Swinging Bridge Magazine: October 2017 by Messiah Pulse

19 EQUALLY HUMAN DACAMENTED IMMIGRANTS

MR. U

THE MAN BEHIND M E S S I A H AT H L E T I C S

14 C H O O S I N G FA I T H OVER FEAR

JEREMIAHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STORY

THE

SWINGING B R I DG E OCTOBER

THE PULSE MAGAZINE

LOOKING BACKWARDS w h at o u r pa s t means to the present

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OCTOBER 2017

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THE

SWINGING B R I DG E VOLU M E 9 8

EDITION 2

STUDENT DIRECTOR MIKAELA MUMMERT

OCT 2017

ASST. STUDENT DIRECTOR GABBY KURTZ

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BECKY KIMMEL

ART DIRECTOR GRACE DEMMER

ONLINE EDITOR ALYSSA BURD

DESIGN ASSISTANTS LIZZY COLE

STUDENT LIFE EDITOR STEPHANIE BRICKER

CARLY KRAIHANZEL CULTURE EDITOR TARA KLEINMANNS

JACQUE SAUDER

SPORTS & REC EDITOR WILLIE HOPE

AUDIO & VISUAL MANAGER AUSTEN BOWER WEB MANAGER KELLY WEBBER

AUDIO & VISUAL ASSISTANTS BUSINESS MANAGER DAN HUSMANN

MARISA HARRIS & PAUL SMITH

DESIGN MANAGER, CLARION KERRI DENTON

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER KAITLYN WOLF

Monday - Friday | 1pm - 5pm 717-691-6081 1 COLLEGE AVENUE SUITE 3058 MECHANICSBURG, PA 17055

(Downstairs South Wing of the Larsen Student Union) The Swinging Bridge Magazine is published through The Pulse: Messiah College Media Hub, run by students. The Pulse consists of Pulse FM, The Clarion yearbook, and The Swinging Bridge Magazine. The Swinging Bridge staff strives to publish quality student writing, photography, and design. To learn about job and volunteer opportunities, email thepulse@messiah.edu.

LETTER from the EDITOR

wanted to open this Letter from the Editor with cute and cozy sentiments about fall and the changing seasons. But as I sit here today, just hours after the deadliest shooting in US history has taken place in Las Vegas, I can’t seem to find that same lighthearted joy that I intended this letter to be. We are living in an age that we are constantly being told is nothing like what our parents grew up in. I hear the news anchors reporting on the attack and lamenting that they too never remember living in a world this broken. This is a challenging responsibility for us as a formative generation—but also requires us to react—to defend what is right and what is moral. It is easy to stay in our comfort zone and blindly accept what’s happening around us. But it’s important to realize that if we change nothing, then nothing will change. In this issue you will find articles on topics that some may consider controversial. Our goal with these stories is to present an informed approach to the issues in hope that you will read them, not with a bias already in your head, but with respect and an open mind for what the words have to say. I am thankful and excited about the reception that the September issue of the magazine got and am always open to hearing your opinions and suggestions about what we can be doing to better serve our student body.

With Homecoming weekend upon us, we hope you can enjoy flipping through the pages of this magazine and stepping back in time, with us, throughout Messiah’s history. And as we are officially passing the halfway point of the semester, I hope you are finding time to relax in amongst the busyness of your schedule. Despite the heaviness that we might feel when reflecting on the recent and current events transpiring all around the world, I hope you can find hope in the small joys that life always has to offer. This week I saw a video of a man giving CPR to a frog who he found drowning in his pool, and a picture of truckloads of donated supplies on their way to the hurricane victims in Puerto Rico, and just this morning I passed a deer and her sweet fawn bedded down in a field together. When the world feels dark, just remember to look around you. I read a quote on Pinterest today that said, “There’s no such thing as a light at the end of the tunnel, you must realize that you are the light.” It is up to us to spread the light, and be the light — for others, and even for ourselves. Happy Reading!

Becky Kimmel Editor-In-Chief THE SWINGING BRIDGE

TABLE

CONTENTS

GETTING TO KNOW

EQUALLY HUMAN

THE STRUGGLE DACA MENTED IMMIGRANTS FACE

JENNIFER RUSLING

CAMPUS CLOSET & 2 MINUTE DEVO

THIS IS NOT A DRILL

STUDENT SECTION

LOOKING BACKWARDS

DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS

MR U.

THE LOFT TEAM

PA’S CONTROVERSIAL PIPELINE

SENIOR ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

MESSIAH SOCCER FANS

FALL FASHION

WHAT OUR PAST MEANS TO THE PRESENT

JEREMIAH’S STORY

CHOOSING FAITH OVER FEAR

ARTIST’S CORNER QUAY SAN

OCTOBER 2017

SEARCHING FOR PEACE IN THE MIDST OF PRIVILEGE

WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED SEPTEMBER

THE MAN BEHIND MESSIAH ATHLETICS

BY STEPHANIE BRICKER NOV

NOV

B-SIDES Into The City Mini: Leg Up Farm, B-Sides in the Union

PARMER HALL Jon Meacham, “The Art of Leadership: Lessons from the American Presidency” in Parmer Hall (tickets required)

CONCERT Wind Ensemble/Symphonic Winds Concert in Parmer Hall

CONCERT Percussion Ensemble Concert in Parmer Hall

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back, it’s Daylight Savings!

NOV

Use that extra hour in the morning to go on a much-needed Dunkin run with friends

NOV

THINGS TO DO IN

17 18

MILLER THEATRE Summer and Smoke in Miller Theatre, November 16-19 (tickets required)

CONCERT Brass Choir/Studio Concert in Parmer Hall

PIZZA WITH PROFESSIONALS Pizza with Professionals: Under Armour in Parmer Cinema

Find a Pinterest recipe to bake for Thanksgiving and impress your family

Go for a fall stroll on Messiah’s fitness trail

Watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

CROWDER CONCERT Crowder concert and Pizza with Professionals: GoCorps in Parmer Cinema

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Eat your weight in turkey and pumpkin pie

CONCERT Symphony Orchestra Concert in Parmer Hall

Hit your local mall to score those Black Friday deals

MILLER THEATRE Summer and Smoke in Miller Theatre, November 9-12 (tickets required)

Head to Longwood Gardens for their Christmas extravaganza

MILLER THEATRE Summer and Smoke in Miller Theatre, November 9-12 (tickets required)

Grab your favorite Christmas drink from Starbucks

CONCERT Chamber Ensembles Concert in Recital Hall

Tis the season - Wear your favorite Christmas sweater to class

CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS Climate Conversations: Politics in Frey 110

NOV

INTERACTIVE CHAPEL Stories of Incarnation - Interactive Chapel in Hostetter Chapel

CONCERT Jazz Fusion Concert in Recital Hall

NOV

B-SIDES B-Sides in the Union with Diet Cig

POORMANS BLACK BOX THEATRE Blue Christmas in Poorman Black Box Theatre

Watch your first Christmas movie of the season

NOV

Bundle up and hike Pole Steeple trail before winter sets in

N O V E M B E R

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

STUDENT LIFE

GETTING TO KNOW:

THE LOFT BY LEAH ROBINSON

Have you ever wondered what that quirky little house is on the edge of the road near the Union crossing? Why there is a climbing wall in there? Who lives there? Why it's on campus? No need to wonder anymore. We have the answers to some of your most common questions, answered by The Loft’s very own staff!

1. WHAT IS THE LOFT? Olivia Tamm: We actually get asked this question a lot. Many people think that the Loft and the Outdoors Club is the same thing. It’s true that we do a lot of adventure activities like the outdoors club, but the purpose of the Loft is to serve Messiah students by providing opportunities for growth and development in leadership, team-building, community and love for Christ.

2. WHAT DOES THE LOFT DO TO ENGAGE MESSIAH STUDENTS IN ACTIVITIES ON CAMPUS?

Tamm: One main thing that the Loft does is facilitate groups in team-building and adventure activities. We serve many groups throughout the year to provide space for them to grow as a team: Res Life, dorm floors, sports teams and other groups or clubs on campus. We hope to use experiential learning as a means of accomplishing their goals and having fun! Another way the Loft seeks to serve campus is through our open events—adventure activities that are open to anyone on campus to sign up for. For example, earlier this fall, we had an open canoeing event in which we canoed down the breeches and had a picnic dinner in a park. Coming this semester, we have an open high ropes event, where we’ll explore the high ropes course and “Camp and Climb,” where we go camp out one Friday night and then climb outside all day Saturday. 3. HOW DOES THE LOFT INCORPORATE A CHRISTIAN MESSAGE? Tamm: The Loft has 16 “core values” that we strive to uphold and pursue as leaders on the team. One of the first ones is “Pursuing Christ.” Our goal is to grow in Christ-likeness and to serve as He served. That is why we are so intentional in all that we do—even if that’s canoeing. We also strongly be-

OCTOBER 2017

lieve in the work of reconciliation as Christians. A term that we use a lot on the team is “fixing broken stuff.” We desire to see teams become united, like Christ calls us to be [and] for people to grow in leadership so that they may become impactful leaders of the Church. Christ is our focus in everything we do, and we hope that it shows through the Loft.

4. WHY DID YOU JOIN THE LOFT TEAM?

Caleb Schluep: I joined the Loft team because I was looking for the intense and loving community that I saw there before I joined. I truly love the people involved here. Plus, I joined for practical adventure education experience for my major! 5. HOW CAN STUDENTS GET INVOLVED IN THE LOFT? Madeline Troyer: One great way to get involved at the loft is to come to our Bible studies on Monday nights from 8:30-10:00 p.m. Bible studies were one of the main places that I found community on campus my first year. Another way to get involved at the Loft is to come and hang

THE LOFT TEAM: LIZZY BEACH, MADELINE TROYER, RACHEL SIEPELINGA, MYA MARKLEY, MATTHEW TAVANI, SARAH LUCIA, KRIS TANQUIST, CALEB SCHLUEP, BRANDON BAUMER, OLIVIA TAMM, KATIE VIROSTEK, JJ FRANKE, DANIEL SIDELL AND LEADER WENDELL WITTER

STUDENT LIFE

out at the bouldering wall. If you have never been bouldering before, don’t worry! We also lead canoeing, rock climbing, high ropes, caving and team initiatives. You don’t have to be an adventure education major to be a part of or do things at the Loft! 6. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LOFT’S UPCOMING EVENTS? Katie Virostek: Our upcoming open events for this semester are: Camp and Climb on November 3rd-4th, and High Ropes on November 18th. 7. WHERE IS THE LOFT LOCATED? Tamm: There’s a house across from the Union (a couple houses down from the Rafiki House) that has a sign out front that says “Issachar’s Loft.” That’s us. 8. HOW SHOULD STUDENTS CONTACT YOU? SOCIAL MEDIA? EMAIL? Virostek: Contact us by email or by Facebook or talk to us personally. We all would love to get to know students and are happy to answers questions. Contact Wendell Witter (director of the Loft) at his email: wwitter@messiah.edu

PREPARE FOR MINISTRY IN THE WAY OF JESUS Students at Pittsburgh Seminary prepare for ministry in the way of Jesus. Together we welcome neighbors. We share meals, differences, and experiences. We expand our minds. And we are challenged and enriched as we explore the broad range of beliefs we bring to the table. Join us! • •

Master of Divinity (church planting, urban ministry) Master of Divinity joint degrees (law, social work, public policy)

PTS on Campus Oct. 25! Stop by the Graduate Fair and visit Anthony Rivera from Admissions.

1-800-451-4194 www.pts.edu/Messiah

STUDENT LIFE

BY GABBY KURTZ & KAIT WOLF

all is in the air. We can feel it coming with the dropping temperatures, changing of the leaves and sudden appearance of all things pumpkin. Another visible change is the transition from our favorite summer-wear to cozy sweaters, distressed denim and fleeces. The fall weather draws us from florals to flannels, and who wouldn’t be excited about that?

Jake Miaczynski, a sophomore at Messiah, sports a casual look, putting together a green pull-over sweatshirt with distressed, acid wash jeans. A look such as this can be for any event, whether it be a soccer game, picking apples or drinking hot chocolate by a bonfire. The green tones are perfect for a mellow look, complementing the orange and yellow of the leaves perfectly. Put this with your favorite sneakers, and you’ve got yourself a traffic stopping outfit.

Stepping into fall, we have Grace Munford, who is going for a slightly more formal look with this business meets casual outfit. A white wash chambray shirt goes almost too perfectly with this brown and pink floral skirt. The two put together creates a classy combination for going to class (pun intended) or to impress a certain someone. To top it all off, she steps it up another notch with the Mont Blanc sandals, an everyday favorite.

KINGSLEY LOT T Everyone needs their favorite fleece. Junior Kingsley Lott seamlessly ties a light wash pair of jeans with the ever-popular Patagonia fleece. The light denim with a darker blue fleece makes the perfect pair. Lott says, “I never leave home without my fleece… Ever.” And what better footwear than a leather boat shoe? This outfit is easy, fun and ideal for a breezier day. GRACE MUNFORD

OCTOBER 2017

JAKE MIACZYNSKI

2DEVO

STUDENT LIFE

MINUTE

BY TARA KLEINMANNS

The Ultimate Homecoming. “Home” becomes somewhat of a strange concept during the college years. One of the things I remember most about the very first night at Messiah College was when President Phipps closed the candlelight service by saying, “welcome home.” How interesting it was to switch my mindset from leaving home and all that was familiar, to coming home to a place in which I’d never spent more than a day. When we come to college, we make the decision and put in effort to make this place our own. But we all face that frightening reality that this home is temporary--it only lasts for four years, and then what? Is home still that childhood house filled with family and memories? Is it a new apartment in a new city with a new job? This world is not our home, and college will not be our home forever. But there’s something so reassuring about the fact that we can always feel that sense of peace and belonging when we make our homes in Christ. There is so much emphasis placed on picking a path during these formative years. What major should you be? Where should you live after graduation? We get so caught up in picking the “right” path, that we forget just how powerful the God of the universe is in providing for us in any place or season of life. Denim jackets were designed to be worn in the fall, am I right? Katie Kramer, a sophomore, wears an orange shirt underneath to say, “I’m ready for all things fall!” Yet her black sandals give the hint that she is not ready to let go of summer quite yet. To pull this outfit all together, she styles a black pair of embroidered highwaisted jeans. This combination exemplifies what fall fashion is all about.

K AT IE K RAM E R

We make the decisions that form the journey, but also make our homes in Christ. He lives in us and we live in Him, and that knowledge gives us the freedom to step into newness with the peace of knowing we are always home. When we decide to let Christ take up residence in our hearts, we in turn find rest and comfort in His love. He is the consistency in our unstable world, and is always ready to give us a homecoming unmatched by any we could experience on earth.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 CORINTHIANS 4:18) THE SWINGING BRIDGE

Looking BACKWARDS

STUDENT LIFE

WHAT OUR PAST MEANS TO THE PRESENT

BY STEPHANIE BRICKER

he Messiah College we all know and love today is not the same Messiah that existed over 100 years ago, in 1909 when the College was first founded. In fact, back then it wasn’t even called a “college.” It was Messiah Bible School, founded by the Brethren in Christ Church. And, if you didn’t know that, there are plenty of other facts and events you probably don’t know either. So take a moment to check out this timeline and travel back in Messiah’s rich 108-year history.

1912

1909 Messiah Bible School and Missionary Home is founded by the Brethren in Christ church, offering high school classes and some Bible training.

1910

Messiah moves from 12th Street in Harrisburg to Grantham with Old Main as its only building (donated by 1st president Samuel Rogers Smith) Twelve students begin the first classes at Messiah for free tuition, $.50 a week for room and board and $2.75 a week for meals.

1920

Messiah offers its first college level classes

OCTOBER 2017

1951

Messiah changes its name to Messiah College

1960

The falcon is chosen for Messiah’s mascot

STUDENT LIFE

“The Swinging Bridge”

The Library in Old Main

1983 Messiah becomes more environmentally mindful by forming Earthkeepers and adding paper recycling bins around campus

1982

Messiah merges with Upland College in California and is visited by former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower

1965

Messiah’s athletic program joins the Middle Atlantic Conference

Men’s soccer team (in 1982)

1986 Messiah is visited by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the inaugural speaker for the Religion and Society Lecture series

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

STUDENT LIFE

1999 Jordan Science Center and the Oakes Museum open for the first time

1995

Messiah competed in Sunrayce, a national solar-powered vehicle competition, with its first solar car named Genesis.

1994 Messiah's Hammocking trend

PHOTOS | MESSIAH COLLEGE ARCHIVES & MESSIAH COLLEGE: A HISTORY (BY E. MORRIS SIDER)

OCTOBER 2017

2004

Kim Phipps becomes the eighth and current president of Messiah College

2008

Presidential candidates, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, visit Messiah for a nationally televised conversation on the integration of faith and public policy called The Compassion Forum.

STUDENT LIFE

2009 Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Counseling becomes Messiahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first graduate program

+ Messiah celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Messiah constructs and opens the Calvin and Janet High Center after a $40 million fundraising campaign

2013

2017

The new Falcon Fitness Center officially opens to students, and faculty

Former Messiah Code of Conduct THE SWINGING BRIDGE

STUDENT LIFE

Jeremiahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Story C H O O S I N G FA I T H OV E R F E A R

OCTOBER 2017

STUDENT LIFE

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

STUDENT LIFE

BY ALYSSA BURD & JEREMIAH BROWN-SUAREZ

ife is all about second chances. We don’t get to start our lives over from the beginning and watch it play out the way we’ve always wanted, but sometimes we get another chance to live with purpose and pursue meaning in the midst of pain. Junior Applied Health Science major Jeremiah Brown-Suarez was only a freshman in high school when he received the news that would change his life forever. This is his story. “I guess it started back in 2011. It was my freshman year of high school. Towards the beginning of September, I just started feeling sick all the time and really tired. I got home from school and I slept and I started falling asleep in classes. We went to a family doctor and I tested positive for strep throat, so they gave me medicine for that and sent me home. I was on that, but nothing was getting better. We went with a friend of ours who is a doctor and he was like, ‘I can’t tell you this, be-

OCTOBER 2017

cause I’m not your doctor, but you should probably get blood work done.’ We drove to a place to get blood work done and when they were drawing the blood, it wasn’t coming out. They just had to keep pumping it because the blood was just so thick. I almost passed out—it was too much.

ing on TV. All of a sudden, I just hear him say, ‘There’s a possibility it could be leukemia. We don’t have the resources to deal with this so we’re getting an ambulance ready and they’re getting a room ready for you at Hershey Medical Center and we’ll have you on your way in a bit.’

I remember laying in the backseat of the car, on the way home. When we got home, my dad went to pick up some medicine because I had been nauseated a lot—constantly throwing up, I couldn’t keep anything down. And then [my dad] came back and as he was walking in the door, the phone rang and it was the hospital that’s near us, the Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon. They said, ‘We got the results from your blood test, you need to get in here right now. You can’t hesitate, we need to see you now.’

I was just thinking, ‘No that’s not right, that’s not it, that’s definitely not it.’

As soon as we walked in to the hospital, we gave our name and they were like, ‘Here’s your wristband, go back right away.’ After a while, a doctor came in and was saying, ‘We’re doing the tests,’ and I wasn’t really listening to him because I was kind of paying attention to something I was watch-

I got to [Hershey] before my parents. I was just lying there and after a while they showed up and some family friends showed up. After a little while, one doctor came in and said, ‘We got the blood tests back from Good Samaritan—and it’s leukemia.’ Everyone was just silent. After that, everyone left the room and they went out in the hall to talk about it. It was just me and my dad in the room—and we both just cried. It was pretty emotional. It’s been so long and I still get emotional about it. The next morning, they had a bone marrow extract—they just take a really long needle

STUDENT LIFE and stick it through the bone in the hip and pull out some bone marrow so they can test it. They also did a spinal tap to see if the cells were making their way up the spinal cord to the brain because if that happens, that’s really not good and there’s not much they can do for it then. And then we immediately started chemotherapy—which they said was really good, because if this had gone unnoticed for two more weeks, they wouldn’t have been able to do anything. There had only been three other cases where the white blood cell count was higher, or as high, as mine. Mine was just extremely high—two of the other people didn’t even survive.

it’s going to come back. There’s always that thought in mind, especially around September 26, which was the day I was diagnosed. I always get weird around that day. But I’ve just been able to see a new perspective on life. I really feel like I’ve gotten a second chance so I’m doing my best not to waste it. I definitely have gotten closer to God through all of this. I realized God’s plan for me and I’m trying my best to stay on course.”

There was this whole period of time that I don’t really remember because everything was just so intense and the treatment was so intense. I remember bits and pieces from what people tell me, but it’s kind of weird, just a whole six months of my life I don’t remember at all. I got a bone marrow transplant and I got better for a little bit. That next October, October of 2012, we went in for a routine checkup. Everything was going well and then they said, ‘Hey, we’re doing some extra tests with the blood that was drawn, you guys can leave, get something to eat, just stay in the area.’ And so I was like, ‘Okay, that’s kind of weird, but whatever.’ My youth pastor asked if he could take my dad and I out to lunch. Towards the end of the meal, my dad got a call, so he left and took the call. I just remember seeing his face when he was coming back. He said we have to go back to the hospital—I had relapsed. The second go-around wasn’t that bad. I was a lot less sick that time. Everyone was really nice—the nurses were nice and the doctors were nice. I still see my nurse practitioner who was there since the beginning—she considers me her greatest success story because I was just so sick and I hit every weird longshot they had with medications and procedures. This January will be five years out, which is good because they say after five years, the chance of it coming back is minimal. It’s weird because I still have that fear that

JEREMIAH MEETS BONE MARROW DONOR KEVIN OLDENBURG ON THE VIEW

P H OTO | H U D S O N VA L L E Y O N E . C O M

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

STUDENT LIFE

QUAY WITH WORK REMNANT II, 2017

ARTIST’S CORNER

“I REMNANT I | 2017, ACRYLIC AND CHARCOAL ON PAPER, 48" X 48" UNTITLED (VASE) | 2016, STONEWARE

’m a painter and a ceramicist. I’ve been making these large-scale abstract paintings and working on incorporating that sensibility into ceramics. So how can form and surface, relate to what’s happening on the canvas? Something interesting is when a drip happens, or the wet medium mixes with the dry, and it creates this thing - something that’s completely by chance, but it’s more delicate and more beautiful than the human hand could do on purpose. You couldn’t copy it if you tried. And so it’s those moments that excite me, the ones that lead to these kind of grander ideas that I’m looking at. Like the idea of the sublime, or the idea of chance itself. The chance and the magic that comes out of [a piece of ceramic going into the kiln] is an exciting thing and something that keeps me coming back to it. Looking at that afterwards or a painting afterwards and finding these moments in them that really make me as an artist gravitate towards them, and make me keep coming back.

QUAY IS ALSO A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

OCTOBER 2017

CULTURE

E Q U A L LY

HUMAN: Th e S t r u g g l e DAC A m e n t e d I m m i g ra n t s F a ce BY BECKY KIMMEL

ike me, many of my friends came here as babies and children. Their parents brought them here for a safer life but a hard life in some senses, a life away from many comforts and their support networks. These people work hard, they try to lay low and now they feel less than human. The US is my home and it’s their home, the only home we really remember.

- A former Messiah Student

” THE SWINGING BRIDGE

”

CULTURE

“I entered the US at the age of 2.

I wasn’t illegal then, I was

L FORMER MESSIAH ST U D E N T S :

“I remember being afraid when my dad went to work, afraid he’d get pulled over and afraid he’d be deported." “The US provided us with so much but it came at a cost.”

just a tourist. ” -A Former Messiah Student

ast month, the Trump administration sent tremors through the lives of some 800,000 people living in America. He gave Congress an ultimatum: Craft a new plan for DACA in six months or the policy will end, and those reliant on DACA will find themselves facing an uncertain future.

The Obama administration created DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, in 2012 to protect minors who were brought to this country as children. The policy allows some of these individuals to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for work permits and financial aid to fund their education, things that undocumented immigrants can’t normally access. “This means a more skilled workforce, more stable communities and more tax revenue for the government. It also provides a stronger sense of security and belonging to people who shouldn’t have to live in shame or fear of punishment for a decision over which they had no control,” says Associate Professor of Politics Paul Rego. If Trump’s plan does go through, these DACA recipients, or “dreamers” as some call themselves, will stare down a road whose end seems foreboding. Once their two years expire, many of these people will face deportation to a country they have never called home.

“Under DACA, people have been able to receive financial aid to get the education and training that will make them more productive members of society, qualify for loans to buy the homes and start the businesses that help to grow the economy and apply for jobs that better suit their skill sets. All of this redounds to the benefit of the entire country, and it all goes away when DACA ends,” Rego says. Dr. Kerry-Hasler Brooks, assistant professor of English, believes that the way we treat people has a lot to do with the language that we use. And there is no exception when talking about DACA. On September 5, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Trump administration’s plans for DACA and called recipients “800,000 illegal aliens.” “Those words are characterizing an entire population in limited terms, where the illegality of a human being is the way [we’re] being asked to think about them; the primary way, and perhaps even the sole way. Is that really what we want to do?” asks Hasler-Brooks, who spoke at the recent DACA town hall and panel discussion that took place on campus. Instead, she suggests using terms such as “childhood arrival,” since the actual title of DACA refers to these individuals as such, or a 'DACA'mented immigrant. But why does this matter to our small college in rural Pennsylvania and to the lives of the students we interact with everyday?

QUOTES FROM ANONYMOUS DACA RECIPIENTS “DACA was a new start for me. Now without it I again feel so small. I don’t want to go back to hiding in the shadows. We need to fight for a permanent solution.” #heretostay

OCTOBER 2017

“I was frustrated because our nation’s leaders failed to see the good that DACA recipients and their families contribute to American society. As I looked back on how unjust our nation has been throughout its history I recalled to myself ‘this is just another example of systematic oppression.’”

CULTURE Why does diversity really matter to us?

“I would suggest to you that we are DACA recipients. And I mean that because there are certainly people on our campus who are recipients of DACA, and we benefit as a community because we have DACA recipients with us,” Hasler-Brooks says. In President Kim Phipps’ letter to local politicians, she calls DACA recipients “our students,” asking these politicians to “swiftly pursue a common-sense and compassionate legislative solution . . . allowing [these students] to flourish and ultimately give back to the nation that they consider their home.” Madi Keaton, director of Human Rights Awareness, with the Agape Center, reflects on her college experience and realizes the reality that many DACA recipients currently attending college could face. “These are the kids you pass on your way to class and the kids you eat lunch with. Imagine being in this college environment and not knowing if all your hard work is just about to be completely torn from you,” Keaton says. Keaton urges students to remember that everyone’s feelings and experiences are valid. “Just because you haven’t experienced what they have doesn’t mean their experiences are false,” Keaton says. And in the midst of all of this, Rego reminds us, “[to] not forget that 800,000 people trusted the government when they registered for DACA. They came out of the shadows, identified themselves and revealed their whereabouts. Now, they have to live in fear that, by doing so, they’ve only made it easier for the government to track them down and destroy the lives that they’ve built here—the only lives they’ve known.”

$460

Hasler-Brooks reminds us that “Onefourth of DACA recipients are college students. We’re talking about ourselves; this is our population, this is not some ‘other.’”

Many wonder why these people do not just become American citizens, and many of these 'DACA'mented people would answer that if only it were that simple, they would. “Our immigration system is very broken. When you try to apply for U.S. citizenship, you are waiting for well over a decade, on average. We also need to remember that no one wants to just pick up and leave their home country,” Keaton says. She reminds us that these people are often coming to America because violence threatens the life they know; because they want a better life for their children; because it is the only choice they have. Something Keaton thinks a lot about is the many times the Bible mentions our responsibility to “show love to the stranger” and “care for the weary traveler.” “It’s sad that DACA is being terminated. It’s even sadder that Congress has long been unwilling to support a path to citizenship for innocent, law-abiding, productive and thoroughly Americanized residents. Not only does it make economic sense, but it’s the decent, and Christian, thing to do,” Rego concludes. “It can be hard to understand the reality that these people face because it is so far from the reality we see,” Keaton says. Maybe these people aren’t American by heritage, but they are human. And so are we.

25%

BILLION IN GDP OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS WITHOUT DACA

56%

OF REGISTERED VOTERS SAID “DREAMERS” “SHOULD BE ALLOWED T O S TAY A N D B E C O M E CITIZENS”

<1% OF DACA RECIPIENTS H AV E L O S T T H E I R PERMITS DUE TO CRIMINAL RECORDS

O F DAC A R EC I P I E N TS A R E C O L L EG E ST U D E N TS

DACA

RECIPIENTS

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

CULTURE

THIS IS NOT A DRILL: PA’S CONTROVERSIAL PIPELINE

BY TARA KLEINMANNS

ometimes it’s lovingly referred to as “the middle of nowhere.” Occasionally students might hear complaints around campus that “there is nothing to do.” But it’s hard to argue the fact that Messiah College is nestled in some of the most picturesque farmland of the east. The abundant fields, hills, and waterways define this corner of the country and make it the naturally beautiful place it is. Many students and locals enjoy the serenity of the fitness trails, or tube their way down the iconic Yellow Breeches creek—but how many of them realize that a controversial natural gas pipeline now courses through parts of that very creek and the surrounding farmland?

OCTOBER 2017

unoco’s East Mariner 2 pipeline will be the second natural gas line constructed by the company, with a parallel twin called East Mariner 1 that runs directly to the north. The pipeline is designed to transport natural gas liquids from the Marcellus Shale (a layer of rock deep beneath the earth’s surface that houses natural gas in its fissures) across Pennsylvania. Just a short drive from Messiah, and all along the turnpike, large stretches of earth showcase disruption from construction vehicles and miles of yellow pipeline. “DANGER: High Voltage” signs indicate locations of tall, white poles used to shock the ground in preparation for drilling. Naturally, an undertaking of this size and significance does not go unnoticed, nor should it. Plans for the construction project were initially met with concern from citizens of surrounding counties. Many stood their ground or took the opportunity to voice worries to local and national government representatives. U.S. Congressman Scott Perry supports strategies to lower prices and increase energy security. “The simple fact is that our Nation will continue to produce and consume oil, and pipelines are the safest and most efficient way to transport it. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission have both been actively involved with this process. I’m confident these state agencies are conducting these reviews with due diligence,” he says.

CULTURE

Brandon Hoover, the Director of Sustainability, also emphasizes the fact that pipelines tend to be the safest way to transport natural gas, but his conCONSTRUCTION OF THE EAST MARINER 2 PIPELINE LOCATED ALONG THE TURNPIKE cerns extend beyond AND AMONGST FARM LAND people’s need for oil ABC, blasting from excavation stirred up to the impact pipelines, like the East Marigroundwater, resulting in the presence of ner 2, have on the environment. benzene in private water wells. “Natural gas has some benefits; it burns cleaner than coal and there are positives to be gained by reducing our carbon footprint. That being said, leaks still occur. Nothing lasts forever – accidents with this pipeline have the potential to destroy waterways that are heavily relied upon by industries around Pennsylvania,” Hoover says. The threat of water contamination continues to be one of the leading concerns with the project. According to Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection, at least 14 homeowners experienced negative effects on their drinking water as a direct result of activity with the pipeline. The DEP also placed a halt on Sunoco’s progress in July of 2017 due to violations in multiple counties. The DEP demanded a Consent Order and Agreement from Sunoco before progress could continue. Since then, Pennsylvania’s Environmental Hearing Board scheduled an August hearing that resulted in some promised changes from Sunoco. These included notifications for landowners and water suppliers within 450 feet of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), more opportunities for water testing, and the reevaluation of at least 63 intended locations for drilling. Though it was an attempt to clean up the process, these changes still leave many people dissatisfied and concerned for the future state of the environment. The DEP refuses to let county conservation districts discuss the pipeline and issues related to its construction, leaving citizens with questions about its progression and effects. On Oct. 5, a report from ABC 27 confirmed people’s concerns with a highlight on more areas still experiencing contamination as a result of drilling processes. According to SIGNS LIKE THESE INDICATE AREAS WHERE THE GROUND WILL BE SHOCKED TO PREPARE FOR DRILLING

Madilyn Keaton 18’, student coordinator for the Grantham Community Garden and director of Human Rights Awareness, has connections with the Lancaster Against Pipelines movement and voices her concern over the construction. “All of the pipeline companies say that their pipelines are safe, but time and time again we see leaks occur and destroy large tracts of land and water – not to mention the danger of the pipeline leaking into the water supply of any of the Pennsylvania residents that live near it,” she says. Many areas of construction are quickly being covered up, but a significant amount of visible damage remains in the aftermath of the pipeline installation. Aside from concerns that stem from disruption of the landscape, these environmental factors become issues of human rights. “At its core, this is a human rights issue and an issue of faith. As the Bible explains, we are people of the soil. We have to recognize that human systems are deeply entrenched with a healthy ecosystem,” Hoover says. More and more citizens of Pennsylvania are experiencing firsthand the direct ties between environmental protection and human rights as a result of this controversial project. “If you’re from this area, you should care. If you’ve ever appreciated the beauty of the Yellow Breeches, you should care. Pipelines are a threat to public health. We need to protect the health and homes of our brothers and sisters, the water and land, and the lives of future generations,” Keaton says. There is no denying the necessity of using natural gas as a resource, but how far are we willing to go to get it?

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS CULTURE

SEARCHING FOR PEACE IN THE MIDST OF PRIVILEGE BY BECKY KIMMEL

olin Kaepernick set a precedent a year ago when he knelt in peaceful protest during the National Anthem at an NFL game. Since then, athletes from many other teams have joined him in his act of sitting down to stand up for the rights of black people in America. Just two short months ago, a Unite the Right rally caused a deadly riot to break out in Charlottesville, Virginia, resulting in three deaths and dozens of injured counter-protesters. Self-identified white supremacists, nazi sympathizers and other “hate groups” took to the streets of that quiet Virginia town to make their opinions heard. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe had a simple message for the protestors, “Shame on you.” “Go home. You are not wanted and you are not welcome in this great commonwealth. You call yourselves patriots, but you are anything but,” he said. Many wish President Donald Trump would have had such a pointed message, rather than placing blame on both sides involved. Special Assistant to the President and Provost of Diversity Affairs, as well as Professor of Communication, Todd Allen says, “It’s not easy to call out racism, but we see other leaders do it, the White House didn’t do it.” We see two sides argued for NFL protesting. And we see two sides argued for violent riots. The leader of our country says one thing, and we have the freedom to agree or disagree. But the underlying cause still remains – racism.

OCTOBER 2017

We all know these events happen. And it is not hard to see that our country is divided in tangible ways. But why now? When racial tensions run deep in the fabric of our country’s history, why does it seem these tensions are coming to a climax today?

“What’s so horrible about [white privilege] is that it is so pervasive and really affects all aspects of our society. It affects religion; it affects education; it affects health care; the court system; it affects the ability really just to live,” Brock says.

“People believe that there are these inherent, genetic, biological differences amongst human beings and then we’ve called that race,” Allen says. “And even though we know that race is built upon a lie, we still hold fast to that lie. We have very rarely as a society had truthful conversations around the myth of race.”

Student Body President Jamie-Claire (JC) Chau believes that it’s not that these issues are louder today than history shows, but that with increased connectivity, we have the ability to rally faster.

SAB’s Vice President and Cultural Engagement Executive Kate Brock says it is important to remember that we can’t escape our history. “We often think of surface-level prejudices, but we often don’t think about the systemic oppression of people of color; and that begins with slavery.” says Brock. “Slavery inspired this racialized bedrock creating negative narratives about people of color, and you see those narratives play out today in interpersonal violence, police brutality and even our court systems.” History also shows that feelings of white privilege began with some of those same core roots that Brock describes.

“With protests and public statements like these, I think our society is just trained to react,” Chau says. “The first reaction to protest is defense, a lot of times, rather than listening to what the other people are saying.”

There were

active ‘Hate Groups’ in the US in 2016 (SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER)

black men will go to prison in their lifetime vs 1 in 17 white men (THE SENTENCING PROJECT)

CULTURE Chau wonders, “When we ask ‘why is Kaepernick kneeling?’’ we automatically assume it’s obviously because he hates America or because he hates the flag, but wait . . . is that just your reaction or are we listening to what he is actually saying?” Chau references Juanita Abernathy, a close friend of Martin Luther King Jr., in saying “We don’t do these things because we hate America, but rather it’s the complete opposite. We critique and we protest because we love what America could become.”

tling with the division seen, even here, and throughout the rest of our country? “Our campus is part of the world, which we don’t always acknowledge. The same systems we see outside of Messiah, apply here too. It’s wonderful to have a Christian environment, but oftentimes these conversations are silenced and sometimes denied because of our faith, which is really the exact opposite of what our faith has called us to do.” Brock says.

As politicized as these issues are, Brock realizes the failures of both Democrats and Republicans in the area of race, but also realizes that this issue transcends politics; “Turning to politics isn’t going to save us on this,” she says.

“WE DON’T DO THESE THINGS

“When I hear people say things like ‘Look how far we’ve come,’ I always want to say that even if we had gotten to total equality by 2017, there was enough oppression within any period of American slavery for us to mourn for all of eternity. I really believe that,” Brock says.

AMERICA COULD BECOME.”

In light of these deeply-rooted and equally deeply-present issues, what is the role of college students on this campus in wres-

5 MINUTES WITH

BECAUSE WE HATE AMERICA, BUT RATHER IT’S THE COMPLETE

OPPOSITE.

CRITIQUE AND WE PROTEST BECAUSE WE LOVE WHAT

“Sometimes secular people have been more welcoming, more inviting, more hospitable than the people who are called to be that,” Allen says, “that ought to be an embarrassment.” Chau, Brock and Allen stress the importance of opening the dialogue around these issues and talking with people who might not be just like you, asking them why these issues are important. And that sometimes, simply caring can be the first step.

Brock says, “You should care because this is the world you’re living in. This is the world your children will live in. This is the lived experience of many people around you. You have to take it upon yourself not to just blindly accept what the narrative has been.” Often the biases that we have point to problems in our society, and Chau stresses that “It really comes down to relationships. We need to show people who are different from us that we will show up.” Allen says, “Sometimes in our society, we want the quick fix – like a sitcom; we want to be able to wrap everything up nice and clean in a half hour, but people are messy.” Issues surrounding race don’t have quick fixes and Allen urges that we must recognize that we can’t deal with “these matters if they’re not out on the table.” Brock quotes James Baldwin, American writer and social critic, who famously asked, “Why did America need slavery in order to function?” And she asks people to ponder themselves,

“why do I need prejudices in order to function as a person?”

TAYLOR BRANCH

ournalist, turned historian, turned author, Taylor Branch says he is “in the business of telling stories about human lives.” Branch, who gave the annual American Democracy Lecture on October 3, specializes in the Martin Luther King Jr. era and its impacts on race relations in modern day America. With the 150th anniversary of MLK’s assassination, he believes now is important a time as ever to talk about race. Branch’s award-winning series, America in the King Years, speaks to the “optimism and realism” of Martin Luther King Jr.’s view of the civil rights movement.

“He was at the center of a pretty complex movement,” Branch said about King, “and his voice was like a furnace. [But] he gets marbleized, through pop culture, into ‘he fixed things for black people,’ but really he exposed the problem like a cancer doctor – a very successful one – but he didn’t fix it with one single operation.” Branch focuses intensely on the use of interviews and storytelling as a way of writing about the civil rights movement. “The more I worked on it, the resources to make it storytelling were not in the library. You know, I think libraries record what a culture is comfortable with,” Branch said.

Branch spoke to the importance of students in higher education having exposure to the humanities and being “intoxicated by the American experiment and what that means.” “My goal is to say yes that’s Thomas Jefferson, but it also means Frederick Douglas and Martin Luther King. And how do these fit together in the sense of the promise of American democracy,” Branch said. Branch said he is not surprised that people don’t like to talk about race, but “our whole lives are ruled by race in ways that we don’t like to acknowledge,” he said. Branch said he’ll “be happy when people are as comfortable talking about race as they are about sports.” THE SWINGING BRIDGE

SEPTEMBER

CULTURE

WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED LAST MONTH BY MEGAN HESS

“SAN JUNIPERO” BLACK MIRROR, NETFLIX Speaking from experience, the Emmy-winning episode of Netflix’s Black Mirror - a 21st-century Twilight Zone, if you will - makes a great intro to the series, which is comprised of stand-alone episodes. Unlike a lot of the period-piece TV shows and movies nowadays (no offense, IT and Stranger Things - I will always love you) “San Junipero” isn’t constantly winking at nostalgia with decade-appropriate references. If you like your shows to have nuanced and unpredictable storylines, phenomenal acting, awesome costumes, and well-chosen soundtracks, “San Junipero” will satisfy you completely.

“IT EXCEPT PENNYWISE DANCES TO ANYTHING” EXCEPT, YOUTUBE Depending on who you talk to, the scene in the new remake of Stephen King’s IT where Pennywise dances is either the movie’s most bizarrely terrifying moment or its stupidest, most humorous one. When friends and I went to see the movie its opening weekend, we couldn’t stop talking about it afterward and hoped that someone would make a GIF of Pennywise dancing for social media. This did happen eventually, but one YouTube user took it a step further, realizing that nearly any song would fit behind the video. Out of the 27 installments (one for each year IT stays dormant between cycles of activity), the earlier videos (especially parts 2, 3, 6) are better.

“GRACE AND THE FEVER” BY ZAN ROMANOFF

“NEW YORK” ST. VINCENT

Another recommendation from a BuzzFeed books listicle (I’m starting to notice a trend…) Grace and the Fever deals with a common fan fantasy: what if I actually met this person\group? It’s a good balance of predictable moments and total surprises. It’s a really interesting exploration of Tumblr fandom culture, and presents the best usage of social media I’ve ever experienced in a book.

The first single from Misseduction, “New York” is easily the best ballad she’s ever written. St. Vincent is more known for her high-octane funky jams like the ones on her self-titled Grammy winner (the last album released before Misseduction), so it’s interesting to see her returning to a sound more similar to her debut album, Marry Me. Lyrically, “New York” has the same potent beauty of all her work. Lyrics like “I have lost a hero\ I have lost a friend\ but for you, darling\ I’d do it all again” seem custom-made for Instagram captions. If you’re aching from a breakup, “New York” is the ideal song to soothe your newly single soul.

OCTOBER 2017

JENNIFER RUSLING

CULTURE & REC SPORTS

S E N I O R AT H L E T E S P OT L I G H T

BY WILLIE HOPE, III

oming to college means a sense of coming into one’s own and learning who they are. For senior setter Jennifer Rusling, the story is no different. Though she starts this year, that wasn’t the case her first three years.

“Coming in as a freshman, I never not played,” Rusling remembers. “It was a hard transition for me.” Rusling spent her first three years as a backup behind Brooke Gallagher, a two time AVCA Honorable Mention All-American. She was always supportive of Gallagher, but Rusling struggled to figure out who she was. “I did play for Him at the forefront, but it took my playing time and play coming down for me to be shaken up. I found my identity in my performance and not God.”

This feeling stayed with Rusling throughout her freshmen year, but as she got older she grew and understood God’s calling more. “My sophomore and junior year, God was constantly reminding me why I’m on this team - that volleyball is an avenue to share the gospel with people.” This year, things are a bit different. Rusling starts at setter and makes up half of the senior class along with Alycia Park-Ferretti. “I knew it would take some time. It’s a transition playing five-set matches again and whole tournaments, both mentally and physically.” But so far, Rusling has been a rock for the Falcons. The senior setter averages over nine assists per set with a total of 556 assists on the year, both good for fifth in the MAC Conference. However, Rusling looks for her focus and joy in other places this year.

“The seniors from last year were saying ‘I’m so excited for you to lead this team.’ I kept thinking that I never started, but they believed in my hard work and diligence, and knew I would do my best no matter what. That humbled me and reminded me God gave me these gifts for a reason, and I shouldn’t use them selfishly.” Rusling continues to grow throughout her college career with faith, and it’s led to her finding peace with her last season in a Falcons uniform. “It feels right,” Rusling says. “A lot of seniors go into their senior season feeling surreal. For me, it’s the right timing. I believe God has prepared me for this time.” Though she isn’t finished in her journey, Rusling has grown into her own this year. Watch her take center stage this year as the women’s volleyball seeks their first MAC Commonwealth Championship.

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

CULTURE SPORTS & REC

STUDENT SECTION

BY CURTIS SEAMAN

s you walk up to the stands at Shoemaker Field, you’re free to sit wherever you want. But if you’re a student there’s always a designated spot for you. You’ll see the people jumping up and down, shouting chants, and always standing up. With every tick of the clock, they stand, waiting for the home team to score a goal. And if you’ve ever been in the middle of the crowd when one is scored, you’re familiar with the deafening chant, “Olay,” that follows. After every game the players let the section know that their chanting and shouting is appreciated, as they walk towards the stands, holding their hands up high and applauding.

JUNIOR CALEB HAYS

The “Falcons Nest,” as it has been deemed, wouldn’t be the rowdy, boisterous group of students it is if it was not led by a few brave, die hard Messiah fans.

THE "FALCON'S NEST"

OCTOBER 2017

Senior Micah Hostetter, one of the leaders of the student section, can always be found front and center, helping lead chants and encouraging people to get to their feet and support Messiah. He says he enjoys how the student section brings people together. “The best part has to be the unity it creates. Being loud and standing behind our team no matter what happens is our main goal,” Hostetter says. “It builds a connection with the team. After every game they join us in a chant and we, as a student section, feel like an extension of the team.”

the section serves, outside of supporting the soccer teams. Hays says, “I love how the student section brings people from all across campus together. Every class and every major are able to come out to a soccer game for example, and become one unit; one crazy unit who loves their school. You don’t even have to love soccer. You just have to love supporting athletes.”

Junior Caleb Hays has been a part of the student section since his first year. “The Messiah student section is meant to support the soccer team, to give them that extra energy to chase down a ball. The student section isn’t meant to take the glory for a goal or for a play. Instead, the student section is meant to support those men and women no matter how they play,” Hays says. Hays is known for climbing onto other student’s shoulders and shouting so loudly he loses his voice, but he realizes that there is one really important purpose that SENIOR MICAH HOSTETTER HYPES UP THE STUDENT SECTION DURING MEN'S SOCCER

ME E T

CULTURE SPORTS & REC

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

CULTURE SPORTS & REC

B Y WI L L I E HOP E, I I I verythingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new in Sollenberger Sports Center: new gym, new fitness center, new bleachers at the pool. But if you venture down into the basement where the old weight room was, you'll find a staple of Messiah athletics. He won't make himself the center of attention as he cleans. Outside of the athletic teams and coaches, most people have no idea who he is. It's time everyone met Truc Tran, also known as Mr. U. An employee of Messiah College for 22 years, Tran works in the basement of the sports center. Unknown to most of the public at Messiah College, Tran has become a staple for Messiah athletes, whether it be through small interactions or seeing him every day. Tran doesn't share much about himself. He's not much of a talker and his English isn't the best, which made it hard to hear his perspective, but every athlete who interacts with him has great things to say about him. "Tran has been one of the nicest people that I've met on campus. He makes an effort to get to know each of our names on the soccer team and keep up with each of our games," says David Figueroa, senior defender on the soccer team. "He's a consistent smiling face after every game, and is always willing to help out anyone that needs help." As Figueroa said, Tran offers a smiling face after every game, even after coming back from Lycoming at one in the morning. "He always asks about the game, and he knows our stats," adds Joshua Darville, sophomore forward on the basketball team. "After games he will excitedly greet you by name and even know the score of the game you just played and congratulate you or your teammates if you scored a goal or got some kind of award," says Missy Biener, recent graduate of Messiah and a member of the Messiah College women's soccer team. "He will always know! He is invested in each team by having their team poster and getting signatures from the players he sees." Tran's unselfish nature impacts student-athletes on a level that's bigger than the playing field. "Mr. U is the man!! He would always open the weight room up for us last year, or let us stay a little late so we could get a late-night lift in," senior wrestler Derek Beitz says. "He also brought athletes bottles of water whenever the water fountain was broken so they could stay hydrated while working out."

OCTOBER 2017

TRAN'S CUSTODIAL CLOSET DOOR IS FILLED WITH ATHLETES' SIGNATURES & MEMENTOS

CULTURE SPORTS & REC "It's hard to find the words to describe his character," Darville says. "He's so giving and kind to all the athletes. He's like a father figure." Darville and the basketball team experienced his giving nature upfront and personal during the spring semester. "We came down to give him gifts at the end of the year just to show our appreciation," Darville explains. "He had a package of Snapples for us. We didn't expect anything from him, but he's always so giving and putting himself out there for us." And in addition to his unselfishness, Tran also has a playful nature to him that athletes love. "He was always one up for a good joke and enjoyed pranking people," says Derek Beitz, senior wrestler. The only thing I dislike about this new weight room is that Mr. U isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t up there!!" "Mr. U knows us all as more than athletes, he knows us as people," says Biener. "When you first meet him he will ask for your name and perhaps give you a special nickname. When you see him next he will always remember you by name." "What has always stood out to me about Mr. U is his ceaseless joy. There aren't many people whose faces light up every time they see me - my mom is probably one, and Mr. U is the other," says baseball graduate assistant Joe Saufley. "Doesn't matter what time of night it is or how long he's been working, he'll stop what he's doing to smile, ask you about your team, and more often than not jokingly attack you with his mop."

"If you ever tell him anything about your life he will remember it, like where you're from or who your favorite soccer team is," Biener continues. "He will poke fun at you and never leave you without a laugh and a big smile." Biener, a standout athlete in her four years at Messiah, knew Tran on a personal level as she worked for him as well. Tran doesn't like to talk about himself much, part of his humble and unselfish nature, but Biener knows the Tran that no one else sees. "He served in the Vietnam war, loves the Barcelona soccer team and works multiple jobs while raising two children who also went to Messiah. Mr. U knows and invests in the players he serves through keeping our facilities clean. We are so thankful and blessed by him and his 22 years of service!" "I hope to come back in 15 years and see a building or field named after him," Saufley says. So if you're down in the basement of the sports center in the evening and you see Tran cleaning, go speak to him. It may be the best part of your day. Get to know Truc Tran, aka Mr. U. TRUC TRAN (MR. U) SHOWS US HIS SIGNED BASKETBALL FROM THE MESSIAH MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

TRUC TRAN (MR. U) GREETS JOE SAUFLEY WITH A WARM HUG

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

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