issue. Currently, authors, photographers, and artists alike eagerly await the results of this semester’s selection for The Minnemingo Review. Both the release and the release party are scheduled to occur during the first few weeks of December.
The Minnemingo Review will be for sale at the Campus Store following the release party. If you wish to learn more about Minnemingo or are interested in getting involved, direct your questions to minnemingo@messiah.edu.
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November 14, 2013
The Swinging Bridge
Sports 13
Welcoming New Falcons To
Messiah Men’s Wrestling Team By John Moulton STUDENT WRITER
A
fter finishing 13th in the nation and having two wrestlers earn AllAmerican honors last year, the men’s wrestling team welcomes ten incoming freshman. The team has nine out of last year’s ten starters returning for the season. The incoming class brings in a lot of talent that not only will add depth to the team, but we also challenge some of the starters as well. The ten wrestlers all have one thing in common, they look to build on the success they had in high school. Each wrestler finished their careers with a winning record and many qualified for districts or state championship from the state they are from. Lucas Malmberg is a two-time state champion in the 125 weight class and accumulated 129 wins compared to 12 loses in high school. Malmberg came to Messiah not only to compete competitively but also to serve God through mission trips. “I felt the calling to be an overseas missionary about a year ago and Messiah was the school I felt could best cater that desire and calling.” Larry Cannon was the Maryland state champion his senior year and qualified for states all four years of his high school career in the 157 weight class. When he graduated, he had 136 wins. Cannon follows in the footsteps of his brother Stephen Cannon who is one of the team captains this year. Before deciding to come to Messiah, Larry Cannon was originally committed to wrestle at the University of Notre Dame. Cannon says, “Originally I committed to Notre Dame but after being there and seeing the partying and lifestyle they lived, I knew God didn’t want me there.” Larry Cannon
Photo Provided by gomessiah.edu
Marshal Myers is also in the 125 weight class and reached the Pennsylvania sectional tournament three years straight. Will Korzeniewski qualified for the Maryland state tournament each of the past three years and will provide depth in the 141 weight class for the Falcons. Jacob Younger wrestles in the 149 weight class and with the experience of college practices, Coach Bryan Brunk believes the team “can see big things from him. Jon Kroon comes to the team after a year of not wrestling his first year at Messiah. Kroon battled with injuries both last year and his senior year of high school. However both Kroon and Coach Brunk are excited to see what can happen now that he is healthy. Josh Toal is a three-time regional qualifier in the state of Virginia and wrestles in the 157 weight class. During his senior year campaign, Toal barely missed qualifying for the state tournament. Tyler Miller is a two-time District 3AAA qualifier from Spring Grove, Pennsylvania. He will battle for the mid weight classes at 157. Tyler Hershey is a versatile wrestler that can wrestle at two different weight classes; 165 and 174. Hershey qualified for the Pennsylvania district tournament all four years. Nick Havener comes from a strong division 2 school from Ohio and competes in the 197 weight class. In his senior year, Havener finished eighth at the Ohio state championship.
Photo Provided by gomessiah.edu
But as much individual and team goals are important, the most important thing
is growing in faith in God while using the gift of wrestling from God to do so. Cannon says “Everyone loves God and loves each other. They have be-
come my family.” Malmberg also reiterates this by saying “The amount of team unity and love that we show for one another on a daily basis, I feel promote the Christian life best.”
November 14, 2013 The Swinging Bridge
Sports 14
Swim To Get Slim An Often Overlooked Feature Of Messiah’s Fitness Center May Be Just Right For Your Workout Needs also your arms, chest, back and more. This use of complex muscle groups allows you to burn calories quickly and tone much more of your body than you would through running alone. Additionally, since many swimming styles require you to have your head submerged at least some of the time, you are forced to hold your breath and take manual control of your breathing. A study by doctors, at the Royal Prince Albert Hospital in Australia, has shown that swimming can increase your lung capacity and function even more than other forms of exercise like running.
Photo by Paul Ney
By Dan Row EDITOR-IN-CHEIF
U
nless you’re a full-time athlete, staying in shape as a college student can be tricky. I’m sure we’ve all heard the reasons behind this. As we begin to reach adulthood, our metabolisms slow down. In college we’re faced with more stress than before, we get less sleep, we eat poorly, and it’s not hard to pack on a few pounds. If you’re like me, you prefer working up a sweat running to the union for more fries than in the gym. I have never been able to
Hall
of
get really excited about running for tedious hours on a treadmill or around the monotonous track at the fitness center. I enjoy running outdoors, but with the weather getting colder every day, that option is quickly disappearing. So what is a college student to do? My suggestion: go for a swim. Here at Messiah, we have an excellent swimming facility that is just a short walk across campus in the Eisenhower Sports Center. Many of us walk by it every day, but few of us take advantage of the Fredrickson Natatorium. According to Messiah’s official athletics website, GoMessiah.com, “The Messiah Col-
lege swimming pool [. . . ] is open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni for exercise and recreation. In addition to the pool, a diving well allows for athlete rehabilitation and team workouts.” But why is swimming a better way to work out? For starters, swimming is a great fullbody workout. When running, the main focus of motion is in your legs and minimally in a few other areas of the body. However, when you swim, you’re forced to use a plethora of muscle groups. When doing the basic front crawl, you work not only your legs, but
Additionally, swimming can be the perfect workout for those dealing with injuries who want to stay in shape. Michael Huerter is a senior here at Messiah who has always been an active person. “I really enjoy running and working out,” he says, “earlier this year I even ran a halfmarathon.” However, when he began to develop some joint pain, running was no longer an option. “Swimming is a really great option;” says Huerter, “it helps you stay in shape but is easy on your knees and ankles. Plus it’s a lot of fun!” Unlike running which can get a bit monotonous, in my opinion, swimming provides a variety of styles to keep workouts interesting. As I’ve begun my own foray into the aquatic activity, I’ve begun to experiment with a CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 //SWIM
Honor
Messiah Welcomes 2014 Hall of Honor Inductees By Ashlyn Miller SPORTS EDITOR If you’ve ever walked through Sollenberger Sports Center on your way to check mail or go to the campus store, chances are that you have passed by the Messiah College Athletics Hall of Honor. Established in 1995, the Hall of Honor “recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in athletics while representing the Falcons,” according to its official description on gomessiah.com.
On Oct. 19, the 2014 induction class was announced, featuring Jessica (Regan) Cotton (’99) and Hayden Woodworth (’03), student-athletes for Messiah; Jan Trapp, former Messiah field hockey coach; and Sam Lenhart, a personnel member. Cotton, a three-time All-American and four-time All-Conference pitcher for the Falcons during the years they won the
NCAA Division III World Series (1998, 1999), currently is first all-time for Messiah softball in wins, innings pitched, appearances, and games started. Woodworth was a key member of member of the Messiah mens’ soccer team that won the program’s first Division III Championship in 2000, winning Commonwealth Player of the Year that same season. The midfielder was also the first player from Messiah to win National Player of the Year honors.
Trapp had a remarkable run as the coach of the field hockey team, compiling over 500 career wins with a record of 535-179-28 until her retirement in 2011. Not only does that record put her first all-time in victories for NCAA Division III field hockey, but it places her third all-time across all NCAA divisions, including Division I coaches.
Lenhart’s career at Messiah spanned 45 years working in a variety of ways
Photo Provided by gomessiah.edu to serve Falcon athletics. He worked as scorekeeper and bookkeeper for several teams and was affectionately known as a “number one fan of Messiah Athletics.” He will be the first staff or personnel member inducted into the Hall of Honor.
In order to be inducted, former student-athletes, coaches, and staff or personnel members must fulfill strict eligibility requirements. There is a general ‘rule of 10’ meaning that studentathlete nominees must be at least 10 years removed from graduation, and coaches and staff must have served for at least 10 years at the college.
After nomination, the selection committee evaluates each candidate based on “athletic ability and accomplishments, awards and recognitions, sportsmanship, Christian service, and outstanding contributions to Messiah Athletics,” according to a press release provided by Steve King, Assistant Athletics Director for Public Relations and Marketing. The official induction ceremony will take place at Messiah on Jan. 10, 2014, followed by another ceremony at West Shore Country Club in Camp Hill, Pa. Tickets for the 2014 Induction ceremony can be reserved online at gomessiah. com under the ‘Hall of Honors’ page.
November 14, 2013
Sports 15 The Swinging Bridge
Player Profile:
//SWIM myriad of swimming styles. I started off simple, with a basic front crawl, eventually trying more interesting techniques like the breaststroke or the butterfly. The backstroke or the sidestroke can provide a relaxing experience for a lighter workout, while doing front crawls can really burn the calories. Now, there are a few things to remember before you dive right in. First, bring a water bottle with you when swimming. It may seem silly, considering you are surrounded by water, but it is easy to dehydrate while swimming. You still sweat while in the pool, but since the water helps mask the perspiration and keeps you cool at the same time, you don’t always realize how much water you could be losing. I learned this the hard way. After my first few swims, I was getting terrible headaches and couldn’t figure out why. When I consulted more experienced swimmers, they suggested I drink more water during and after my workout to prevent these painful repercussions. I haven’t had the issue since. Another thing to note is the weather outside. Though the pool is indoors, it is unwise to walk around outside in your swimwear. It may go without saying, but be sure to bring a change of clothes and plenty of layers to protect you from the chill as you head to and from the fitness center. The Fredrickson Natatorium is open seven days a week almost every week with regular pool hours most mornings and evenings. For more information on open pool hours, be sure to check the GoMessiah webpage.
Zach Hoy By Micheal Brookhart SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
F
or Junior Guard, Zac Hoy, this time of year only means one thing: basketball season is on its way. This could not come as better news to Hoy, who has played and loved the game all of his life. During the season, you can find Zac running down loose balls, delivering precise passes to teammates, playing tough defense, hitting clutch shots, and much more.
excited to see how our guys
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will compete and handle the
challenges ahead.
His parents passed down this admiration to Zac. In fact, his father was his coach all the way through high school.
In his high school career, Hoy has been a part of District championship teams in addition to accumulating individual accolades. On his way to scoring 1,399 career points in high school, Hoy achieved the honor of First Team AllConference his junior and senior seasons. He was awarded with the honor of Conference Player of the Year his senior year. Fortunately for the Falcons, his success on the court has translated to more success on the college court. Playing collegiate ball was not the only thing that brought Hoy to Grantham, PA. He fell in love with the college atmosphere in addition to the Sport Management major. Hoy’s love for sports is epitomized by his heart and hustle seen on the court. It is a treat to see players like him play in comparison to the greed and lethargy that is sometimes seen by NBA players on the highlight reel. Hoy is looking forward to facing a very strong and deep MAC conference this season. “There are a lot of talented teams from top to bottom in our league,” Hoy explains, “I am excited to see how our guys will compete and handle the challenges.” Despite the adversity, the team’s biggest goal is to win the Commonwealth
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Championship. After that they would love to make the “big dance”, the NCAA tournament. The team has accomplished this feat just two years ago. In addition to that achievement, Hoy’s favorite part of the team is the way everyone gets along. “Our team has a lot of different backgrounds, but we all get along and enjoy spending time with each other and developing great relationships together.” This team’s camaraderie tooled with twelve returning players could make their goal not too far out of reach. Be sure to come out to Brubaker Auditorium this season to watch Hoy and the team take steps in achieving their mission.
November 14, 2013
Sports 16 The Swinging Bridge
Player Profile:
Jessica Visneski
By Micheal Brookhart SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER lot of people start playing a specific sport for different reasons. Maybe the reason is that their parents played the sport or maybe it is that someone has participated in the sport for all of their life. These reasons do not apply to senior Cross Country fanatic Jessica Visneski. For Jessica, her competitive running career started with a deal in the 10th grade. If her friend ran Cross Country, she would too. Good thing that deal was made as Jessica has been a consistent performer for the Messiah Women’s Cross Country team. She has been a First Team All-
I am
pretty much to
guaranteed leave practice with a smile MAC performer in both her junior and senior seasons. A few weeks ago she finished 10th out of 150 competitor field, leading the squad to a 4th place finish at the MAC Cross Country Championships. The small Christian school aspect along with the Nutrition and Dietetics Program brought Jessica to Messiah from Lancaster, PA. She loves the chemistry and relationship she has with her teammates as she says, “My teammates are
Designers Justine Robillard Michelle Kim Quan Nguyen
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genuine, funny, loving, quirky and hardworking individuals that are always fun to be around. I love that no matter what kind of day I’ve had or how difficult practice was, I am pretty much guaranteed to leave practice with a smile because of my teammates and coaches.” Her personal career highlight reel features much more than races. She loves the experiences she shares with her teammates. Examples of these adventures include traditions such as camp week, family tailgates, Halloween parties, and post-meet trips to Cracker Barrel. Jessica has much planned after the season is over. She hopes to continue running and compete in some road races in addition to doing some cross training. With her final semester approaching Jessica states that she “wants to do as much as I can on campus and just enjoy spending time with friends. After graduation, I hope to become a Registered Dietitian and work in Nutrition Counseling.” Jessica Visneski gained much more than a sport by accepting the deal with her friend six years ago. She acquired a hobby for a lifetime and memories to go with it.
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SWINGING BRIDGE
A
THE
MESSIAH COLLEGE//THE PULSE
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