THE
THE PULSE MAGAZINE
16
TAKING BUSINESS
ABROAD
25
CONSISTENTLY
COMPETITIVE
5
SHARING SPACE
SEPTEMBER 2019
12
GREENER SIDE OF THE TRACKS Peek inside to see what's growing in the brand new campus hoop house.
See
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THE
SWINGING B R I DG E VOLU M E 1 0 6
EDITION 12
LETTER FROM THE
S E P T. 2 0 1 9
STUDENT DIRECTOR
ASST. STUDENT DIRECTOR
DAKOTA VAUGHN
AMY LINT
EDITOR
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHARMAINE LIM ART DIRECTOR AMELIA MARKEY AUDIO & VISUAL MANAGER KAI YUEN LEONG
The beginning of a new semester always STUDENT LIFE EDITOR
CULTURE EDITOR
SPORTS & REC EDITOR
CELICA COOK
KENDRA SOMMERS
JORY HAGEN
BUSINESS MANAGER
DESIGN ASSISTANTS
WEB CONTENT MANAGER
SARAH BLESSING
ANDRE FRUEH
MADDIE CONLEY
ABIGAIL ZOEBISCH YEARBOOK MANAGER ABIGAIL ZOEBISCH
AUDIO & VISUAL ASSISTANTS
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER ALLYSON HUFFORD
JANELLE BARGERSTOCK RADIO MANAGER
KATHERINE CHAMBERLAIN
JOSHUA STANLEY
MUSIC MANAGER MATT DEKONTY
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 Radio (90.7), 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.
makes me feel a little nervous. The new classes, new schedules and new routines leave a lot of room for more newness. As someone who likes routine, I look forward to the moment everything settles into place and I stop wondering what classes I have next. It’s comforting.
In that comfort, I tend to forget all the times amazing things have come of new experiences. I’ve made friends, learned valuable lessons and been exposed to amazing opportunities when I choose to push myself out of my comfort zone and embrace the new. This semester, I want to do more of embracing the new. I want to make my last year a memorable one because of all the times I chose to push myself toward something different, foreign and challenging. And I’d like to invite you on that journey too. Whether that new is joining a club, talking to a random person in class, trying a new hobby or saying yes to something you normally wouldn’t – push yourself and see what “new” has to offer. I’ll be doing the same. Starting with this issue, I hope to offer you a new perspective, story, knowledge or thought with every magazine you pick up. I can’t wait for you to see what The Swinging Bridge has to offer. Keep the pages turning,
Charmaine Lim Editor-In-Chief THE SWINGING BRIDGE
3
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
STUDENT LIFE
CULTURE
SPORTS & REC
5
16
25
SHARING SPACE
TAKING BUSINESS ABROAD
SPECIAL INTEREST HOUSING
8
19
FREEDOM FOOD
10
22
12
GREENER SIDE OF THE TRACKS COVER STORY
4
MEN'S & WOMEN'S SOCCER
SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
HOME SWEET DORM
SEPTEMBER 2019
CONSISTENTLY COMPETITIVE
SUMMER CALENDAR
WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
28
SPORTS SURVEY
30
BOUNCE-BACK SEASON MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
STUDENT LIFE
SHARING
SPACE
Life in Special Interest Housing
BY HANNAH BEAIRSTO & CELICA COOK HARBOR HOUSE
A
t Messiah College, community plays a core role in shaping campus culture. From our official slogans to gathering together at chapels, community is deeply tied into the mission of the school. Housing strives to maintain this goal, from tightly knit freshman dorms to apartment clusters. Special Interest Housing (SIH) is one available form of housing that serves to further foster this community-based living experience. Special Interest Housing has been an option for residential living at Messiah since 2013. Today, there are five houses scattered around campus: The Men’s and Women’s Restoration Houses, Rafiki House, Writer’s House, and new to campus this year is the Harbor House. Each house is dedicated to a different community goal that sets it apart from other housing on campus. The students who live in each house strive to maintain the values of their residential community, which further contributes to the positive experience of what it looks like to live on campus.
In 2013, Messiah attained the houses and wanted to use them as a way to give students a new housing option. Students were able to submit potential themes for the housing communities, and from there, the SIH houses were open and ready for students to start building their communities. Each house has a special mission that unites the members within in, with a faculty advisor to supervise. This form of housing is unique from regular dorm or apartment life.
(From left to right) Honors students Amber MacKay, Rebecca Wanger, and Victoria Anders live and study together in the Harbor House, the newest of Messiah's Special Interest Houses.
“It’s primarily student run,” David Foster, advisor of the Restoration House, said. “So, they keep up the mission and traditions of the house [...] It’s a chance for students to live in community together.” As advisor of the Restoration Houses, Foster has witnessed firsthand how students are able to develop a sense of community with one another when living together in the space. “The house’s goals are living together and exploring what it means to have a sustainable Christian community,” Foster said.
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STUDENT LIFE
EIS
Men's Restoration House
Women's Restoration House
ENH CAM OWER P CEN US TER
The Writer’s House is now entering its
"It’s a home away from home."
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Allison Morris, Assistant Residence Director of SIH housing, sees it as an opportunity for growth for students who wish to learn more about maintaining household responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning and maintenance. She also sees the value in how SIH housing gives students an opportunity to build community with one another with a common misHIGH sion in mind.
CENTER
“Living in Special Interest Housing provides the opportunity to build friendships and support groups with people of similar passions, all while being under the same roof,” Morris said. “The houses combine the independence and appeal of house living, while maintaining the connection and intentionality of being connected to campus.” The students at the Restoration Houses (men's and women's) strive to maintain three aspects of restoration and relationships between God, people and the earth.
The Rafiki House, another integral unit of SIH, started as a space for international students to connect. “Now it’s a place where multicultural students can be engaged,” Ines Yoon, former resident of the Rafiki House and RA to the SIH program, said. “There were a lot of people in and out. It’s a home away from home.”
third year as a special interest house on Messiah’s campus. The house hosts a weekly poetry club to welcome lovers of literature.
“We are dedicated to promoting the literary arts on campus while providing house memAY bers with a supportive, creative environment U R R R BO Y E each other as writers,” M R A where they can support R LIB advisor Dr. Matthew Roth said.
The Harbor House, the newest addition to SIH housing, will house students in the Honors’ program so that they can have a chance to start traditions of their own.
Samson Arnold, RA of all SIH houses, believes in the way SIH creates a sense of intimate Y E L LOW community with the students who live there. B “The students in Special Interest Houses learn to become much more intimate due to the nature of SIH,” Arnold said. “They live and work in the same place all the time. Learning to work together to promote a mission adds another layer to the mix that you don’t get in apartments.” Over the years, students have had many positive experiences living in Special Interest Housing.
S TA R RY AT H L E T I C F I E L D
Writer's House
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STUDENT LIFE EN RS LA ENT UD ST NION U
Rafiki House
IN THE BEGINNING BY KAMMY UNDIEH Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be. JOB 8:7 (NIV)
T
BITTNER B E AC H
Y RY
here are two books of the Bible that start with the phrase, “In the beginning,” in English. The first one, Genesis, is a collection on the origins of a culture – its founders and its history. Genesis sets the foundation on which the other books of the Christian Bible are built. The second book is the Gospel of John, intentionally using the same phrase to tie back to the creation of the Universe, insinuating that it is all one big story.
Harbor House
BREECHE
Summer is over, which means the beginning of a new school year for many people. It can be challenging at first – wondering if one will fit in, figuring out classes, and for some, attempting to navigate a completely different culture and language so far away from home. Experiences from previous school years loom in the past, reminding us of prior mistakes, dreadfully afraid of repeating them. Despite these fearful thoughts, we must remember the first words God ever spoke into the void universe, “Let there be light.”
S CREEK
“I felt I could meet a lot of people who were interested in a particular topic,” Yoon said.
“Get to know the people that are there,” Foster said. “And get to know the program”. The Special Interest Houses are always open and welcome to visitors who want to know more about the houses, their programs and the community they have built. To learn more, stop in sometime to experience residential life on a different level and see what it looks like to live in community with students of likeminded interests and passions.
© OPENMAPTILES © OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS
Roth felt that students considering applying to live in Special Interest Housing should be in touch with their personal and communal goals before taking the next step.
A new semester means a new beginning. It is a chance to re-define oneself, to re-shape one’s dream, to start a new path or modify the existing one. Using our previous experiences to shape our new ones like John uses Genesis, we can see that our past does not define us, but rather shapes us. We are ever-evolving, ever-growing beings. We can turn our endings into new chapters starting again, into beautiful beginnings.
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. ISAIAH 43:18-19 (NIV)
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STUDENT LIFE
Freedom BY CELICA COOK
HEALTHY, ALLERGEN-FREE EATING AT COLLEGE JUST GOT EASIER
T
he Union Cafe has always been a place where students go to gather together, play a few games and share a few laughs over a burger and a few of those legendary French fries. This year, a big change allows students to enjoy a new variety of healthy alternatives while still being able to treat themselves with a burger every so often. And the best part is — students who struggle with any of the eight major food allergens won’t have to miss out on anything. The Union Cafe has a new vegan and allergen-free station that serves food free of all eight of the major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy. “Students who previously may have had trouble finding healthy alternatives or finding things that meet their allergen requirements now have an option at the Union,” Dan Campbell, Retail Operations Manager of Dining Services, said.
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Lottie Nelson Dining Hall has had a similar system in place for students who are looking for healthy and allergen free alternatives. However, Lottie is not open all day long and it’s not always convenient for students to swipe into the dining hall when they are on the go. “We want people to be included when they’re with their team, when they’re with their castmates,” Campbell said. “When they’re hanging out with people, we want them to be able to order from the same spot and have their dietary issues met properly.” Creating a station like this was no easy feat for the Union team. In fact, they are one of the only restaurants in the area that has been able to accomplish such a task. “There are not many people trying both allergen-free and vegan,” Campbell said. “There’s some colleges, and some small restaurants doing it, but we had to get creative on pulling vegan recipes and figuring out how to make them allergen-free and vice versa.”
Andrew White, retail shift supervisor at the Union, played a key role in creating many of the recipes for the station's new menu. The new station will be offering a variety of vegan and allergen-free options such as gluten-free avocado toast, salads and wraps with vegan meat and cheese options, and special menu items such as vegan sausages, and even hot dogs. “We’ll have a line of avocado toast, so it won’t just be bread and avocado,” Campbell said. “You’ll be able to add toppings. We’ll have a couple of signature items that are suggestions. We’ll have a salad fusion which is vegan and gluten-free that are also able to have a gluten-free tortilla or gluten-free focaccia bread added so that if you need a grain with your salad, you can get that.” The Union plans on changing the station's menu with the seasons, making it easier for them to attain fresher and more wholesome ingredients that complement the season the year is in.
STUDENT LIFE
" WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE INCLUDED " “There will be different specials that come up there now,” White said. “We’re working on a sloppy-joe recipe, and pulled pork barbeque, but made with jackfruit. In the springtime we’ll come out with new salads to make it more spring-y.”
The dining team recognizes that this generation of college students are eating differently than students have in the past. While students are still enjoying the occasional soda and candy bar, they are also much more aware of their health concerns than they used to be.
The goal is not only to offer healthier and allergen-free alternatives to the menu, but also to make students' dining experience more fun and interesting.
“Things like Naked Juice, things like yogurts, things like the Kombucha bottled beverages at The Falcon, these are items that 10 years ago would not have sold,” Campbell said. “But today's college students are drinking them because they’re thinking about the healthy side of things. They’re very conscious of dietary concerns and very conscious of what they are putting into their body.”
“We are designating the pans, the utensils, the process on that station to do our best to eliminate the possibility of cross contact of allergens,” Campbell said. “We’re looking to make sure that everything we’re offering is made correctly, is made quickly and everyone is happy.”
While the new station itself is completely allergen-free, The Union Cafe is not an allergen-free facility. However, the team is doing everything they can to prevent cross-contamination of any kind so that students with dietary needs can be confident that their food is safe for them to enjoy.
Eating healthy at college just got easier and more delicious thanks to the hard work of the dining services team and their commitment to their students. Stop by The Union Cafe to check out what they have to offer in this new school year, and don’t be afraid to get creative and try something new this semester!
“We’re going for more seasonal and fresh ideas, but it was hard switching over to all that,” White said. “We started out as just being vegan, but then they wanted to add in all of the extra allergies. Being vegan, you need some of the supplemental proteins from soy or something like that, but I understand why we went that way to give people who do have allergies other options.” Stephen Musti, the manager at The Union Café, worked hard to source products that were free of all eight allergens, as well as helping to create recipes from the products he sourced. “It was hard to find bread and croutons that didn’t have milk, soy, wheat or dairy,” White said. Despite the challenges, Musti and his team succeeded in creating delicious and allergen-free recipes that any student can enjoy.
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STUDENT LIFE
BY CHARMAINE LIM
BRINGING HOME TO YOU
M
oving into a new room, no matter how many times you’ve done it, can be a chance to add a personal touch to your living space. With plenty of wall space and furniture to work with, it’s easy to make your room feel cozier and more like home.
The easiest way to add a touch of home is by printing pictures. Family members, summer nights with best friends, cute pets or favorite sceneries from home all work as a simple, cheap way to keep the moments with you. Places like CVS and Office Depot can often print high quality photos on the same day for a low cost, keeping your decorations budget friendly. To make things even more fun, you can hang your pictures on the wall with some string and small clothes pins or colorful paperclips. Washi tape also makes for a cute, colorful picture frame without peeling the paint off the walls.
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Whiteboards in your room can serve as a great way for your friends and family to leave messages. Take advantage of Grandparents Day on October 3 and Family Weekend and Homecoming on October 18-20 to ask those closest to you to leave encouraging messages on your whiteboard. Not only can it offer a small piece of home, but it can also lift your spirits on a bad day to see a note from those who love you most. You can even get each message signed in a different colored whiteboard marker to keep things interesting.
STUDENT LIFE
If you’re worried about sharing precious wall space with your roommate, try coming up with something that you both enjoy and can display on your beds or your walls. Hand-lettered wall quotes of your favorite lyrics, movie quotes or memes can show off your sense of humor and your artistic skills. All it takes is some white paper and a pen to bring both your personalities together. Posters of shared interests can also make for easy, cheap decoration if crafts aren’t your thing. Other options include fun string lights, maps of places you want to visit or a college bucket list you can complete together.
Want something more subtle? Pick up a wooden block letter for your name and get your friends and family to sign it. You can easily add to the collection over time by asking new friends and favorite professors to add their names to the list. And if a wooden letter doesn’t feel like you, this can be done with stuffed animals, t-shirts, plant pots, sports balls or even flags. The choices are unlimited and it makes for a great way to keep track of the best people in your life.
Lastly, making your room feel more familiar can be as easy as bringing a blanket or wall tapestry from home. Re-creating your hat collection on the wall with some Command Strips adds a touch of your personality without going overboard. All you really need is some creativity to make your new space into your new home.
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STUDENT LIFE
NEW "HOOP HOUSE" INCREASES FRESH PRODUCE FOR CAMPUS
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SEPTEMBER 2019
STUDENT LIFE
GREENER SIDE OF THE
TRACKS BY CELICA COOK & CHARMAINE LIM
A brand new "hoop house" increases fresh produce for campus.
I
t’s a new school year here at Messiah College and campus is alive with the energy of students returning from a summer away. A new academic year comes with the opportunity to start fresh, find your roots and flourish. The sustainability team understands the concept of growth more than anyone and is excited to start this new year with a brand-new hoop house located on the other side of the train tracks. “The idea for the hoop house, or the high tunnel greenhouse, was to try and control growing and keep it in one defined area,” Brandon Hoover, Director of Sustainability, said.
The new hoop house will allow students to grow and harvest fruits and vegetables almost year-round, with the exception of one or two of the winter months. This gives students the opportunity to witness the growing and harvesting process firsthand while being on campus during the school year, no matter what season it may be. This also means that Sustainability will be able to sell more produce during the school year, giving students and faculty the opportunity to buy vegetables fresh from campus soil almost all year long. “What we were finding was, we were giving this great opportunity to gardeners in the summer to actually see and watch what they’re growing, harvesting and selling,” Lori Chance, Program Coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, said. “We kind of felt like we were missing an opportunity to allow more students to participate. We’re hoping that more students will get involved and learn more about agriculture.”
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STUDENT LIFE
WANT MORE BEHINDTHE-SCENES PHOTOS? Scan the code to see just how far the hoop house has come — even before the first seedlings started sprouting!
The land where the hoop house now stands has a rich history of farming with Messiah College. Staff and faculty used to use the land for farming as a way to bring down their own cost of living during the Great Depression. “There used to be a house down on that property,” Hoover said. “In the 1930s and 1940s, the person that lived there actually opened up his land for faculty and staff to do farming. Employees were farming down there as a way to offset the cost of living, so it’s kind of neat that we’re still farming down there.” The land was gifted back to Messiah College in the early 2000s for the purpose of funding the expansion of the garden, and in March of 2019, Sustainability began the construction of the new hoop house. The construction of the house did not take long. Within six weeks, the entire structure was complete, and by early April, plants were already growing within the plastic walls. “Students took part in building it, so they were able to build the frame,” Chance said. “Then we hired some folks from Lancaster, and they completed it in a week to a week and a half.” The house currently has six rows of growing produce that extend the entire length of the hoop house. Summer student workers Rachel McLaren, Hannah Cotton and Johnny Thurber worked to plant, harvest, sell and care for the produce in the house over the summer. “We have sun-gold cherry tomatoes and we have two rows of big beef tomatoes,” Cotton said. “On the other side we were growing cucumbers, but we took those out because their time is done, and we are going to plant something else there. We also have sweet potatoes, and bell peppers.”
PEPPER PICKING Hannah Cotton, a summer student worker in
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SEPTEMBER 2019
the garden, tends to peppers growing in the hoop house.
STUDENT LIFE
CLOSE TO HOME Eisenhower Campus Center peeks over a corner of the hoop house, constructed just across the train tracks. INNOVATIVE DESIGN A few simple turns of the blue handle raises or lowers the outer walls of the hoop house. Summer student worker Rachel McLaren tackles some weeds inside.
Besides enjoying the benefits of fresh produce year-round, Sustainability hopes that the new hoop house will teach students about the values of caring for the earth, being conservative with resources and not forsaking creation for the sake of convenience. “The word for the 21st century I think would be convenience,” Hoover said. “What that has done to us is it has certainly made us more productive, but there are also externalities associated with that. We have a ton of waste issues to deal with. We have plastic in the oceans. This is a big problem that we’ve created.” The sustainability team further recognizes the disconnect that today’s society has with the land and strives to give students an opportunity to slow down, take a break from the busyness of modern daily life and reconnect with God’s creation.
“I think the biggest contribution of the garden to the campus community is giving students space to be,” Hoover said. “We’ve had students who’ve worked in the garden and described it as a healing process. I think that is a testimony to what gardening can be for a lot more students.” The new greenhouse will still be up and running over the course of the new academic year, and the sustainability team is always looking for volunteers to come in to help with the gardening process. If you feel like taking a breath of fresh air and getting your hands a little dirty, take a walk across the tracks to see what’s growing on the other side.
THE FARM STAND operates on Tuesdays after chapel from 10:30 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. in the Eisenhower Commons.
To volunteer or find out more information, send an email to communitygarden@messiah.edu.
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CULTURE
TAKING BUSINESS
ABROAD BY MADELINE SPIVEY
AUSTRIA: THE CITY OF INNSBRUCK (by Alyssa Smoker)
MESSIAH STUDENTS EXPLORE THE WORLD AND MASTER THE BUSINESS FIELD
F
our courses. Ten weeks. 13 countries. Preposterous or wildly productive? For the 26 Messiah students who crossed international boundaries as quickly as others back in the U.S. crossed streets, the annual IBI trip exceeded expectations and proved beneficial on multiple fronts. The International Business Institute is an academic program in which the world is the classroom. Over the span of ten weeks, students have the opportunity to participate in business-focused courses as they travel from country to country on this unique, immersive and intensive program. Several students who were part of the 2019 trip reflected on their time abroad after returning.
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SEPTEMBER 2019
Bailey Groff (’19) was one of the 26 students on the trip. Originally from York, Pennsylvania, with a degree in marketing and a minor in web development, she spoke on how the program was hugely beneficial for her to better understand the business world. “Through these courses and our corporate visits, I learned how the economy affects global businesses,” Groff said. “Nations trade to become more efficient, business strategy depends on the country the company is operat-
ing in, and marketing for one company will change depending on the target market’s cultural norms.”
CULTURE IBI’s impact extended beyond the classroom for Groff. “When you travel to new places, you learn so much about yourself and those around you,” Groff said. “The most important thing I learned while traveling was to be flexible and adaptable because things always turn out different than you expect.” While each country offered a unique and exciting experience, Groff especially enjoyed visiting Japan, a recent addition to the IBI itinerary. “Tokyo was so intriguing because of the quiet culture,” Groff said. “You can walk down a busy street, and if you pause, you can feel the quiet peacefulness.” While the program was intense and shortlived, the effects of the once-in-a-lifetime experience will remain. Groff summarized her participation in the program as a gift from God that she will never forget. The trip gave her new friends, a chance to visit beautiful cities and the opportunity to grow as a person.
“I am ready for anything that life throws at me and am always up for an adventure into a new city.” Observing a wide variety of international business practices was just one of the many aspects of the IBI program. James Lim (’20), a double major in musical theatre and international business, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, spoke about the value of the course material emphasizing the differences that every culture had when making business decisions. “The main goal of the courses is to have the students break away from an ethnocentric world view,” Lim said. “Be it in the business field or life in general.” While Lim said that it is difficult to “crack the surface of life” in a new place in just five days, he still valued the time they had to explore. “I loved being able to just walk the streets and people-watch,” Lim said. “While yes, there are many differences culturally between
JAPAN: TOP OF MT. FUJI (by Alyssa Smoker) INDIA: THE TAJ MAHAL IN AGRA (by Alyssa Smoker) UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: SAND DUNES IN DUBAI (by Tori May) FRANCE: THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES (by Hannah Reed)
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CULTURE
CULTURAL DO'S & DON'TS “I think one of the biggest [differences] is how to act appropriately in public. Americans are so loud, and I feel that’s why we get the bad reputation of the “American tourist.” Traveling in a group of 30+ people was challenging enough, but being in another culture where groups of four are large and loud was a big difference. Public transportation was also super quiet even if the facilities weren’t as nice. Coming back to the states, I realize how loud I am, even just conversing with one other person.” — Kathryn Wentling, '20 International Business "I think a difference that I saw culturally was the level of involvement or ability to talk about leaders and the government, and how much it was restricted in other places. In China it is forbidden to talk about uprisings such as Tiananmen Square or about the leaders or government in a bad way without fear of being watched. In Thailand it is illegal to talk badly about the royal family. Even people who are not citizens of Thailand can be arrested for doing so, but they sometimes receive more grace."
residences of the different countries, it was extremely interesting to see that we are all fundamentally the same: we all want our own personal space (some more than others), we are all trying to get somewhere (some faster than others), and we all think that our way of doing it is the best.” Lim thoroughly enjoyed visiting Thailand, where he was able to indulge in delicious food and see his family after two years of being apart. Looking to his future beyond Messiah, Lim found that his IBI experience had brought him much encouragement, gaining confidence through the program. “I never really saw myself as a "businessperson", usually focusing more on the musical theatre major,” Lim said. “I've come to learn that if I really put my mind to it, I could survive in the business world should I need to.” Hannah Reed (’20), from Hampton Bays, New York, a senior public relations major with a minor in business administration, also learned more about herself and her abilities.
Many of Reed’s experiences gave her not only a better understanding of other cultures, but also taught her that the world has a lot to offer. By comparing the world to wise grandparents, Reed presented lessons of knowledge, wisdom and expertise from cultures outside of her own. “An academic program like IBI is not simply a study abroad with lots of traveling perks,” Reed said. “It’s a whole lot more than that. It taught me how to be flexible when nothing is going according to plan, to adapt to changes, to be attentive to new and different ways of doing things, and to network and connect with professionals around the world. Beyond Messiah, I know this program will give me a leg up in the professional world—for that I am very grateful.” There is no doubt that the IBI program has once again left students with fond memories and a plethora of new-found knowledge, both within the realms of academia and beyond. Now, the rest of the world awaits.
“Throughout my travels the biggest thing I learned is that I know nothing,” Reed said. “As an American, especially, my ignorance to cultural norms was so obvious. For example, in Heidelberg, we didn’t know we could seat ourselves, or in Switzerland we didn’t know it was culturally expected to be quiet on public transportation.”
— Sarah Blessing, '20 Marketing
AUSTRIA: ALYSSA (LEFT) AND SARAH (RIGHT) HIKE THE ALPS IN INNSBRUCK (by Hannah Reed)
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SEPTEMBER 2019
INDIA: CORPORATE NETWORKING DINNER IN CHENNAI (by Tori May) FRANCE: THE EIFFEL TOWER IN PARIS (by Alyssa Smoker)
CULTURE
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE REALITY OF SOCIAL MEDIA'S REACH BY JOY HAMMOND
S
ocial media has been a powerful tool in spreading awareness to the general public. The platform has been used in various ways, such as changing profile pictures after the Paris attacks, kneeling during the national anthem and the ALS ice bucket challenge to promote and raise money for a motor neuron disease. The question that arises, however, is, ‘is it actually helpful?’ There are certain points when positive intentions can cause more harm than good. Is this the case where discussing social justice through social media does nothing but build someone’s self-esteem and self-image?
One of the most recent examples is people changing their profile picture to a blue background in order to raise awareness for the violence in Sudan. On Jun. 3, 2019, the Sudan military raided the peaceful sit-in outside of the military headquarters during the ongoing Sudanese Revolution. Over one hundred protesters were killed and injured during the massacre. One of the victims was twenty-sixyear-old Mohamed Hashim Matter. His profile picture was just a blue background at the time. It was Matter’s old tweet “he painted the sky blue” that would spark the viral action to change profile pictures blue in solidarity.
According to surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center, 69% of Americans believe that social media is important for getting the government to look at social injustice situations and gives a voice to the underrepresented.
Junior peace and conflict studies major Lydia Frew Tamrat was one of many to participate in turning her profile blue for Sudan.
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“It’s because first off, it reminded myself of the fact that there was something happening,” Tamrat said. “And I was hoping that people would see so many blue profiles and get curious. So, [social media] does spread awareness.” She continued that most people check their social media accounts before checking any news outlets, and because of this, Tamrat said, “I think we should use [social media] as an introductory means, but people shouldn’t use it as their only news of what’s happening in the world.” Celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Youtubers like Mark Fischbach (Markiplier) used their social media platforms to spread awareness of various situations that affected their communities, like the Syrian Crisis or suicide ideation. When the Net Neutrality law was being discussed in Congress, Youtubers like Felix Kjellberg (Pewdiepie) and Seán McLoughlin (Jacksepticeye) published their videos not only to tell the public of their stance on the issue, but also to inform them on how it will affect the future of the Internet. Social media has been and continues to be a powerful platform that should be used as a positive influence in the world.
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While social media is helpful in creating moral support, it has not proven effective in creating a call for action or providing financial aid. Back in 2015, when Facebook profiles donned France’s national flag in response to the Paris attacks, the International Business Times discussed the implications of the social media support. Through a study, they found that when participants were invited to join a Facebook group or sign a petition, they were less likely to donate money or volunteer. Campaigns that posted on social media had garnered support through likes and comments more than real support and change.
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It is important for anyone using social media for social justice to understand what impact the platform can have on viewers and consumers. The internet is a place where users can obtain and share information, but it often takes face to face contact to create actual change. Educating people on social injustices is one of the first steps in changing how people view and treat each other. Social media can be a great platform for educating, but not for transactions. An issue that needs to be addressed concerning social media is that while it can be a great platform to easily spread awareness and join with like-minded people on an issue, information spreading can also be false.
CULTURE
SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
" At the end of the day, social media cannot be used by itself. "
This is another reason why it is important for people to always research the topic from more than one reliable source. It is very easy to misconstrue details when it comes to personal opinions on the internet. “You have to be aware of what you read online,” Meghan Fisher, a lifeguard at Rocking Horse Ranch, said. “Some people publish fake news to trick people into gaining money. As for just changing your profile picture to a flag, it doesn’t show much. Some people just do it because others are doing it and not because they feel any sympathy or empathy for them.” At the end of the day, social media cannot be used by itself. “I think social media can indeed be used for social justice,” Kammy Undieh, junior Biology major, said. “But it cannot be the be-all-end-all because it does not have the permanence that reality does. Social media cannot solve a problem.”
When speaking about how she uses her own social media, Undieh had an emphasis on spreading awareness as well as educating others. “I share posts about African cultures, racial injustices, feminism, environmental protection, and so on,” Undieh said. “I once said I share the worst of humanity so that we can continue to fight, but I also share the best, so that we can know how far we’ve come.” Social media makes it easy for someone to just click a button to show support for a cause without having to commit any time, energy or resources to help change circumstances surrounding the cause. It is important for everyone to understand the power that social media has and how to handle it properly. While it is noble to use such platforms to promote social justice, users should acknowledge its limits. Social media is helpful in spreading information and educating the public on issues and events that are hosting social justice discussion. It may not be effective in guaranteeing a lot of volunteer or monetary donations, however, this should not be a reason to stop spreading awareness.
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RE-CAPPING THE BIGGEST EVENTS FROM THE
Summer News As classes begin, and the warm air starts to cool, it is hard not to reminisce about the summer and the homework that didn’t need to be done. Here’s everything that you may have missed, celebrated or only heard a little bit about.
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Negotiations between the Transitional Military Council (TMC) of Sudan and the transitional government led by civilians were taking place, urging for the TMC to absolve themselves into the transitional government. On this day, these negotiations were abruptly stopped when Rapid Support Forces and the TMC killed and raped at least 128 peaceful protestors in what is known as the Khartoum Massacre. [1]
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Over a million protestors filled the city of Hong Kong in strong opposition with an extradition bill, “that would allow fugitives to be transferred to mainland China,” (Yeung, Jessie). This bill would indicate the end of the “One Country, Two Systems,” principle that Hong Kong has observed since the continuation of Chinese rule in 1997. This would eventually ignite three months of dangerous protests for the rest of the summer.
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The US Women’s Soccer Team destroyed several World Cup records against Thailand, winning 13-0, including winning by the largest margin in World Cup history for both men and women’s soccer.
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Thousands upon thousands demonstrated throughout Sudan calling for the justice of those murdered in the Khartoum Massacre.
Social media movement starts spreading as people across the world change their profile pictures blue in support of the Sudanese protests. The color blue was in memory of Mohamed Hashim Mattar, who was killed in the Khartoum Massacre. Remaz Mahgoub Khalaleyal began by sharing the blue profile picture, urging others to do the same, to spread awareness of the atrocities in Sudan, and to reach out to their representatives to publicly denounce the TMC’s actions. [2]
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Juneteenth Independence Day commemorating when the abolition of slavery was first announced in Texas on June 19, 1865, celebrating freedom and equal rights.
The International Olympic Committee voted Italy to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
The 50th Anniversary of the start of the Stonewall Riots, where members of the LGBT+ community held demonstrations in 1969 against a police raid, monumentally paving the way for future liberation and equal rights in America.
JUNE 9 – HONG KONG PROTESTS BEGIN
CULTURE
HOTTEST MONTHS
Calendar 2019
2 4 7
BY KENDRA SOMMERS
JULY 29 – "OLD TOWN ROAD" BREAKS RECORD
JULY
Spider-Man: Far From Home was released as Peter Parker makes his way to Europe.
The United States of America turned 243 years old. Netflix’s Stranger Things Season 3 was also released for the binging on this American holiday.
The US Women’s Soccer Team takes home the World Cup trophy, winning 2-0 against the Netherlands.
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Facebook event “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us” was created as a satirical meme to rally people in support of “storming” Area 51 to see the alleged aliens. This quickly became a huge sensation with now over 3.5 million Facebook users saying they are going or interested in this event. At this point in time, it is unknown how many are serious about raiding Area 51. We’ll have to wait until September 20, to see how many people actually show up and if they will actually go forward with their “Naruto runners” and “Kyles” to raid Area 51.
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The Lion King “live action” remake was released, and regardless if you enjoyed it, it was a historical, cinematic moment using the newest technology to encapsulate photorealism in the CGI throughout the movie.
Old Town Road by Lil Nas X broke the record for the longest-running number one song on the Billboard Top 100 list and would continue to reign the top spot for a total of 19 weeks.
JULY 7 – US WOMEN'S SOCCER WINS WORLD CUP
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AUGUST 22 – AMAZON RAINFOREST BURNS
AUGUST
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News broke of Sony and Disney’s squabbles to keep Spiderman in the MCU (Marvel CInematic Universe). Time will tell if this will get resolved, or if Spiderman will no longer be an Avenger as a byproduct of Disney’s desire for more profits.
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The Amazon Rainforest was reported with record burning fires, and had been burning since the beginning of August, with no media coverage. While the dry seasons fostered the conditions for the fires to continue spreading, they were as a direct result of human’s deforestation, trying to make the land usable for farming and ranching. The Amazon produces over 20% of the entire world’s oxygen. Losing significant amounts could be catastrophic to life as we know it, along with the pollutants and toxic gasses released into the atmosphere by the fires themselves. There are many ways one can aid in defending the Amazon including donating to the Rainforest Action Network and the Rainforest Trust, along with cross referencing the paper and wood one consumes with the Rainforest Alliance to ensure they are “rainforest-safe” products. [3]
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Hong Kong protestors were faced against police armed with water cannons, marking “one of the most violent nights of pro-democracy protests seen over the 12 weekends of consecutive protests." [4] Breaking from the larger protestors’ march, a smaller group extended their march to an unapproved area. Police used tear gas hoping to disperse the crowds but had to resort to the water cannons to destroy makeshift barricades left in the streets. This was the first-time water cannons were used during the summer of protests and the first-time tear gas was used in 10 days. The people of Hong Kong are now calling for the resignation of Chief Executive Carrie Lam, withdrawal from the extradition bill, and “universal suffrage.”
This calendar could not possibly fit the countless events, holidays and memorable moments of the summer, but hopefully it helped put the summer into perspective, and served as a reminder of at least some of the significant moments that occurred while we were away from Messiah.
FURTHER READING: [1] BROWN, SHELBY – “The Amazon Rainforest Is on Fire: What We Know and How You Can Help.” [1] SALIH, ZEINAB MOHAMMED AND JASON BURKE – “Sudanese Protesters Demand Justice Following Mass Killings.” [3] SUNG, MORGAN – “People Are Changing Their Profile Pictures to Blue to Show Solidarity with Sudan.” [4] YEUNG, JESSIE – “Live Ammunition, Petrol Bombs and Water Cannons Mark Violent Escalation in Hong Kong Protests.”
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ONSISTENTLY BY MARK LEACH & CHARMAINE LIM
OMPETITIVE BY MARK LEACH & CHARMAINE LIM
COACHES BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION OF THOSE BEFORE THEM The success of a sports team can easily be measured by the awards won by its coaches and players. This is no different for the Messiah Men’s and Women’s soccer teams.
National Championship under former Coach Dave Brandt. These wins were not only a result of skill, but also of a team bond that had been built by their coaches.
If you visit the archives of both the men’s and women’s teams’ successes, you’ll find that there have been a combined 30 MAC Championships and 16 National Championship titles since 2000. None of us can deny the fact that both teams are now some of the most well-regarded Division-III soccer teams in the nation, but this success does not just appear out of thin air.
CONQUERING CHANGE
When coaches Brad McCarty and Scott Frey were asked how their respective teams have consistently dominated the field over the years, a common theme surfaced in the type of culture that existed when both coaches took over several years ago. The consistency of both teams in the past two decades can be traced back to 2000, when they each experienced a significant change. For the women’s team, it was a change in coaches and their first conference championship that fall. Similarly, the men’s team won their first
A great season of 17 wins to 3 losses for the women’s team in 2000, as well as their conference championship, was something Frey credited to his predecessor, Coach Becky Craig. “I think I came in at a very opportune time,” Frey said. “Coach Craig had laid a great foundation and had recruited a very good class that I came in with as well.” Frey continued to emphasize the importance of maintaining the culture that has existed in the women’s team since before he was head coach. Like many of his team members, he believes that the idea of a successful season should never be based upon their record or where they finish in the NCAA tournament. Over the years, this mindset has been passed on to new generations of players.
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The standard that Frey has built for his team helps to maintain consistency when each new season brings about different challenges and unique qualities. The Messiah women’s team has certainly both lived up to and exceeded this standard, as they have won 5 National Championships and 16 MAC Championships since the ‘00 season. “Give your best effort every time you step on the field in either a training session or in a game,” Frey said. “If you expect that of yourself and we as a staff expect that of them and don’t allow them to get by with anything less, than it becomes the norm." In the 2019 season, Frey’s goal is to maintain consistency for the women’s team while also evolving with the way the game is being played. “We will hold true to our desire to continue to be the best place in the country to play soccer,” Frey said. “Which is because of the people and fundamental desire to honor Christ with what we do and how we do it.”
BUILDING BLOCKS Much like the women’s soccer team, the men’s team has been nothing short of dominant since taking off in 2000, when the team won their first National Championship under former Coach Dave Brandt. It was only after four more National Titles that McCarty succeeded Brandt as head coach in 2009, taking over a team that won three backto-back National Championships through the ‘04-’06 seasons and had just come off a National Championship season in 2008. Going into his first year as head coach, McCarty wanted his team to focus on two specific areas. “We wanted to make sure we brought in high level character guys who were excellent fits to Messiah both on and off the field,” McCarty said. “[And] we wanted to keep the core values of the team front and center, which gave us direction in both good times and bad.” The men’s team, considered the most dominant Division-III soccer team in the nation at the time, went on to win two more NCAA Championships in 2009 and 2010.
The mindset of maintaining a good culture within the team and among teammates allows players to keep their focus in the right area. “I don’t know if we will ever go to another Final Four or win another National Championship,” McCarty said. “but I do know that our players will have an unbelievable experience. When players care about the team and more importantly their teammates more than themselves, it creates a culture and environment where young men can grow and mature.”
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MESSIAH COLLEGE ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS.
To help his team face any roadblocks, McCarty uses three methods: playing at a high standard no matter the opponent, striving for a mindset of growth that pushes them to get better with each practice, and focusing on excellence instead of successes by paying more attention to details and how they hone their skills.
SPORTS & REC
IT'S A RECORD COACH FREY SAW HIS 400TH WIN AS COACH OF MESSIAH WOMEN'S SOCCER AFTER DEFEATING GROVE CITY 3-0 THIS PAST AUGUST 27TH.
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SPOR TS SPORTS SURVEY FROM THE STUDENTS, ABOUT THE CULTURE
BY JORY HAGEN & CHARMAINE LIM
How do sports Messiah impact the impact the Howatdo sports at Messiah campus as campus a whole?as a whole?
A
t many Division-I schools, sports mean million-dollar stadiums, thousands of fans and large revenues. In many cases, sports have a great impact on the student body and how they choose to spend their free time. For Messiah, the culture is different. Playing as a Division-III school means no athletic scholarships for student athletes and no revenue source for the program. It also means non-student-athletes have a different outlook on the sports’ culture on campus.
To me it's the of it. I really of it. I really Toatmosphere me it's the atmosphere like when there’s a bigthere’s game,awhether it whether it like when big game, is soccer orisbasketball whatever.orI like soccer oror basketball whatever. I like how beforehow and before after the game is a there is a and afterthere the game crowd of students walking down to thedown to the crowd of students walking fields or gym. It's or thegym. excitement of it fields It's the excitement of it and escaping your studies for astudies for a andfrom escaping from your while. It’s also howIt’s a lot ofhow freshmen while. also a lot of freshmen make friends on campus. I remember make friends on campus. I remember the first game wentgame to was a white-out theI first I went to was a white-out game and I game met kids Luke Meads,basketball '21 basketball andthere I met kids there friends with.friends with. that I am still Computer that andI am still
Information Science
I think it makes usitallmakes comeus together. We I think all come together. We wouldn’t have the Eyas White-Out wouldn’t have the Eyas White-Out March if weMarch didn’t ifhave the soccer we didn’t have team. the soccer team. It’s a bonding for everyone. It’sthing a bonding thing for everyone.
Haley Blauch, '22
Politics and International Relations I really just enjoy the friendships. I have
I really just enjoy the friendships. I have friends on sports hereteams and I really friendsteams on sports here and I really enjoy goingenjoy to watch them and seeing going to watch them and seeing how thankful they are to see how thankful theytheir are to see their buddies at their game. It creates buddies at their game.a It creates a comradery comradery on campus on that is different campus that is different than most schools. Nate Vargas,than '21 most schools. Social Work
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To see the atmosphere and friendships in action, check out GoMessiah.edu for upcoming games.
What’s the culture around sports at Messiah? What’s the culture around sports at Messiah? What’s the culture around sports at Luke Messiah? What’s the culture around sports at I think Messiah has the best sports I think Messiah has theMessiah? best sports culture in Division-III sports. Don’t get in sports Division-III me wrong, culture I love D-I and sports. Don’t get Ime think Messiah has best sports wrong, I love D-Ithe sports watching [University of] Maryland play,and culture in Division-III sports. Don’t get What is your favorite sport to watch at [University of]best Maryland but with D-IIwatching sports you always get think Messiah has the sportsplay, me wrong, I love D-Iyou sports andget What is your favorite sport to watch at Messiah and why? but with D-I sports always scandals and other things going on. culture in Division-III sports. Don’t get watching [University of] Maryland play, Messiah and why? scandals other going With Messiah obviously being asports me wrong,and I love D-Ithings and on. What is your favorite sport to watch at but D-Ireally sports always Luke Withwith Messiah obviously Christian school, they tieyou faith into aget play, watching [University of] being Maryland Messiah and why? scandals and other things going on. What is your favorite sport to watch at I enjoy watching the women’s basketball Christian school, they really tie get faith into sports and but it’s awesome to see how with D-I sports you always Messiah obviously being I enjoy theon women’s Messiahbasketball and why? team the most outwatching of any sport sports and it’sother awesome togoing seeahow tightly knit With the teams are. Just for me, scandals and things on. school, theyare. really tiefor faith into most of any sport campus. Forteam one,the I just loveout basketball. I on tightly knitthe thewomen’s teams Just I’ve gotten Christian to watch With Messiah obviously being a me, Icampus. enjoy watching the women’s basketball sports and to it’swatch awesome to see how For I just love played in high school, soone, when I got to basketball. I I’ve gotten the women’s basketball team practice and grow since Christian school, they really tie faith into team the most out of any sport tightly knit the teams are. Just for me, played in high so in whenbasketball Ion got to Messiah, I immediately gotschool, involved basketball practice and grow I help themsports scrimmage, it’s pretty and team it’sand awesome to see howsince Icampus. enjoy watching women’s For one,the I just love basketball. I I’ve gotten to watch the women’s Messiah, I immediately got involved helping theteam women’s teamout scrimmage in on in Ithe helprelationships them scrimmage, and it’sfor pretty cool to seetightly theyare. have. knit the teams Just me, the most of any sport played inthe high school,team so when I got to in basketball team practice andthey growhave. since helping women’s scrimmage practice. It was an awesome way to cool to see the relationships I really like how they include non-athI’ve gotten to watch the women’s campus. For one, I just love basketball. Messiah, immediately got involved in I II help them scrimmage, and at it’s pretty practice. ItIhigh wasschool, an awesome to to keep engaged in the sport even though Iway really likeanhow they include letes as well. It's not exclusive thing basketball team practice andnon-athgrow since played inthe so when I got helping women’s team scrimmage in cool to see the relationships they have. keep in the sport though wasn’t literally onengaged theI team. letes well.scrimmage, It's not thing at all, they’re really welcoming andan exclusive I helpas them and it’s pretty Messiah, immediately goteven involved in I practice. It was an awesome way to I really like how they include non-athwasn’t literally on the team team.scrimmage in all, welcoming thankful forcool thethey’re non-athlete students and to seereally the relationships they have. helping the women’s keep engaged in the sport even though I letes as well. It'snon-athlete not an exclusive thing at forhow the that support them. Ithankful really like they include students non-athpractice. It was an awesome wasn’t literally on the team. way to all, they’re really welcoming and that support letes as well. them. It's not an exclusive thing at keep engaged in the Women’s soccer. so cool.sport even though I thankful for the non-athlete students Haley They’re all, they’re really welcoming and wasn’t literally on the team. Women’s soccer. so cool. I’m actually the manager…so They’re they’re my that support them. fortry the students I’m actually the manager…so they’re my I think that thankful they really tonon-athlete be role favorite. Haley Women’s soccer. They’re so cool. support them. favorite. think thatelse. they reallyplay try to models for Ithat everyone They forbe role I’m actually the manager…so they’re my forthey everyone They play for the glory ofmodels God and show else. that on Women’s I think that they really try to be role favorite. soccer. They’re so cool. glory God that and they show that on and off thethe field, andofI think a lot of I’mvolleyball. actually the they’re my I enjoy men's Mymanager…so favorite models for everyone else. They play for the they field, and I try think thatrole a lot of people lookIand up off to that them, especially think really to be favorite. I enjoy men's volleyball. My favorite sport to watch is actually football, but I glory of God and they show that on people look up to them, especially communitythe members kids models for and everyone else. They play for Nate sport watch is actually football, but I got really into theto men’s volleyball team and off the field, and I and thinkkids that a lot of I enjoy men's volleyball. My favoriteteam community members in the community. the glory of God and they show that on got really into the men’s volleyball when I started working on campus at the people look up to them, especially sport to watch is actually football, but I in theoffcommunity. and the field, and I think that a lot of I men's started working campus at the ticket boothwhen outside of the gym. At on first, I I enjoy volleyball. My favorite community members and kids got really intooutside the men’s volleyball team people look up to them, especially ticket booth of the gym. At first, would just work the table and then leave, sport to watch working is actually but I I in the community. when Ijust started onfootball, campus at the members and kids would work the table and thenteam leave, The culturecommunity around sports at Messiah is but as the year went on, I the actually loved got really into men’s volleyball ticket booth outside of gym. Atloved first, I in theculture community. asand the year wentthe on,the I actually The sports atI Messiah is just different than otheraround small schools. going in thebut gym watching team when Ijust started working on campus at the would work the table and then leave, Natedifferent in the gym andofwatching teamI just than other small schools. I know I personally have watched other play. It reallygoing is a cool atmosphere. ticket booth outside the gym.the Atloved first, The culture around sports at Messiah is but as the year went on, I actually play. It just really is a the cooltable atmosphere. have watched other Division-III know sportsI personally because my friends would work and then leave, just different than other small schools. going in the gym and watching the team Division-III sports friendsisI play at other schools thebecause fans and The cultureand around sports atmy Messiah but asIt the year I actually loved know Iare personally have watched other play. really is awent coolon, atmosphere. play at other schools and the fans and student sections nothing like just different than other small schools. I going in the gym and watching the team sports because my friends student sections are nothing like Messiah’s. Division-III I reallyI like how Messiah’s know personally have watched other play. It really is a cool atmosphere. play at other schools and fans and Messiah’s. really like howthe Messiah’s teams interact with theIsports general student Division-III because my friends sections arethe nothing likestudent teams interact with general population student and aatlot of non-athletes are play other schools and the fans and Iand really likeofhow Messiah’sare population a are lot non-athletes friends withMessiah’s. the athletes. student sections nothing like teams the general student friendsinteract withI really thewith athletes. Messiah’s. like how Messiah’s population and a lot of non-athletes are teams interact with the general student friends with the athletes. population and a lot of non-athletes are friends with the athletes.
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N O S A E S K C A HYPE B E H T E B R I N G S BAC K C N U BEO BALL Y E L L N ' S VO M
BY JORY HAGEN & CHARMAINE LIM
B
ouncing back from a disappointing end to the season is something that sports teams and fans know well. Spirits are down and work ethic might be hard to find again but perhaps a more difficult task is asked of a team that has reached a plateau. As the Messiah Falcons men’s volleyball team eyeballs the upcoming 2019 season, they also stare down a plateau of their own. For consecutive seasons now, the Falcons have reached a great height of success, reaching the conference semifinals twice in the past two years only to lose both times. The glaring question rises before them, how do we bounce back from such a successful season? How do we scale the plateau and reach higher heights? Matt Knab, junior outside hitter, believes that grit is what it takes for his team to get over the hump that the semi-final game had presented itself to be. To him, this isn’t the first time this team has been faced with the challenge of bouncing back. The previous season brought a wide variety of challenges. Injuries on the roster put six starters on the bench at one point.
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SPORTS & REC
"HUNGRY FOR
“It was difficult to find a groove as a team with so many people going in and out of being able to play,” Knab said. “While the season felt like a disaster [due to injuries], I think this was something that brought that extra grit to the players.” Knab also touched on the character of his team, particularly in their ability to have fun or be serious at the appropriate times. The team continues to face new hardships for the coming season, with the loss of four seniors at the end of the spring semester. However, Knab has confidence that the freshmen on the team can make the Falcons even better than before. With injuries being the primary concern in the previous season, one of the team’s goals this year is to remain healthy and to care for their bodies. It is safe to say that despite last season’s hardships Knab and the team have no lack of excitement for the upcoming season. While men's volleyball is a spring sport, Knab highlighted the importance of getting excited, or “hyped up” for the upcoming season.
In his own time, Knab watches films in the fall to learn from past games, and also to excite himself and prepare mentally. To him and the team, the fall provides a time of focus and excitement before the spring season begins.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MESSIAH COLLEGE ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS.
more."
From an outside perspective, it appears that the devastation of consecutive losses in the semifinals is not holding the team back. In fact, Knab said he and the team are “hungry for more.” For hunger to be satisfied requires hard work, which Knab and the team are also prepared to put in. “Long hours in the gym and a time to challenge each other is important in the fall,” Knab said. While practices remain optional, they are arguably the most important time of the year for any sports team because of the character it takes to put in the time. Knab, however, has faith that his guys will challenge him and push each other to greater heights this fall. The men’s volleyball team is definitely one to watch in the upcoming year, as they remain one of the best and most favored teams in the MAC Commonwealth Conference. Despite injury, frustration and consecutive devastating playoff losses, the team certainly seems set for a major comeback season.
ALL OR NOTHING Ian Parzyzsek (#4) takes a leap during the championship match against Stevenson last season. GAME FACE Will Webb (#18) takes a moment to celebrate a well-won point.
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