The Swinging Bridge: Nov 2, 2012

VOL. 93//ED.4//NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Hurricane Sandy swells the banks of the Yellow Breeches, making the area unsafe for students.

By Sarah Brookhart

Hurricane Sandy Makes Her Mark

By Sarah Fleischman, Stephanie Wilson, and Shannon Cochran

N

ot only did Hurricane Sandy wreak havoc on the shores of many students’ favorite vacationing spots in New Jersey and New York, but the historic storm also disrupted daily life at Messiah College. No significant damage on campus resulted from the storm, but the Huffington Post estimates that Hurricane Sandy caused $50 billion dollars in economic loss.

Students came up with creative ways to spend their unexpected four day weekend. Senior Cynthia Lucas baked homemade pizza, muffin tops and other goodies and did homework both days.

“Overall, I felt like it gave me a nice

FRIDAY, OCT. 26

SUNDAY, OCT. 28

break from school and was kind of exciting at first but when I started hearing more about the destruction it caused I realized how huge it really was and how terrible the after effects were,” she said.

Junior Alexa Hoffman was at her house in Elizabethtown when the storm hit. “I stayed inside and the winds were really loud on Monday night. Tuesday morning, we saw that my neighbor’s tree had fallen on top of their car,” she said.

About 17% of the first year class is from the states most harshly hit by the storm.

Junior Jasmin Barnwell said, “I was happy we had break, but I was really concerned with my family because they live in all the states that were heavily hit.

My sister being 45 minutes away from the Jersey shore.”

tions said that faculty slept in their offices in order to be available in case of an emergency and and crisis communication team started working early Sunday afternoon to make plans for the incoming storm.

Faculty and staff worked hard to serve students in spite of the circumstances, even serving several meals in Lottie when the power was out. Beth Lorow, the Assistant Director of Public Rela-

President Kim Phipps wrote in a mass email on Wednesday, “A hallmark of the Messiah community has always been the way that we work together and care for one another in difficult times—and that has certainly been exhibited in the events of the past several days.”

is th d s e e t n on ar den tp ’s s w u o am ool s is st p i e t l h y o y t c e it n ia ity . ns aff s es y. nt un Ma un torm o d e i a t p m . d m c s s d n. si m es m gs de Fri re nd . re ow co tag ff. s e co din i a s o d n h n o on ul n t ris ty, iah ou no ock sia e ss er day e c cul t no ll e P atio l e es imp h h w A a a . er on . M po . T blic . T ts, f ay . M of .m are m ent oth d m m m ed . u . . n a . s p n p sp p de ue p ifi s 0 an :0 ing 17 mi for 52 ion’ 03 stu g T 50 not : 2 : : : 1 d 1 1 7 2 st im e il in it lls of usad bu ed te sum fir cr re MONDAY, OCT. 29

All are encouraged to visit www.redcross.org/charitable-donations to contribute to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. Don’t forget to think of and pray for those whose lives have been changed, complicated, damaged or lost as a result of this historic storm.

TUESDAY, OCT. 30

8: Al 4: 4: Ap 5: 1 5 1 23 fel 3 p th l da to 5 p pr lau 9 p a u e a n o t y c M . . am .m. til .m re on m. en da th nch m.

St m ill xim ce r f t . ro u H pu Po o c u M k e e R C d of ive am ur r rth la ug d t th st n oa ate e w s. ca tain and ent s e ho o p ssia d e l Ba er a t pu rica o s y r n es bi in Re n- po ed fin s ex is ut 2 ro h’s ex s. S ne c n t k r c o : ar er re th vid e tt on es we 00 fev . M d i pe t t t i S e e o sto u c i ec ha r m st a c d e. ca er ost nte rien t h r t s den ndy ho ilia ent line a.m om e stu erg n . e r b c e c ch ts, gr ed us tio ial . P . A eg sti e L ’s ell in de enc i o n r e in nd n ed g s nt o ol ma ain s. an bui owe tree The Pulse would like to to g w ttie ! to s a y blo ny is ld d r a a r f f n c n i i g e a m So ng o g( y a n l d thank the college’s crisis e d l o s t . lt se ten w fac m cia s, es ls o he to s d o d in l J as ou n ul ess response team, Residence d i eff tay t n ty n i us we M g c beg ec wi ah9 tic ll in Life, Dining Services, and o o ts i 1 th e s as nd ffe ns 1.w u pe ay eh to everyone else who kept pd or cia ou be . at dp se the Messiah community l ed re , in ss. safe and informed during fo rm com Hurricane Sandy. at ) is io n

November 2, 2012

The Swinging Bridge

News 2

More Flexible Meal Plan Proposed

Messiah College’s meal plan may see dramatic changes in the future

By Sarah Fleischman PULSE STUDENT DIRECTOR

A

new meal plan proposal is awaiting approval by the President’s cabinet, which is meant to offer more flexibility to students.

son costs $13.25. Wirtz said you can’t justify a bagel and a glass of orange juice for such a high price.

The proposed plan would cost the same amount as meal plans on the current system and would not be offered until the fall 2013 semester.

The plan awaiting approval would give students a declining balance of $887.50 to spend at the Union Café, The Falcon and Lottie Nelson with the option to add more to this balance. Students with this meal plan would receive a 40% discount on all items purchased. This is because an operations charge is built into the meal plan to pay for labor, equipment and other fees. This gives better financial security for Dining Services.

”What really generated my thoughts on evaluating the meal plan process was that meal plan costs have risen steadily for the past 20 to 25 years,” said Wirtz.

As a result of feedback from students in Student Forum, Wirtz increased the amount of the declining balance about $150 to its current $887.50.

Currently, if a student has a 75 meal plan, each swipe into Lottie Nel-

All students living in traditional housing would be assigned this proposed meal

Mark vices, what they much

Wirtz, director of Dining Sersaid, “Students can control they would like to eat, when would like to eat and how they would like to spend.”

By Sarah Brookhart plan if it is approved. Commuters and students living in apartments can also get the meal plan or choose to put money on their falcon dollars account (purchasing meals or items with falcon dollars would not grant the 40% discount).

This would be the only meal plan offered, and flex dollars will not be necessary.

If students do not use all of their declining balance, it can be rolled over to the next semester, or they can choose to have the money credited to their Messiah College account.

J-Term: Should It Stay or Should It Go? Messiah College debates possible changes to J-Term

By Megan Bloom STUDENT WRITER

T

hat time of year is here once again: Spring Term registration. Along with signing up for major specific and general education courses, there is something special that second semester offers, which is January Term (J-Term).

J-Term originally started in the early 70s with the purpose to “to provide creative innovation by students and faculty in the development, the offering of new courses and to encourage a greater variety of teaching and learning techniques,” states the J-Term Executive Summary provided by Messiah College Provost, Dr. Randy Basinger.

The three week term offers many classes that cannot be taken during the regular Fall and Spring semesters like Skiing and Snowboarding, Animal Form and Function, and cross-cultural courses in countries like Ecuador and Ghana.

Basinger and the Commute of Educators review the academic calendar every two years, and this year they are looking over pros and cons of keeping J-Term versus other options for the Spring semester.

“I noticed some trends and statistics about the number of students not taking January term and the increase of students taking credits in Spring term.

That was never the intention of the Spring calendar,” says the Provost.

The J-Term/Spring Term Calendar Self-Study, also provided by Dr. Basinger, says that in 2011 there were 591 students out of 2,665 (total students) that did not participate in a J-Term class. That is almost a 300 student difference from 2001 when 350 students did not take a course out of 2,752.

“A lot of students see J-Term as optional, [but] it was never seen [from an administration view] as optional,” said Basinger. “If you think about it, it's really second semester. So we expect students to be enrolled in second semester which means, at Messiah, January Term and Spring Term.”

With many students being unclear about J-Term being a part of second semester and not a stand-alone term, this then leaves the Provost and the Commune of Educators to rethink the approach of the Spring semester.

In the J-Term Executive Summary, there are a five options that have been thought up as possible resolutions to the J-term identity crisis: 1.

Keep the calendar the way it is 2.

Make J-Term a separate/freestanding term and make Spring Term a full 15-week semester 3.

Revise J-Term's purpose closer to the original purpose and make Spring a 15-week semester 4.

Drop the 3-week J-Term and create a freestanding 2 week Winter Term 5.

Get rid of J-Term completely and create a full second semester

Basinger is currently trying to see J-Term through the eyes of the students. He is curious about how they view J-Term and if they have a positive or negative opinion about it.

Junior social work major, Katie Schrimp said, “My freshman year I didn't take J-Term, because I didn't really know too much about it … so I didn't know how it would be beneficial to me.”

She took J-Term last year and liked it because it lightened her work load for the Spring Term.

Sophomore criminal justice major Laurie Ruby said, “I love J-Term because it gives you the education that you need without bogging you down with other classes. And you get to sleep and hang out with your friends too.”

Ruby doesn't want to see J-Term disappear because of the cross-cultural courses that are offered during that time.

“If they get rid of J-Term, students will have to take them during May which would delay summer work and internships.”

Nothing is finalized about changing the Spring Term calendar, but there is certainly a possibility that second semester will look different in years to come.

Provided by morgueFile

November 2, 2012

The Swinging Bridge

News 3

RECRUITMENT OVERSEAS II How and where does Messiah increase international student enrollment in spite of heavy competition?

Alumnus Wee Lee Sim (left top, currently pursuing a MBA at Cambridge) assists Cindy Domingo (left bottom) at the Kuala Lumpur Education Fair.

By Nicholas Tay FEATURES EDITOR

W

ith diversity and globalization major buzzwords on campuses these days, colleges place an emphasis on recruiting students from aorund the world.

Messiah College is no exception.

However, Messiah has an obvious disadvantage: it is comparatively small to the Ivy League and land-grant universities. How then does Messiah manage to attract international students?

A key part to Messiah’s overseas recruitment is Assistant Director of Admissions for International Student Recruitment, Cindy (Blount) Domingo.

Her job mainly encompasses followup with prospective students, overseeing international applications, making decisions about financial aid packages, and guiding internationals through the immigration and visa processes. As Domingo puts it plainly, “I work with international students from the point of inquiry to the point where they end up on campus.”

While Domingo does administrative work pertaining to international students for a good portion of the year, her job also requires overseas recruit-

ment. She typically travels three to six weeks in a year, and in the busiest years, Domingo does three separate tours of different continental regions.

Domingo notes the “recruiting piece is the part of my job that sounds most exotic and which most people want to do. But when I look at the travel schedule, I’m in nine cities and seven different countries in 20 days.”

Domingo describes the hectic life of an international recruiter. “Typically on the Southeast Asia tour, we only have one free day off on the 20 day tour. I typically fly 14 to 17 times in this time period, and I do 20 to 30 high school visits along with six to eight college fairs. In addition, I also connect with alumni and parents of students and so there isn’t much free time.”

Domingo notes Messiah focuses on recruiting in certain regions more than others. “Southeast Asia has been a primary territory and we always go to the Bahamas as well.

We’ve also alternated between Europe, Latin America, and Africa.”

Recruiting in a specific region requires huge commitment from both the recruiter and the college. As a result, Domingo typically plans trips to regions with higher student-per-region yield.

The American Education Opportunities (AEO) Fair, an education tour of South-

By Cindy Blount

east Asia, is one which complements Messiah’s recruiting strategies as it offers access to students in the region with less competition for prospective students.

sistently over three to five years. For us, it has been Southeast Asia and the Bahamas. But we’ve definitely seen yield from recruiting in Africa as well.”

“What I love about the AEO tour is that they allow 20 schools on and no more than two schools from the same state so everyone gets a good return from the fairs whereas IIE (International Institute of Education) fairs in the same region typically have over 100 schools represented. You’re not going to get a great yield from these large fairs but if you’re at a fair with only 20 other schools, you’re going to get a much greater yield.”

Yet, Domingo underscores the importance of alumni to student interest. “I always hope that the students who come to Messiah have a great experience and that their unique needs are understood and cared for by our community because they’re going to be our best recruiters.”

Another tour yielding students is the Council of International Schools (CIS) African tour. Domingo notes the misconceptions about poverty in Africa mask the demand for overseas higher education in Africa.

“I travelled with schools like Columbia and Northeastern, among other prestigious schools, and here we are, a little Christian school, on this CIS tour. We went to the top schools in nine different countries. There are diplomatic kids there. There are embassy kids there.

There are very wealthy nationals at these schools who want to go abroad.”

Domingo emphasizes the necessity of prioritizing certain regions over others. “You get the most students from where you spend the most time con-

The achievements of international alumni also play a significant role in attracting potential students interested in graduate studies.

“Students want to hear what alumni are doing. When they hear of Kay See Tan, who got a full ride to do her PhD at UPenn, and Jonathan Lorgunpai, who went to Yale Medical School, potential students recognize that by coming to Messiah, they will be able to get into a big school for graduate studies.”

While recruitment might not always yield the desired quota, Domingo stresses the importance of laying the groundwork in regions of interest.

“For those of us who do these recruiting tours, we often say that in 15 years we’re going to see the fruits of our work. When we visit our alumni then, they will be making a difference in their home countries.”

November 2, 2012

The Swinging Bridge

Opinions 4

Does the Action of Some Define All? An

I

By Susan Ryder STUDENT WRITER

t was disheartening to learn from the Oct. 17 article in the Swinging Bridge about the mistreatment of Rimsha Masih, a disabled Pakistani girl, for allegedly burning sacred Muslim writings. It is difficult to wrap one’s mind around such injustice. This type of offense needs to be decried.

However, I respectfully disagree with the writer’s premise that the entire religion of Islam, which was termed “a religion of fear“ in the article, was responsible for the ill treatment of this young girl. While there are Muslims who take advantage of Islam to enforce their platform of fear and abuse, they should not be considered representatives of Islam as a whole.

Likewise, I would hope that all Christianity would not be held accountable for injustice and violence committed by a segment. As the article suggested, we as Americans do experience a level of justice that many in the world do not.

However, we must recall this within the context of our checkered past and notso-perfect present.

According to Robert Putnam and David Campbell’s “American Grace: How Religion Unites and Divides Us,” 73 percent of Americans were members of a church or synagogue as of 1937, an encouraging figure. During that time, however, an entire race was denied of basic civil rights and access to the same justice as whites.

This same source describes how after WWII, there was a significant resurgence in religiosity in America. However, even as the country became more religious, the plight of blacks during that time didn’t change. In addition, this Christian nation even stripped Japanese-Americans in the West Coast of their property and forced them to live in internment camps. If we hold Islam responsible for the bad things that some Muslims do, should we also hold Christianity as a whole accountable for the bad things that some Christians do?

While the same barefaced racism is not as prevalent in 2012, studies show that minorities in the United States are still at an economic disadvantage. Even as this continues to be a predominantly

Christian country, racism still exists.

Some may argue that the situation is “better” than it was in the past, and that is true. However, to those on the receiving end of racism, that is of little comfort.

Additionally, the International Center for Prison Studies states that United States has the largest number of its population imprisoned, with nearly 3 million currently incarcerated. Secondplace China has just 1.6 million. We also have the highest rate of incarceration in the world with nearly 750 people in prison per 100,000. I hope that non-Christians will not use these statistics to evaluate world-wide Christianity. If they do, they will surmise that because America is a mostly Christian nation, Christianity is a violent and scary religion filled with lawbreaking participants.

The Theology class I’m taking reminds me to be humble in my beliefs. Lest we become arrogant and unable to see our own flaws and wrongdoings, thereby giving unjust permission to broadly judge entire groups on the action of some.

Outsider’s Perspective

“God has a plan for me.”

D

By Huy Nguyen OPINIONS EDITOR

uring my three years so far here at Messiah College, I have either heard or personally engaged in various conversations pertaining to this phrase or something along the lines. Most of you who are reading this, as students and faculty members of a Christian institution, probably have as well.

You hear the phrase everywhere, from a student trying to keep his/her composure following a disappointing test result to another who recently decides to drop his/her major. “God has a plan for me” becomes a cliché.

This is not to say the phrase is not true, though. Jeremiah 29:11 says: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” At least from a biblical standpoint, God does have a plan for you.

But aren’t you the one who ultimately carry out that plan? Isn’t it your job to make God’s will come to fruition? Isn’t it your responsibility to take the necessary action to get to where God wants you to be, for your own benefit?

of the

Clash Titans C

By Jeremy Jensen STUDENT WRITER

overage by media outlets suggests that this has been an election fraught with indecision. In fact, analysts went as far as saying the undecided voter would decide this election. In an effort to bring that undecided voter to their side, both major candidates, President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney, for a series of events that could change the election: the presidential debates.

There were a total of three presidential debates, each of them centered around a prominent issue.

In Denver, Colorado on Oct. 3, the first debate focused primarily on the economy. Candidates presented their stances on domestic issues and their plan to fix the economy.

President Obama appeared reserved and passive throughout the whole de-

Provided by jakarta.usembassy.gov

A recap of the debates

bate, rarely making any decisive points against Governor Romney. Romney, meanwhile, stuck to his gameplan as he presented his plan to cut funding to unnecessary government funded programs and close economic loopholes to bring jobs back to America, as well as expressing his belief in the American people.

Romney was declared the winner by almost every media outlets, mostly due to a poor showing by the President. The first debate helped Romney gain a few valuable points among voters while asserting himself as a viable candidate and real challenger to Obama.

On Oct. 16 in Hempstead, New York, the two candidates faced off in a town-hall style debate with an audience of undecided voters asking questions about the candidates’ domestic and foreign policies. The topics ranged from education to the economy and everything in between.

Obama delivered with a much stronger performance in this debate. He was matched by Romney, who rode the momentum from the previous debate and went blow for blow with the President on each issue. Romney also showed the ability to interact with voters on a personal level, something many were questioning him leading up to the debate.

Romney, however, made a few mistakes that ended up costing him the debate.

During the debate, Romney accused Obama of failing to call the attacks in Benghazi “acts of terror” until two weeks after the fact. However, President Obama did use the phrase “acts of terror” in his speech the day after. That being said, Obama’s administration did not officially recognize the attack as an “act of terror” until 14 days after the attack, as the Governor pointed out.

Romney also missed the mark on cer//see CLASH on page 5

Hypothetically, let’s say if God’s plan for you is an A on the upcoming exam. You, however, choose not to study and enjoy a movie night with your friends instead.

Unsurprisingly, you fail the exam. You then say to yourself: “God has a plan for me.” You feel a lot better because you know you always have God by your side, which means there’s always a plan set up for you, no matter what.

That’s really neat, isn’t it? Except you did not do God’s original plan any justice. You chose not to follow His plan.

You may question how am I so sure that getting an A on that exam was indeed God’s plan. Well, how are you so sure that it was not?

You may also argue God’s plan was for you to fail the exam. But if He “plans to prosper and not to harm you,” planning you to fail an exam doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

Now, if an unfortunate event happens to you unexpectedly, “God has a plan for me” becomes a wonderful remedy.

Since you rightfully have no control over the situation, it’s logical for you to deduce it a divine plan. However, when you do have total control of the situation, i.e. the ability to study for the exam, responsibility lies with you. You don’t study, you fail the exam, it’s your fault. There’s no sugarcoating it.

It’s always easy to cast the blame off your shoulder and feel better about yourself, but this blame-everyone-else approach comes at the steep price of //see OUTSIDER on page 5

November 2, 2012

The Swinging Bridge //OUTSIDER overlooking responsibility for your own action. “God has a plan for me” doesn’t necessarily mean blaming God for your incompetence, but it carries the connotation of dodging, an unwillingness to place the failure on yourself when you clearly have no one else to blame.

“God has a plan for me” can be a reassuring morale booster, not a go-to excuse.

Opinions 5

Benefits Worth the Risks?

Just some random thoughts from someone who does not share the universal faith of Messiah College, and thus has no right to use this cliché. The author has no intention of spurring a theological debate. //CLASH tain issues regarding women. First, he claimed that companies should not be responsible for providing contraception to women, which contradicted his stance on the Blunt Amendment, a birth control exemption bill.

Also, Romney referred to a well-organized amount of resumes as “binders of women.” Poor word choice by Romney, although his intention was not at all detrimental.

Due to the Governor’s occasional gaffes, the second debate went to President Obama. The President decided to wake up and go on the attack in this debate.

He made good points, stood up for his record, and deflected Governor Romney’s checkmate moment with his calling of the transcript.

The third debate commenced in Florida on Oct. 22, with the focus shifted to important issues regarding foreign policies. The candidates discussed strategies to deal with Syria, the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the relationship with Israel.

Obama and Romney actually agreed on most of the topics. They essentially agreed on every aspect of the Syria situation. On the issue of the withdrawal date for Iraq, Romney said he wanted the troops to be fully withdrawn by 2014, and Obama agreed. Romney said his plan regarding Iran’s nuclear warhead development is to “dissuade Iran from having a nuclear weapon through peaceful and diplomatic means,” which mirrors the President’s plan of diplomacy coupled with no threats of military action.

In this third debate, Obama for the most part stuck to his foreign policy during his four years in office. Not much of a challenge was posed by Romney on this front.

After all, voters don’t have as much interest in foreign policies as they do in the candidates proposed plans for ongoing domestic issues. Thus, this election essentially depends on which candidate can fix the economy and get the jobs back for the Americans.

The two candidates spent these three debates trying to convince the undecided voters they are the right choice. If you are one of those undecided before the debates unfolded, have they convinced you?

By Cait Fenello

Is Gatorade a refreshment or health risk?

By Victoria Scrima STUDENT WRITER

I

s it in you?” asks the famous sports drink company Gatorade. Gatorade has been proven to aid athletes who exercise for long durations by replenishing the electrolytes and sugar lost through streneous activity.

However, those who do not meet these exercise levels do not benefit from the drink, and are in fact harmed by it. Nutritionists argue that Gatorade is not healthier than soda, and senators and education committees have pushed to ban the drink from school vending machines. As Americans who do not meet the needed standard of exertion consume Gatorade at a very high rate, the risks of its consumption outweigh its benefits and pose serious health risks.

America’s loyalty to Gatorade can be traced back to the summer of 1965, as players of the University of Florida football team were suffering from the heat of the sweltering Florida sun.

Coaches found that plain water was not reviving the players, so the coaches teamed with researchers to find a solution to this problem. They discovered that the fluids, electrolytes, and carbohydrates that the players were losing through sweat and exertion were not effectively replenished by water. To combat this issue, they developed a balanced carbohydrate-electrolyte drink, leading to the birth of Gator Aid, Gatorade’s predecessor.

The coaches tested on the drink on the freshman team first, and once the drink’s success became apparent, the Ateam was tested as well. Other colleges soon began to consume Gatorade, and it became the official sports drink of the NFL in 1967. Gatorade is currently the official sports drink of more than 70 Division I intercollegiate teams.

Although Gatorade reports success in intense athletics, it also causes an epidemic in America, leading to obesity and high blood sugar in Americans who

do not practice the necessary levels of exercise in order to reap the benefits of the drink. In an article for Yahoo!

Health, Lisa Collier Cool writes, “... to need an electrolyte-replenishing sports drink, kids need to have been exercising at high intensity, and sweating heavily, for at least 90 minutes. And even then, an 8-ounce drink should usually be ample to replace lost fluids.”

When Gatorade is consumed by those who live sedentary lifestyles or do not reach the needed level of exertion, Gatorade poses serious risks to health. According to the Livestrong Foundation, the high sugar and sodium content in Gatorade has led to some nutritionists claiming that Gatorade is not much healthier to the body than soda. In fact, there is more sodium in Gatorade than in soda and a single 12 oz bottle of Gatorade contains an eye-popping 21g of sugar, adding to the causes of cavities and tooth decay. A 32 oz Gatorade has 200 calories, which can be a factor towards obesity when consumed at a high rates.

If the rationale behind consuming Gatorade is to obtain the revitalizing effects of electrolytes, aren’t fruits, vegetables, grains and milk healthier sources of these same electrolytes? Is Gatorade worth the risks then?

If the health risks of Gatorade outweigh its benefits, why has Gatorade become so popular? The taste and image of Gatorade most likely are to blame for drawing in so many loyal customers. Gatorade is marketed with images of Gatorade and Olympic champions hand-in-hand, leading to a pretense that the drink will lead to professional athleticism.

Also, Gatorade is a convenient, tasty drink and is produced in a multitude of flavors, attracting consumers by its taste rather than its intended athletic aid purposes. People do not expect soda to turn them into athletes, so why should Gato-

rade enjoy this pretense? A logical conclusion is to avoid Gatorade, especially when exercise levels indicate that electrolytes do not need to be replenished.

November 2, 2012

The Swinging Bridge

Arts & Entertainment 6

Best of Coffeehouse

October 28

By Rachel Seitz

By Mary-Grace MacNeil A&E EDITOR

Cara Lamberson

n le a d da r Jonas Va

Bob Colbert

Most Likely to Perform at B-Sides “Titanium” by David Guetta piano cover

Justification: Jordan Vanasdale stunned the crowd with her bold performance from the piano bench at last weekend’s Coffeehouse. Vansasdale played a stripped cover of David Guetta’s “Titanium,” but the strength of her vocals eliminated the need for anything flashier than the keyboard. The crowd listened in awe as she sang “I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose,” and their ovation following her performance confirmed that her voice is titanium.

Most Likely to Bring Down the House “Uncharted” by Sara Bareilles cover

Justification: Cara Lamberson could have fooled the crowd for Sara Baraielles herself with her phenomenal cover of “Uncharted.” From keys to vocals, she nailed it, and the upbeat vibe of her performance penetrated the audience. To top off an already feel-good mood, cellphones throughout the crowd lit up with a text message from the college, alerting the campus of Monday’s class cancelations. Students erupted in cheers, and the Union almost shook with applause. Throughout it all, Lamberson’s “Uncharted” cover played like a perfect theme song to the excitement.

Most Creative

“Bells of Notre Dame” Disney performance Justification: Sunday’s Coffeehouse line-up boasted with what seemed like record-high talent diversity, making the “Most Creative” superlative nomination a difficult task. A surprising number of dance performances switched up a typically musically-dominated set list, and Ethan Bard and his creative “one-man band” elicited smiles from the audience. But Bob Colbert took the cake with his performance from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” He sold the crowd with his voice impersonations during the piece’s monologues, and the song portion of the performance showcased talented vocals. After his climactic finale, the crowd’s roaring applause helped lock in the decision: Colbert’s creativity was more than worthy of recognition.

THE HIDDEN TREASURES BENEATH CLIMENHAGA rom Oct. 19 to Nov. 21, the Permanent Art Collection at Messiah College is featuring a selection of artwork – sculpture, paintings and prints – from various artists such as Bill White, Tobi Kahn, Thaddeaus Mosley, Lois Dodd, Makoto Fujimura and more.

The gallery, located on the lower level of Climenhaga Fine Arts Center, is open Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Fridays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Since the beginning of the arts program, over thirty years ago, Messiah College has authorized the collecting of fine arts.

At the time it was an evolutionary way of thinking in the way the school wanted to teach their students. Ted Theodore Prescott, former professor at Messiah College and initiator of the program, began amassing the collection at the same time the arts program was in its infancy.

A Celebration of Fine Art: Modern and Contemporary Art Collections at Messiah College Currently, the Permanent Art Collection holds well over 1,500 pieces that express different cultures and traditions.

The collection serves as a supplement to the liberal arts program as well as an encouragement of independent study and learning for the students, while illustrating the importance of personal experience through artistic endeavors.

The Art Gallery, today, features highlights of the collection from renowned and promising artists in the area. There is a selection of artwork that is on permanent display, while others have a designated time of six weeks for public presentation.

Sherron R. Biddle, Director of the Aughinbaugh Art Gallery, emphasized that importance and purpose of the perma-

nent collection is for students to learn.

Some of the students who viewed the art collection said that upon walking into the collection, they immediately recognized the permanent artwork, while others’ eyes were especially drawn to the sculptures and three dimensional pieces.

These students would have viewed artwork such as Bill White’s “St. Sebastian (study),” Lois Dodd’s “Untitled (Nude Study),” Makoto Fujimura’s “Hudson #11,” and Thaddeaus Mosley’s “Little Jazz for Roy Eldridge.”

“St. Sebastian (study)” is a two dimensional piece, a sketch using simply crayons and paper. This sketch is a very angular representation of the each gender’s body.

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It encompasses slight movement, yet remains faintly abstract, for the features of the people, such as facial expressions and definition in the hands and feet, are left for interpretation. Meanwhile, their calves and knees are a depictive illustration of athleticism. Most of White’s work is centralized around abstraction and figuration, as the sketch makes fully evident, and are pursuits of architectonic structure.

Thaddeaus Mosley’s “Little Jazz for Roy Eldridge” is an abstract, three dimensional sculpture comprised of several different mediums: wood (sycamore and cherry walnut) and steel. The steel forms a coiled spring at the base with the medium of wood resting atop. The inspiration of the sculpture derives from an urban Afro-American-EuroJazz influence.

For more information on the Permanent Art Collection and its featured exhibits, go to their website http://www. messiah.edu/departments/visual_arts/ gallery/ .

By Stephanie Wilson

November 2, 2012

The Swinging Bridge

Arts & Entertainment 7

A Local Market of Delicious Diversity

A

s we were browsing the interestingly shaped squashes at my favorite Amish produce stand, a British accent caught us off guard from across the stand. Speaking to an Amish stand worker, an English woman remarked how wonderful it was to have people providing access to local and organic foods for the community. A trip to Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market never ceases to take me by surprise with its uniquely diverse variety of people and produce alike.

The first of two statuesque, brick buildings houses a medley of international food stands, ranging from Vietnamese and Korean to Jamaican, Indian and Balkan. This deliciously diverse space brings together people of all walks of life.

Messiah 2011 graduate and current Harrisburg resident Charity Roberts commented, “I definitely see the Broad Street market as a good hub of Harrisburg because of the variety of people that come in.”

Messiah senior Courtney Simonds took notice of the unique harmony that occurs amidst the hustle and bustle of the Broad Street Market. “I wasn’t anticipating there to be such a large variety of ethnic foods! I was really surprised by how much [diversity] there was. I noticed a lot of people were getting to-

Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market creates a space to celebrate community through local food and culture gether and talking about their lives and socializing,” she said.

Moving across the midway courtyard between the two market buildings is an experience in itself. Among the stand or two of local vendors showcasing their seasonal produce in the fresh air, solicitors and activists stand at the ready to strike up a conversation, while a local musician may be playing “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” on an electric keyboard as neighbors stand with one another, discussing the things that neighbors discuss.

Filled with good food and good people, the second building bears produce and foods of all shapes and sizes. Produce stands run by Amish families are scattered throughout the market, while other stands with a more quirky flavor are intermingled in this mix of market culture.

Cory Hulsizer, a sophomore at Messiah, commented on the delicious distinction of the foods at the Broad Street Market.

“They have really good milk, good produce and interesting food. They have good grass fed burgers if you’re into that and more ethnic foods,” he said.

Leaving with her bag full of maple yogurt, homemade root beer, a whoopee pie, dried pineapple rings, and local

Snowmine to Share Their Cool Sound at B-Sides

By Jonathan Wolf STUDENT WRITER

ing it reads the same forward and backward. This clever album title offers a glimpse at the creativity of the band.

hink walking on a dark path through a forest at night, with neon lights strung high up through the branches of the trees, glowing brightly. This feeling of surreal wonder is a good description of the band Snowmine.

Originality is obviously an essential brick to the band’s building. Very rarely do their songs slip into the realm of conventionality, and their ears for sticky, nontraditional instrumentation sets them apart from other modern rock groups.

T

Snowmine is the combined effort of four musicians: Grayson Sandors on vocals and keys; Calvin Pia on guitar, keys and backing vocals; Austin Mendenhall on guitar;Jay Goodman on bass; and Alex Beckman on drums.

The band met at performing and for many years, tled on the band

NYU, and after writing together they finally setname Snowmine.

A very raw vibe emanates from their album “Laminate Pet Animal,” which was released on May 3, 2011.

Initially, the name, “Laminate Pet Animal,” sounds vague and confusing. But the album title is a palindrome, mean-

For example, the band hooked up a lamp to a guitar effects pedalboard during their album recording. The lamp produced an electric, screeching mess that is featured on many of the songs.

The tracks on “Laminate Pet Animal” have a foggy, translucent atmosphere that draws the listener’s attention with vast amounts of intrigue and mystery. This lasso pulls tighter and tighter around the listener until he or she is caught in the comfort of the relatable, catchy chorus of each track.

The first song on the album, “Beast in Air, Beast in Water,” begins with an-

//see SNOWMINE on page 8

apples, Senior Courtney Simonds said, “There are quite a few things I got that I’m really excited about.”

More than a farmer’s market, the Broad Street Market reflectively represents the community of Harrisburg. The lack of grocery stores in the city of Harrisburg has labeled the city as a “food desert.”

Charity Roberts spoke hopefully in regards to this current trend.

“It’s just really neat to see everybody come together around food. And it’s really cool because Harrisburg can sometimes be seen as a food desert. So, to have a place where they’re bringing fresh food to the table… is really neat.

It’s nice to have a place to bring food stamps [if you’re on a low-income], and still have access to the fresh food,” she said.

A sense of hope for the local community and culture can be found at the Broad Street Market. It is practically impossible to visit this market without having an encounter with an old friend or discovering a new one. To experience the Broad Street Market gives you a true taste of Harrisburg.

On their visit to the Broad Street Market, sophomores Katianne Engle and Cory Hulsizer noticed the uniqueness of Harrisburg as they explored the market.

Provided by Student Activities Board

By Amie Miller STUDENT WRITER

By Amie Miller Senior Courtney Simonds stands outside of the Broad Street Market building, holding her bags of delicious market treats.

Engle said, “Harrisburg is such a small city, and it’s nice to see [its] diversity.”

In comparison to other markets, Hulsizer remarked, “This market is more diverse… people meet here and gather here in the community. It’s neat to be around that.”

Broad Street Market 1233 North Third Street Harrisburg, PA 17102 Hours: Wed: 7AM - 2PM (limited vendors) Thu & Fri: 7AM - 5PM Sat: 7AM - 4PM

November 2, 2012

The Swinging Bridge the whole rest of the world,” says Hushpuppy) but clearly has a moral code for survival that Hushpuppy’s father Wink roughly imparts to her.

She senses reality beyond what he says but possesses the maturity and kindness not to correct him; her father is oldfashioned and extremely proud of the life he leads. She knows that her kind is endangered, however: her people and their ways are on the verge of extinction despite Wink’s proud claims of immortality. She displays a kinship with her world that only children possess and a fearlessness that adults are often afraid to embrace, leading her on an adventure rooted in fantasy but on which the fate of her entire world rests.

At one point in the film, Hushpuppy wishes for something bad to happen; that night a storm hits and her home is swallowed up in a deluge of water. Her guilt is swift. It would be a heavy burden for anyone to bear, but her six-year-old mind attacks it in the only way she understands: “that by being good somehow you can rectify what you’ve thrown off in the universe.”

Suddenly Hushpuppy’s very existence depends on reconciliation with her father, nature and the fundamental part of herself she betrayed. She knows what she must do: she begins a journey to try to fix it, to seize the right to exist and to be remembered.

Provided by Student Activities Board

Six-year Old Captures Fearlessness and Fantasy

I

By Colleen Dente STUDENT WRITER n 30 years, 2012 will be remembered as the year of powerhouse child actors.

Quvenzhané Wallis – discovered by director Benh Zeitlin after a nine-month search among 4,000 girls – immediately captivated the “Beasts of the Southern Wild” director.

“You just see this wisdom and focus and tenacity and fearlessness in her eyes that she didn’t have to say anything. It was like you could put the camera on her face, and you just see this whole world that she has inside of her that’s so beyond her years,” he explained in an interview with NPR. Indeed, this movie is hers. “It’s a film that emerges from her mind.”

She plays the six-year-old character of Hushpuppy who lives with her father in the Bathtub, a ramshackle community that subsists in the far-flung regions of Louisiana. They are proud to be independent of modern society though bitter that the levee between their worlds exists to protect the other side.

It is not explained where we are, or

when, but the audience eventually identifies with the outside world the same way that its inhabitants do: by necessity.

In this way we sidestep pity and are invited to celebrate the feasting, the colors and the freedom as friends instead of outsiders.

The film is based on a play by Lucy Alibar and co-written by her and Zeitlin.

They were inspired by the improbable contrast of isolated yet vibrant communities existing “at the end of the world,” especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill.

To inform then-five-year-old Wallis of her motivations for a scene, Zeitlin would ask “If [apocalyptic events] were your fault, what would you do?”

“I would try to fix it,” she replied, “by brushing my teeth and listening to my parents.” Zeitlin was amazed at her innate response: that though she couldn’t fix the whole world, she could affect it by her behavior, by being good. These conversations influenced her character’s behavior.

Hushpuppy wanders freely, lives in her own “house” and is raised communally.

There is a schoolteacher who doubles as a mother figure for all of the children, dispensing natural remedies and stories of extinct, mythical Aurochs. The community abides by no civilized standards (“The Bathtub have more holidays than

In a million years, when kids go to school, they gonna know: once there was a Hushpuppy and she lived with her daddy in the Bathtub.

Arts & Entertainment 8 //SNOWMINE cient sounding percussion and a trippy guitar riff. Eerie vocals fill in the gaps as the song crescendos into its redeeming horn-filled, violin-embellished chorus.

“Penny,” the second song on the album, is the easiest to latch on to and enjoy.

Seamless vocals transitioning from midrange to falsetto compliment a catchy Vampire Weekend-like synth, giving the track a surreal, heart warming hook.

The album returns to its non-traditional roots with “The Hill.” Violin trills and scales give the song an otherworldly character, while Eastern, pseudo-Arabic percussion make the song feel as if it is being carried across the desert on the back of a camel.

A request for entrance into another’s life is made on “Let Me In.” The track dangles it’s undeniable vocal hook above the listener like a worm on a line. It is antagonizing, inviting and unforgettable all at the same time.

“Trial and Error” begins with a homey, organic guitar and heavily produced drum beats. It’s airy ambience and half-asleep feel bolsters the apathetic personality of the track as it floats around the listener’s head.

The last song on the album, “Hologram,” begins on a very laid-back note.

Halfway through, the tempo speeds to a driving, almost jovial beat. This song is the perfect end to the walk through the neon-lit forest that is Snowmine.

November 2, 2012

The Swinging Bridge

Opinions 9

WEDNESDAY WAR ROOM FINAL PREVIEW

By Grant Meckley STUDENT WRITER

A

s Election Day is just around the corner, WWR would like to present a final preview that includes each candidate’s stance on major issues. Hopefully this table below gives you a better idea where the candidates stand on your personal topics of concern and helps you decide where to cast your votes.

Candidate, Political Party

Barack Obama, Democrat

Mitt Romney, Republican

Gary Johnson, Libertarian

Jill Stein, Green

Prior Experience

Current President of United States

Two-term Governor of Massachusetts

Two-term Governor of Massachusetts

Physician/Activist

Running Mate

Vice President Joe Biden

Rep. Paul Ryan

Judge Jim Gray

Cheri Honkala

Expand or Dismantle Social Security

Expand payroll tax on those making more than $250,000 annually

Reform and raise retirement age to account for longer life expectancy

Privatize by allowing young workers to contribute a portion of their payroll tax to a private investment account

Offset debts by raising taxes on the rich and reduce spending

No

No, and cut spending

Yes

Extend George W. Bush Tax Cuts

Extend only for those making less than $250,000 annually

Yes

Abolish the IRS and pass the Fair Tax legislation

No

Citizinship for Citizens of Illegal Immigrants

Yes, but parents are not granted citizenship

No

Yes

Yes

Cut Military Spending

No, keep current budget

No, increase military budget

Yes

Yes

Support Patriot Act

Yes, but limit government’s power

No

No, and pass strict laws prohibiting any government surveillance

No

Raise Debt Ceiling

Keep as it is

Support Affirmative Action

Yes

No

No

Yes, and pass laws requiring federal agencies to give equal treatment to minorities

Support Increased Gun Control

No, only for assault weapons

No

No

Yes

Support Legalizing Drugs

No

No

Yes

Yes, but not all drugs

Tax Credits and Subsidies to Wind Power Industry

Yes, it’s an important alternative to coal and gas

No, traditional energy sources remain reliable energy sources

No, government should leave the energy sector on its own

Yes, future of the economy lies on the creation of jobs in sustainable energy

Global Warming

A threat to the envrionment

A natural cycle beyond human control

Threat or not, government should develop cleaner and efficient fuels

A threat to the environment

Abortion

Pro-choice

Pro-life, but allow abortions in case of rape, incest, or danger of mother’s health

Not allowed after first trimester

Pro-choice

Gay Marriage

Allow

Ban

Allow

Allow

November 2, 2012

The Swinging Bridge

Sports 10

Club Hockey Team Prepares to Dangle as Puck Drops on 2012-2013 Season

the ACHA will be funding to the club.

Joining the ACHA would establish us as a more legitimate ice hockey program, however it would also require more travel and more funding,” said Parmer.

ing. Currently, the club ice hockey team belongs to a house league at Twin Ponds Recreation Centers. Messiah College SGA does fund the majority of the overhead costs, however expenses still remain.

club ice hockey culture around Messiah College. The leadership of the club has begun to outline the preliminary steps to begin an application to the American College Hockey Association (ACHA).

Until the ice hockey team generates a serious surge to join the ACHA, it is safe to say that they value the close proximity for their games and appreciate support from the passionate fan base.

“Prior to the season, we asked each player to contribute $150 to rent ice time for practices and so we could purchase new jerseys, since SGA will not fund us for those expenses,” said Parmer.

Established in 1991, the ACHA’s policies cover team and player eligibility, rules of play, ranking procedures, national tournament procedures, and other administrative issues. The current function of the ACHA is to support quality, unity and regulation of intercollegiate hockey programs in the United States.

“The fans really provide the team with a unique energy boost throughout the course of the game. Since our games are all close to campus, students are able to come and support the team. Our hope is to completely fill the stands with fans and create an energetic atmosphere that will have everyone coming back for some more dangles,” said Capoferri.

By Zach Specht SPORTS EDITOR

H

Hockey fans across the country can disregard the devastating news that the NHL has cancelled all games through November 30, because hockey remains active in Grantham.

The Messiah College club ice hockey team plays all of their games at Twin Ponds East and Twin Ponds West Recreation Centers. The Falcons are currently 2-2 on the season and are seeking to establish themselves as a playoff contender. With seven goals and four assists, the Falcons’ senior center, G.R. Capoferri, ranks fourth in the league with 11 points.

Despite annual goals that the team establishes prior to the season, the club ice hockey team is working towards a long-term goal that would change the

“The largest barrier that exists in joining

The Falcons’ 16-man roster was compiled through a sequence of preseason tryouts, in which a practice squad was also constructed.

“Instead of cutting people, we opted have a practice squad. We felt this would be better because people on the game day roster can be replaced if they can’t come or aren’t putting in the effort,” said Capoferri.

The lack of facilities on campus present the club ice hockey team with a unique challenge for practices. Because there is currently not an ice rink located on campus, the ice hockey team must rent ice time from a nearby rink and organize “dry land” practices as well.

“As a team, we attempt to aim for one ice practice per week and two dry land practices per week,” said senior forward and team treasurer, Adam Parmer.

For a sport that is in season from September until April, one of the largest concerns voiced from the team is fundBy Zach Specht

FALCONS FLY on

winning

streak

INTO PLAYOFFS

By Philip Naegely STUDENT WRITER

I

t has been a season to remember for the Messiah women’s volleyball team and fans alike. They are currently on a 13 game win streak.

In this time span Messiah has only dropped eight sets while winning 39.

While Messiah has been on a tear, there have been other reasons to cheer as well. This year Coach Judi Tobias and two players reach milestones. Coach

achieved her 1,000th assist in the first against Goucher College on Saturday.

The team as a whole has found success of the court as well. For the first time in Messiah volleyball history, they defeated a nationally ranked team. On October 6th Messiah came back from two sets down to defeat at that time No. 19 Eastern University in a thrilling five set match.

Tobias won her 300th collegiate match on October 23rd against Hood College. Last Saturday senior Lauren Rees broke the single season kill record of 408 kills, which was previously held

by Prisca Chase, and has 415 kills on the season. Earlier this season Rees also passed Chase’s record of 1,283 alltime kills against Dickinson College.

While Messiah has been successful overall, they have also done well in the Commonwealth Conference. A year after going 7-0 in the conference, Messiah went 8-1 in the conference this year. Their only blemish in conference play was to Stevenson University. The Mustangs defeated Messiah in four sets.

Rees hasn’t been the only player who achieved a milestone on the court this year. Junior Jess Gieb

This past Thursday Messiah concluded conference play against rival Elizabethtown. Messiah came out strong early and won the first set easily 25-16. Blue

Jays came back and won a closer second set 25-20, before Messiah went up two sets to one by winning the third set 25-17. The fourth set would be a thrilling come from behind victory for Messiah. Elizabethtown was up 11-6, and at one point in the match was up seven points over the Falcons. However, Messiah would not give up and fight on. In the end, Messiah would win the fourth set 25-23 and win the match 3-1. With the win, Messiah clinches the second seed in the conference playoffs, and will host Elizabethtown in the Commonwealth Semifinals on Friday. The time for this match will be announced later but go to Gomessiah.com for updates.

Behind their 13 game win streak Messiah concludes the regular season with an overall record of 23-7 and 8-1 in the conference. If you are looking for some thrilling volleyball, come on out to Brubaker this Wednesday against Elizabethtown.

November 2, 2012

The Swinging Bridge

A Pitchside View

T

For both the Messiah men’s and women’s soccer teams, their regular season marathon is over. The time for the second season of playoffs has finally arrived.

Women’s Soccer

The Messiah men are back to the summit of the NSCAA Coaches rankings, ranked #1 as of Oct. 23 and still unbeaten at 16-0-1.

The Messiah women remained #2 in the NSCAA Coaches rankings as of Oct. 23, right on the heels of the only team to beat them this season—Emory.

Despite continuing their dominance with a 6-0 win over Lycoming on Oct. 17, the men were not assured of victory until very late. Ramirez put the Falcons in front with a penalty kick in the 55th minute, but continued pressure from the Falcons was not enough to help them pull away. A flurry of five goals in 12 minutes from Benji Kennel, Jeremy Payne, Josh Wood, and two from Jack Thompson turned the game into a lopsided result for the Messiah men.

By Cait Fenello he greatest satisfaction of running the long marathon that is a regular season is when a team finally reaches the end of it and finds themselves in the “second season”.

Men’s Soccer

Their latest round of games started Oct. 13 with a 4-1 rout of Lebanon Valley on the road. Brian Ramirez, Mike Kovach, and Danny Rowe put the Falcons comfortably ahead before halftime, and Kovach added a second after the half to ease them to a win.

By Joel Hoover ASSISTANT RADIO MANAGER

Despite close shaves for both teams in the final two weeks of the season, both Falcon teams continued their run of unbeaten Commonwealth Conference play through Oct. 26. Both have locked up #1 seeds in the Conference tournament, and will be hosting tournament games here in Grantham.

Sports 11

The men’s game on Homecoming Saturday against Widener was another dominant performance—but this time, the goals were hard to come by. After the visiting Pride kept it scoreless and forced overtime, Messiah finally got a game-winner from Jeremy Payne in the 98th minute to win 1-0. The winning goal sent the massive crowd of around 5000 fans into wild celebration, as the students seated on the track mobbed the Falcons in celebration on the pitch of Shoemaker Field.

Despite allowing a late penalty kick goal, Messiah made it 17 straight unbeaten games with a narrow 2-1 over Arcadia on Oct. 23. Second half strikes from Brian Ramirez and Dan Squire were enough to help the men to victory.

The Falcons had a big scare on the road against Lebanon Valley on Oct. 13, falling behind 2-0 in the first half after surrendering two goals in 20 seconds.

Despite the shock, Messiah rallied for a stunning 3-2 victory. Kyele Bridel scored with under a half hour to go and Nikki Elsaesser and Rachel Scheibler scored a minute apart with 5 minutes remaining in the game to seal a thrilling comeback.

Messiah’s next outing on Oct. 16 at home against Lycoming was a much easier game. Propelled by seven first half goals, the Falcons cruised to an 8-0 victory.

Scheibler, Elsaesser, and Alex Brandt all scored twice, and Mackenzie Clapper and Carly Schaefer also tallied goals.

Homecoming Saturday’s game against Widener on Oct. 20 brought the women another comfortable win, as they breezed past the Pride by a 6-0 score.

Clapper scored two late goals, and Elsaesser, Tannia Nieto, Anne Trapp, and Kate Shults completed the scoring.

The women wrapped up their recent slate of games with another nail biter, edging Arcadia 1-0 in double overtime on Oct. 24. Despite controlling the balance of play, it took an Alex Brandt golden goal with four minutes remaining in regulation to secure the win and move them to 15-1-1 on the season.

Falcons Aim for Big Splash in 2012-2013

A

By Zach Kruger STUDENT WRITER

s the 2012-2013 men’s and women’s swim season begin to unfold, it’s time to take a preview of both teams and find out what each team could expect moving forward.

With a solid incoming freshman class for both teams, and the addition of a new assistant coach, the Falcons look to improve on last year’s success and shock some teams in the MAC Conference.

Following the end of the MAC Championship meet last season, assistant coach Chris Doemland announced his retirement from the Messiah Falcon’s swim team after being hired as a pool director at Central York high school. After months of searching, Messiah finally hired coach Jeannie Zappe as the heir to coach Doemland. Coach Zappe has had years of experience as both a competitive swimmer as well as a coach. A certified Total Immersion swim coach, Zappe has had much success as a coach, which includes leading the 11-12 year old

YMCA boys team to a Pennsylvania state championship in 2010. When asked about what she thinks of the addition of Coach Zappe, junior Krista Palmer said, “I think Coach Jeannie brings a new perspective to the team. She incorporates a lot of technique into our practices which is something we never really had before.”

Last season the girl’s swim team posted a 6-5 record overall, while going 6-2 in conference meets, taking fifth out of ten teams at the championship meet. Captained by seniors Aimee West and Jean Cho, along with junior Hanna Schaffer, the lady Falcons team is hoping that with a solid freshman class will come even more success.

Girl’s captain Jean Cho said of the girls’ team, “I expect great things for the season ahead. More specifically, the fresh-

man girls are such a wonderful asset to our team. They bring lots of energy and talent. Their ability will give us more depth and help us continue our success from last season.” The girls’ team could arguably have their best season this year in the team’s short existence, with several record holders also returning for the upcoming season.

“I think we will come out and surprise some people this season.”

On the men’s side, the team hopes to overcome the loss of 2012 graduate Zachary McArdle, along with Brad Culwell and Matthew Wells, McArdle, Culwell and Wells were all captains for the last two seasons and have since left, turning the team over to this year’s captains, seniors Tim Alarcon and Malcom McDermond along with junior Dan Wingert. The men’s team finished with an overall re-

cord of 5-6 last year, along with a 5-3 record in conference meets. At the MAC Championship meet, the men’s team placed fourth out of ten teams, which tied for their best finish in team history.

Captain Tim Alarcon said on behalf of the men’s team, “I think it is going to be exciting to see some of the guys step up this year. It is definitely going to be a defining season for the men’s team.”

The Falcon’s will have some losses of graduates to overcome on both sides, but with a promising freshman class, and a lot of returning talent, it would be no surprise to see both teams build on last year’s success. Sophomore Sam “Squid” Kidd said of the team’s upcoming season, “I’m hoping that all the hard work our team has put into the season will show when the championship meet comes around. I think we will come out and surprise some people this season.” The Falcon’s open the season with a dual meet at Gettysburg College against the Gettysburg Bullets and Susquehanna Crusaders.

November 2, 2012

The Swinging Bridge

Photo by Lauren Landis

JOHN AUSEL cross country Ausel came to Messiah after attending Solanco High School in Quarryville.

Looking to run cross country, he looked at many schools, predominately Division II schools, before settling on Messiah.

The family influence sometimes can drive people towards their alma mater.

For Ausel, it initially turned him away from Messiah. After a campus visit though, Ausel eventually fell for Messiah.

“I just…didn’t want to go anywhere else,”Ausel said. “[Other schools] just weren’t the same.”

Provided by Messiah College Athletics

By Carter Davis STUDENT WRITER “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure.” As it goes with Ian Charleston, so it goes with cross-country freshman John Ausel.

Ausel, a marketing major and Lancaster native, is the youngest of three boys. His older brother Patrick is a Messiah graduate. His other brother Andrew is a junior here at Messiah and a decathlon athlete for track and field.

John ning John ting

and Andrew’s passion for runcame from their father who says was influential in gethis running career started.

“He used to give me my splits in high school,” Ausel said. “He’s a great guy.” That’s high praise right there.

Ausel actually started out on the track running the 800 in a sort of intramural activity in 7th grade just for fun.

Ausel preferred the longer distances that cross country had to offer.

“Thought the 800 was long at first,” Ausel said. “Now it seems short.”

Ausel, a laid back kind of guy, claims he further prefers the calmer pace of the 8K standard in college to the 5K of high school for the same reason.

Sports 12

the call stood. Ausel remembers going home upset, and said he started watching Chariots of Fire. Ausel remembers the quote at the end by Ian Charleston.

Charleston plays the part of Eric Liddel, a Christian, and an underdog 1924 Olympic track runner for England. For him, that scene, and that quote, has been the spur he uses for his running career.

“I love running. I feel good whether I win or lose,” Ausel said. “When I run I feel something greater in myself.”

Solanco’s cross country team has gained some attention locally for their unique preseason training camp that Ausel got to experience.

The tradition of this four-day cross country boot camp included two a day practices and team bonding in the woods of Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset County..

“We couldn’t sit down we were so busy,” Ausel said with a chuckle when describing the excursion, aptly named Camp Runalot.

Ausel feels there is a similar air with Messiah’s team. It can be rough, but still laid back. Sure the team has to take care of business come race time, but there is also room for the jokes that Ausel likes to crack on the bus rides that help keep him loose before a race.

“I don’t like to think about it too much,” Ausel said. “Gets my nerves up.”

Even like

after to

a race, think

he doesn’t about it.

“I don’t put all my day in a race,” Ausel said. “Still got to go about my business.”

Ausel has quickly grown acclimated to running under Head Coach Dale Fogelsanger describing him as a personal coach.

“He’s a good man he’s a good coach, and he’s a good Christian,” Ausel said of his coach. “He really cares for us and lets us just be ourselves.”

“You still have to sprint at first to get ahead,” Ausel said of the high school 5K.

Ausel looks to both his coach and his father for inspiration and encouragement in his running, but his biggest inspiration came after an unfortunate incident in high school.

His game is the steady push. And that steady push has made him Messiah’s top runner. He has landed four top five finishes on the year averaging 28:05 per 8K. He’s been a team best for Messiah in all but one race this year.

What looked like a first place finish for Ausel was denied by a questionable disqualification for interfering with another runner. Ausel says he talked to the other runner, and the other runner said Ausel had not interfered with him, yet

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