The Swinging Bridge Magazine - October 2021

THE

THE PULSE MAGAZINE

GOING BACK

IN TIME

22

OF CHAPEL

LGBTQ+ AT MESSIAH

18

THE RETURN

7

IDENTIFYING AS

OCTOBER 2021

14

SPILLING THE TEA Thoughts on Messiah's gossip accounts

VOLUME 118 / EDITION 24 / OCTOBER 2021

14

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

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10

22

28 30

10

IDENTIFYING AS LGBTQ+ AT MESSIAH

14

SPILLING THE TEA

18

GOING BACK IN TIME

22

THE RETURN OF CHAPEL

28

THROUGH ATHLETE'S EYES

30

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST PUMPKIN PIE

HOW THE COMMUNITY COVENANT AFFECTS STUDENTS' SEXUALITY

THOUGHTS ON MESSIAH'S GOSSIP ACCOUNTS

MESSIAH THROUGH THE DECADES

STUDENT PERSPECTIVES ON MESSIAH'S CHAPEL REQUIREMENT

DALE FOGELSANGER - CROSS COUNTRY TRACK AND FIELD

COMIC PAGE

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

DESIGN MANAGER SHANNON BILLINGTON

AUDIO & VISUAL MANAGER LIAM FITZSIMMONS

STUDENT DIRECTOR EMILIE RUSH

ASST. STUDENT DIRECTOR JOSHUA MCCLEAF

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

CREATIVE YEARBOOK MANAGER / ANNA HUGHES DESIGN ASSISTANT / CARTER CIRGANG DESIGN ASSISTANT / AMBER SWAISGOOD COVER DESIGN / SHANNON BILLINGTON

DIGITAL & RADIO AUDIO & VISUAL ASSISTANT / HUNTER ROHRER SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER / CASSIDY BARLOCK RADIO MANAGER / MARIE MILLER MUSIC PROGRAMMER / RAVI AHUJA

ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER / KELLIE CHANDLER

JOIN OUR TEAM

S TA F F

MESSIAH UNIVERSITY'S

THE PULSE

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

JULIA MARY REGISTER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

aren’t afraid of talking about uncomfortable or taboo subjects.

LETTER FROM

T H E E D I TO R

In this issue, we talk about what it means to identify as LGBTQ+ at a Christian school and what students honestly think about going back to chapel. These are the kinds of controversial topics we want to discuss.

We are here to help give a voice to those who don’t always have one. We want to tell your stories. Stories that are impactful, emotional, entertaining and necessary. Come find me if you have a story you want to share.

We want you to know who The Pulse is and how we can benefit you. Everything we do here is ultimately for students. Our magazines, our radio station, our events. This magazine is created by students for students. This is for you.

Do college students still read print magazines?

As I’ve stepped into the role of editor-in-chief, I’ve contemplated the question of whether or not our work matters. What could I do to make our magazine worth reading?

At The Pulse, we decided to adjust how we approached student media this year in order to better serve the student body at Messiah. The Pulse has been working hard the past couple of months to revamp what The Swinging Bridge will look like.

This year we are recreating our content, communication and connection in order to better engage with you as students.

We’ve started writing about questions and topics you are concerned about. We are engaging in more collaboration with other organizations on campus. We are open to new ideas, no matter how crazy they seem. And we

I never thought I would be given this opportunity to tell stories. Writing has just been a hobby I picked up the last couple of years. Through this job I’ve been able to meet many new people and for that I am grateful.

You must know this magazine would never be possible without the team I have behind me.

Shannon, our design manager, who is an aesthetic genius. Liam, the guy who can get you a photo of anything. And of course, all of our editors, assistants and volunteers. The only reason you’re holding this issue is because of them.

If this is your first time reading The Swinging Bridge, welcome. I hope you stick around for the exciting ride that is sure to come.

Alright that’s it, Julia Mary Register

TIPS & TRICKS

OCTOBER CALENDER KEEP UP TO DATE WITH LOCAL & ON-CAMPUS EVENTS

BY KAYLEE GETZ

SAB Lost Film Sustain-a-Fest East Side Ghost Tour Friday Night Races Cumberland County's Best Kept Secrets tour

Yoga on the Mountain

SAB Lost Film Swing Dancing at Green Door

East Side Ghost Tour Friday Night Races Homecoming

Yoga on the Mountain

Trivia Thursday

Swing Dancing at Green Door

East Side Ghost Tour Friday Night Races

90s Nostalgia Night

Yoga on the Mountain

Yoga on the Mountain

National Apple Harvest Festival SAB Lost Film

Coffeehouse Swing Dancing at Green Door National Apple Harvest Festival

Swing Dancing at Green Door Cumberland Valley Trailfest Mid-Fall Recess

East Side Ghost Tour

Swing Dancing at Green Door

Friday Night Races Fall Fest at Williams Grove

Swing Dancing at Green Door

Swing Dancing at Green Door

Career Expo in Brubaker

Swing Dancing at Green Door Harrisburg Halloween 10k Run

SAB Lost Film

SAB Lost Film

East Side Ghost Tour

Swing Dancing at Green Door

Friday Night Races Pizza With Professionals

SAB Fall Fest

Yoga on the Mountain THE SWINGING BRIDGE

5

TIPS & TRICKS

WITHOUT MUSIC LIFE WOULD FLAT MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PULSE STAFF WRITTEN BY KAYLEE GETZ & ILLUSTRATION BY ANNA HUGHES

Looking for some new music recommendations? Well, look no further! The Pulse staff put together a list of songs we love and recommend you listen to.

Scan the QR code to find this playlist on Spotify for easy listening and check out The Pulse’s radio station at 90.7 FM. •

Lift Every Voice and Sing : J. Rosemond Johnson

•

Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In : The 5th Dimension

•

I Love You. It’s A Fever Dream : The Tallest Man On Earth

•

Constellations : Ellie Holcomb

•

Seventeen : Sjowgren

•

Get Back : Wolf Saga

•

Are you bored yet? : Wallows, Clairo

•

Something Here : Day Wave

•

What’s Wrong : Half.Alive

•

I Can Change : LCD Soundsystem

•

Rainbow : Kacey Musgraves

•

Inevitable : Lauren Daigle

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s faculty represent a variety of Christian traditions, and most of them are ordained or have served as pastors. Come learn with us!

•

Contraste : Dizzy Gillespie

•

Liz : Remi Wolf

Academic Programs: • Master of Divinity • Master of Divinity with joint degrees (including law and social work) • Master of Arts • Graduate Certificates

•

Borderline : Tame Impala

•

Where’d All the Time Go? : Dr. Dog

•

Wish You Would : Justin Bieber

•

Painkiller : Ruel

•

Ithaca : Beatenberg

•

Judas : Esperanza Spalding

•

Heaven’s Jukebox : Jaden Hamilton

PREPARE FOR MINISTRY WITH SCHOLARS IN SERVICE TO THE CHURCH AND ACADEMY

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

TIPS & TRICKS

FINDING TIME TO

BY ETHAN DYRLI

R

est is necessary for maintaining a healthy mental state. A constant busyness does not have to be normal nor is it healthy. Are you resting in a way that actually makes you feel better?

Brittany Durben, the president of Minds Matter, provided a few helpful tips to make sure students REFRESH.

Rest doesn’t have to be a big event either, it can be small moments throughout the day. Big or small, find moments to refresh throughout each day.

To learn more about Minds Matter, visit their Instagram page @mindsmattermu

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THE SWINGING BRIDGE

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TIPS & TRICKS

SUCCESS IS A CHOICE TIPS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS

BY ELIZABETH MOVINSKY

A

cademic success is a choice that requires a lot of responsibility, prioritizing and balance. There are many things that students can do to create their own academic success and Messiah has several academic assistance programs to help students in this journey.

Writing is a part of everyone’s college path, no matter their major. Many students struggle with writing rigorous, long papers and essays. Messiah has a writing center, located in the library, to assist students with the process.

An appointment at the writing center is a one-on-one meeting with a trained student tutor who will provide advice on your paper or essay. This meeting typically lasts between 30 to 60 minutes. Tutors will comment on both the small details and the overall structure of your paper.

Hannah Logan, a sophomore applied health science major, has taken advantage of Mes-

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OCTOBER 2021

siah’s writing center. She has enjoyed the positive environment the tutors create for students.

“It’s good to have someone so capable in their writing abilities to be able to critique, comment and give advice,” Logan said. “For every critique the tutors made, they matched it with something positive about my paper.”

Some courses, such as science or nursing classes, offer supplemental instruction (SI).

SI is a low-pressure weekly study group for students to review, practice and learn without a professor present. Students meet with the leader of the study group to review challenging information through different strategies like interactive games or mock exams.

Jared Diethrich, a junior nursing major, first experienced SI as a student and later became a leader. He highly recommends SI to practice alternate forms of learning.

“In lecture, professors teach information, but many students need a little more help,” Diethrich said. “In SI, you’re able to learn how to learn information in a college setting.”

There are many aspects of studying that students must navigate themselves. Cramming is a common practice many do and almost always regret. When you cram, your brain is forced to memorize information under too much stress, ultimately leading to lower test scores than if spaced repetition was implemented.

Prioritizing can lead to less cramming before big assignments or tests. It is important to prioritize certain assignments or activities and focus on one day at a time. By making a list of assignments and activities in order of importance, students can cross them off as they are completed for a sense of accomplishment.

TIPS & TRICKS

Balancing responsibilities and prioritizing academics can be even more difficult for members of clubs, ensembles or sports; but it is still possible with discipline and proper planning.

Skylar Diehl, a junior music major, occasionally struggles with planning a schedule.

“I treat my practice time as homework time instead of focusing on homework first and running out of time to practice,” Diehl said.

“My biggest academic challenge is determining how much time to spend studying for something like a small quiz versus working on a large project worth more points.”

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need help in a class. Professors have office hours each week to go over assignments, answer questions and explain difficult course material. They want you to succeed and be prepared for life after college.

STUDY TIPS SCHEDULE YOUR STUDY TIME BREAK YOUR STUDYING INTO INTERVALS (25 MINUTES ON, 5 MINUTES OFF)

USE CONCEPT MAPS AVOID DISTRACTIONS

Aaron Shaw, a junior economics major, encourages students to take advantage of professors’ office hours.

INCORPORATE DIAGRAMS AND IMAGES

“Once you view the student-faculty relationship as a partnership rather than a hierarchy,” Shaw said, “you will be equipped to do epic things.”

REPEAT OR RETURN TO IMPORTANT INFORMATION

College is only a small portion of our lives; so while the purpose is education, do not forget to take advantage of every other aspect as well. Take time to socialize, join extracurriculars, and learn more about yourself.

"Prioritizing can lead to less cramming."

HIGHLIGHT AND UNDERLINE REVIEW IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SLEEPING UNDERSTAND THE "WHY" TRY STUDYING IN DIFFERENT PLACES

(LIBRARY, STUDY ROOMS, THE UNION, ETC.)

THE SWINGING BRIDGE

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TRENDING TOPICS

IDENTIFYING AS

LGBTQ+

AT MESSIAH HOW THE COMMUNITY COVENANT AFFECTS STUDENTS' SEXUALITY WRITTEN BY GRACE WELLMON ILLUSTRATION BY SHANNON BILLINGTON One of the most controversial topics in the Christian religion is LGBTQ+ sexual attraction. The ongoing disagreement is a continuing topic of debate at Messiah University with the university’s expectations of same-sex attraction in the code of conduct and a recent lawsuit against the U.S Department of Education regarding its interpretation of Title IX. Even with the growing support and normalization of LGBTQ+ rights across the country, faith-based educational institutions like Messiah University continue to be challenged to establish policies regarding sexuality and same-sex attraction. Regardless of the policies, students who identify as LGBTQ+ have and are currently studying here. While some individuals have felt supported by Messiah, others have felt unwelcome and discriminated against.

The topic of discrimination against those who identify as LGBTQ+ on Christian campuses has recently grown in popularity after a class-action lawsuit was filed against the U.S Department of Education by the organization, Religious Exemption Accountability Project (REAP).

The lawsuit seeks to nullify the religious exemption to Title IX. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 states that “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination

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under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit are speaking out about the discrimination they have experienced. Joanna Maxon, one of the plaintiffs in the case, was expelled from Fuller Theological Seminary due to the administration finding out that she was married to a woman. Maxon was five classes short of earning her degree after attending the school for three years.

It is crucial to note that Messiah University has not been named a defendant in this lawsuit, nor is the school going to be sued in this particular case. Unlike several other Christian schools, Messiah has not filed for a religious exemption to the Title IX Amendment because they are not required to request an exemption.

“Messiah’s institutional policies and procedures regarding religion are consistent with applicable federal and state law and regulations for a private Christian university,” Carla Gross, Associate Vice President for Marketing & Communications, said. “Because an institution’s exempt status does not require an exemption letter from the Office of Civil Rights, Messiah never requested one.”

The plaintiffs in the case range from current students, recently expelled students, as well as alumni that experienced discrimination at these schools. One of the 33 student plaintiffs is Messiah University alum, Rachel Held.

Held, who is bisexual, felt like they had to hide their sexual identity from the Messiah community. While Held is engaged to a cis man, they are aware of the consequences and backlash they could experience if their fiancé was female.

“I would not feel comfortable talking about my fiancé on campus, and could be subject to disciplinary action if my fiancé was a female or transgender male,” Held said.

Held’s fear of disciplinary action stems from a rule stated in Messiah’s Code of Conduct.

On page 36 of the Messiah Code of Conduct, it states that “students who experience same-sex attraction or identify as LGBT+ are expected to refrain from ‘same-sex sexual expression’ as it is embodied in culturally contextual practices (e.g., identifying as a couple or exhibiting expressions of physical intimacy).”

Paul Carlos Southwick, the lawyer representing REAP and the plaintiffs, outlined within the lawsuit how rules like these can negatively affect students.

“When taxpayer-funded religious institutions require sexual and gender minority students to hide their identity out of fear, or to behave contrary to their fundamental sexual or gender identity, the unsurprising consequences are intense pain, loneliness, and self-harm,” Southwick said.

TRENDING TOPICS

Like many students, Held came to Messiah because of their faith and wanted to be with people that shared the same values as them. Held was not aware of Messiah’s views on same-sex attraction until move-in day.

“I felt stuck,” Held said.

At other faith-based institutions, LGBTQ+ policies could include expulsion, forced conversion therapy, denial of admission, and disregard of an LGBTQ+ student’s claim of sexual assault. However, Messiah does welcome all people who identify as LGBTQ+ to the educational community if they are willing to abide by the community’s behavioral codes of conduct, which include sexual practices, even if they do not fully affirm Messiah’s views.

“Students are not disciplined or asked to leave Messiah because of sexual orientation or identifying as LGBTQ+,” Gross said. “But if a student decides to openly reject the behavioral standards in the code of conduct, those situations are respectfully addressed with the individual in a case-by-case manner in conjunction with the Christian identity and commitments of the University. This process is consistent with all behavioral standards and expectations established by the University—not just sexual behavior. This process is also consistent for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation. In the past, Mes-

siah has addressed students who express this conflict through private, respectful conversation to clarify community expectations and to work through the individual’s personal situation together.”

When it comes to the student community, Held has also felt invalidated among their peers, whether it be on social media or in classroom discussions.

“Sometimes things people share on social media or knowing that someone is voting for a political candidate just because of their stance

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TRENDING TOPICS on same-sex marriage makes you feel invalidated as a queer person,” Held said.

Julia, a Messiah student, also feels invalidated and uncomfortable when classmates argue over LGBTQ+ rights.

“It feels so weird when your whole class argues over whether or not you deserve rights or not,” Julia said. “Nobody even knows my story or my true identity.”

Professors contributed to the invalidation that Held had been feeling.

“Certain classes that I have taken had professors that had very traditional family values and any time you push back on those at all in class discussions they shut it down, they don’t want to hear it,” Held said. “So I think feeling like it is something you can’t even talk about further implies it is a part of yourself that you need to hide, push away, and change.”

Gross believes it is best to understand Messiah’s perspective on human sexuality in the context of the school’s belief structure. The structure has three types of beliefs: core beliefs, privileged beliefs, and neutral beliefs.

Topics like same-sex sexual expression fall under privileged beliefs, which means the University affirms it and all employees and student leaders should support it even if they might not fully agree with the belief.

“On the one hand, this means that, given its theological heritage, Messiah holds specific views on same-sex sexual expression that are embedded in its student and employee codes of conduct,” Gross said. “On the other hand, the University acknowledges the diversity of views within the Christian community but expects all employees and student leaders to

"I think because we are in an environment where we kind of have to hide it a lot of the time, once you find those people everyone does a really good job of encouraging one another."

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TRENDING TOPICS be supportive of the University’s approach and behavior expectations related to same-sex sexual expression, even while they might not fully agree with the University’s position.”

Held, however, finds Messiah’s welcoming of the LGBTQ+ falls short because it follows the “love the sinner, hate the sin” mentality.

“It is almost more painful than an explicitly unwelcoming environment because it makes me think I will be fully safe and accepted as a bisexual student on campus, when in fact, I am not,” Held said.

While on campus, Held was able to find support and acceptance from students and Hannah McBride, the Coordinator of Interpersonal and Sexual Violence Prevention, Education & Response.

McBride utilizes the Title IX amendment to help students navigate their rights and protections.

Part of McBride’s role on campus is to be the advisor for the program Sexual and Gender Education (SAGE).

“SAGE is an educational program at Messiah that strives to provide spaces for conversation and communicate resourcing in our community around relationships (healthy and unhealthy), sexuality (including identity or orientation, health, building intimacy and attachment, and experiencing or expressing sexualization),” McBride said.

Held encourages LGBTQ+ individuals to sign up for clubs such as SAGE, which is a safe space to share their experiences.

“I think because we are in an environment where we kind of have to hide it a lot of the time, once you find those people everyone does a really good job of encouraging one another,” Held said. “It becomes such a close-knit mini group of people that anything you want to talk about sexuality-wise is so encouraged among these groups of people.”

“Messiah University provides equal access to reporting processes, both confidential and non-confidential, resources for support, and response options under Title IX, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and Clery-- all three are pieces of legislation that offer guidance to colleges and universities regarding sexual harm,” McBride said.

SAGE has two branches of their program to offer safe spaces for those interested in discussing sexuality and gender. “Prism” is available for conversations about LGBTQ+ experiences and identities, while “Connects” is there for broadly looking at relationships, sexual ethics, or intimacy.

McBride and Messiah University follow an amnesty policy to ensure their students are getting the most helpful and accurate resources. This policy protects students from policy violations such as alcohol consumption, as well as allows students to report potential abuse or harm that is being inflicted on themselves or others.

Austin Blakeslee, a new student leader at SAGE, appreciates the program because of SAGE’s ability to talk about taboo or uncomfortable topics and educate and enrich the student body. Blakeslee agrees that Messiah has done a great job of creating SAGE, but feels they could still be doing more to support the LGBTQ+ community on campus.

“Our training on campus specifically educates that amnesty also protects students that may be disclosing a gender identity, sexual orientation, or same-sex relationship when disclosing harm or abuse,” McBride said.

“Although SAGE Prism is a safe space for students to speak openly about sexual orientation, I feel as if Prism is targeted towards the student body as a whole, rather than spe-

cifically LGBTQ+ students,” Blakeslee said.

“This isn’t a bad thing because it allows people from all different backgrounds to come and learn, but maybe in the future Messiah could provide safe spaces specifically targeted towards LGBTQ+ students where they can fellowship together.”

While the topic of LGBTQ+ identities and same-sex attraction can be controversial and taboo, Messiah believes all individuals regardless or sexual orientation should be treated with respect. The community strives to be open to discussion by engaging in groups such as SAGE. In an email sent on behalf of President Kim Phipps on April 15, Phipps expressed the importance of treating everyone equally.

“It is also essential to note that one of Messiah’s foundational values is the importance of the person,” Phipps said. “We firmly believe that all individuals are created in the image of God and that all persons should always experience dignity and respect. Accordingly, Messiah does not, and will not, tolerate harassment or demeaning behavior against any individual.”

Students should direct any further questions regarding Title IX and SAGE to Hannah McBride at hmcbride@messiah.edu

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TRENDING TOPICS

SPILLING THE TEA

“

I think it’s healthy to give students an opportunity to voice their complaints

”

and opinions

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OCTOBER 2021

THOUGHTS ON MESSIAH'S GOSSIP ACCOUNTS WRITTEN BY KAYLEE GETZ ILLUSTRATION BY ANNA HUGHES

Messiah Tea Time, the latest gossip-spreading social media account for Messiah students, has gained popularity as being a resource for learning campus news. This Instagram account was started last fall and has since gained a lot of attention for anonymously posting student opinions.

This is certainly not the first social media gossip account created and it can easily be compared to the Facebook page “Messiah Confession Uncensored.”

How do students and administrators on campus feel about these accounts? Do they find them helpful or harmful?

Claire Kriner, a sophomore at Messiah, has mixed feelings about these social media accounts.

“These gossip accounts have benefits and issues,” Kriner said.

“Since a lot of the student body follows them, students are able to ask for opinions on professors, classes, and campus life in general.

The issue is the gossip. It shows a side of Messiah that’s not very Christian-like.”

Kriner’s opinion represents just one of Messiah’s many undergraduate students on campus. There are students who completely disagree with these accounts as well as students who love the gossip posted on them.

“The arguing in the comments section can be quite entertaining,” Kriner said, “but it does create unnecessary drama and make Messiah look bad to others.”

Some believe these accounts, while obviously created specifically for gossip and “spilling tea,” could benefit the Messiah community if they changed their focus.

Matt Jenkins, student body president of Messiah, wishes a few specific changes be made to these accounts.

TRENDING TOPICS

“The arguing in the comments section can be quite entertaining” “Although these gossip accounts generally have a negative impact on our campus community, I think it’s healthy to give students an opportunity to voice their complaints and opinions,” Jenkins said. “The issue is that the anonymity of the accounts prevents us from addressing many of the problems that are brought up.”

According to Jenkins, there needs to be more communication and collaboration within the student body in order for students’ complaints to become more than just social media rants. By discussing with other students, student organizations and administration, any problems can be quickly addressed.

“If students have a problem with something on campus, their first instinct is to rant about it. Messiah Tea Time is just a tool they use to aid them with that,” Jenkins said. “If students take these problems to student organizations or to administrators instead, we can actually start making changes on campus.”

Communication as a community is an important aspect of Jenkin’s recommendations to students.

“For example, if there is a repeated concern, students could ask the Student Government Association to hold a discussion panel,” Jenkins said.

“The Student Government Association usually knows what’s going on around campus and can answer a lot of questions. If we’re unfamiliar with a subject, we can also talk to the administration and share information with those who are interested.”

Many of Messiah’s administrators have negative views of these accounts. Kevin Villegas, Dean of Students and Christian Spiritual Formation, does not think these accounts are very worthwhile.

“I don’t see much benefit in following these accounts,” Villegas said.

“Sometimes things on them can get pretty toxic.”

gossip. Because of this, Villegas does not give much attention to gossip accounts like Messiah Tea Time.

“With all the things I have on my plate, I find that my time is better spent elsewhere than engaging in student gossip,” Villegas said. “Honestly, I don’t think much about it. Sometimes students bring things to my attention that are posted on Messiah Tea Time, but at the end of the day, it’s just gossip.”

School administrators have the difficult job of trying to respond to anonymous gossip posted on these accounts while not having all the information.

“It’s difficult from an institutional perspective to address unfactual information on these accounts,” Villegas said. “No matter how you respond, it always seems like you’re being defensive.”

Because of all the controversy, there are some students who have chosen to not take part in these gossip accounts.

“I like to think that most of our students are developing their critical thinking skills and realizing that there are multiple sides to a story,” Villegas said. “You can follow these gossip accounts, but how beneficial really is it to do so?”

Students and administrators have many different opinions on Messiah gossip accounts. From these opinions, it seems that there are more negative aspects to these gossip accounts than positive ones. Overall, it is up to individuals to weigh the pros and cons and decide whether or not to support or follow these accounts.

Kriner and Jenkins both pointed out some positive aspects of these accounts, but that does not change the fact that they were created to share THE SWINGING BRIDGE

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TRENDING TOPICS

COSTS OF COVID-19

THE

THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC

BY GRACE WELLMON COVID-19 has cost Messiah University millions of dollars. The virus has financially affected many universities and colleges across the nation, causing some to close permanently. While schools have had to quickly figure out how to stay afloat during this pandemic, they also have had to make sure that they are taking care of their students and faculty.

count credits to be used for future semesters.

According to the FY20 financial statement, the reimbursement for food plans totaled $713,878 and $2,227,570 for housing.

In addition, the school waived requirements on the GPA-based scholarship retention criteria and assisted on-campus residential students with emergency needs.

Like many other schools in March 2020, Messiah University had to close on-campus operations and send their students home to minimize the spread of the virus.

Messiah has experienced losses in revenue due to the necessary refunds, as well as the implementations of COVID-19 safety measures.

As a result of Messiah closing, the University issued a series of refunds and student ac-

"Messiah University incurred significant costs over the past few years because of COVID-19,

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including testing, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), technology equipment, quarantine and isolation space, nursing costs and other reopening costs," David Walker, the Vice President for Finance and Planning, said.

However, the university made sure that students were not affected by the extra costs from COVID-19.

"The community managed these increased costs with effective stewardship of our operating expenses so none of the COVID-19 costs were passed on to students,” Walker said.

TRENDING TOPICS To help further offset student financial aid costs due to the pandemic, Messiah University and its Board of Trustees launched the Messiah Cares Initiative. This initiative consists of two parts: emergency grants for current students and a one-time Trustees Grant scholarship for incoming and transfer students to assist their transition to Messiah.

Sara Hartway, who transferred to Messiah last year, was one of the students to receive this Trustee Grant.

"The Trustee scholarship was helpful and made me feel like the work I put into before transferring to Messiah paid off," Hartway said.

First-year student, Sydney Shine, also received the Trustee Grant but wishes she received more financial support towards her college education.

"It would have been nice if I got more financial aid in general, but having an on-campus job has been helpful," Shine said.

Messiah used the $2,106,740 allocated to them by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and

Messiah has worked diligently to keep the campus open for our students, and our top priority has been the safety and

Economics Security Act to help current students who qualify for financial aid.

Student, Anna Bolembach, feels like Messiah is doing a decent job at supporting their students, but she believes that they can do more to help.

"I feel like they should bring awareness to financial advisors on campus," Bolembach said.

"Students don't know where to get help regarding paying for their tuition and there are people here to help with that."

While Messiah is still navigating their way through the coronavirus crisis, they promise to keep striving to keep school as safe and affordable as they can for their student body.

"Messiah has worked diligently to keep the campus open for our students, and our top priority has been the safety and well-being of our entire campus community," Walker said.

"We will continue to judiciously manage the impact of new COVID-19 variants on our campus. Additionally, Messiah will manage its financial resources as we have in the past to face current and future COVID-19 challenges."

well-being of our entire campus community.

Students should visit Financial Aid in the Admissions Center for financial advising.

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TRENDING TOPICS

GOING BACK

in time

MESSIAH THROUGH THE DECADES

BY JULIA MARY REGISTER MESSIAH'S ENTRANCE SIGN AND FOUNTAIN IN 1969

M

essiah has changed a lot since it was founded in 1909. Buildings on campus have been built and torn down and fashion trends have come and gone. Life is always evolving at Messiah and nothing stays the same for long. Take a look back in time to see how campus life has changed over the past century…

NEWS IN THE 1900s

PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE CLARION IN 1971 AND OUR A/V STAFF FOR THE PULSE IN 2021

CAMPUS RADIO OPERATOR AROUND 1971 AND MARIE MILLER, OUR CURRENT RADIO MANAGER

STUDENTS PAINTING THEIR CARS TO HELP CAMPAIGN FOR STUDENT BODY ELECTIONS IN 1968

PLAYING POOL WITH STYLE IN 1969

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OCTOBER 2021

TRENDING TOPICS

WELCOME WEEK In the 70s, there were two traditions during Welcome Week that helped upperclassmen identify the freshmen. All freshmen were required to wear striped hats during their first week on campus. They also had cardboard name tags hanging around their necks, which they had to collect signatures on to meet new people. Not too different from freshmen wearing lanyards around now.

NO DATE- TWO STUDENTS- LOCATION UNKNOWN

TECHNOLOGY Technology has come a long way, especially when it comes to computers. Students have gone from writing on typewriters to thick monitors and now to easily portable personal computers with high speed internet.

PHOTOS FROM TOP-DOWN 1970-1971 first year gets her nametag signed 1972-1973 fall class registration 1971-1972 student with large calculator No date- early typing class in old main 1991 computer lab No date- mens dorm room

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TRENDING TOPICS PHOTOS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT No date- 2 women in swinging bridge 1951 home economics 1971 stage, mike performers No date- 2 students on stage 1971-1972 student at PO box, fringed jacket

FASHION Once upon a time, back when the school was named Messiah Bible College, bonnets and skirts were considered high fashion for young women.

As styles changed into the late 70s, bold patterns and big hair grew in popularity. Women started wearing pants and fashion became more casual. Now, it is rare to walk around campus and not see a student wearing a t-shirt and crocs.

CAMPUS BUILDINGS Before moving to Eisenhower, a student lounge and mailboxes lived in the basement of Old Main.

A special thank you to Messiah’s Archives and Glen Pierce for providing photos and helping us research Messiah through the decades. Visit the archives in Murray Library by contacting archives@messiah.edu.

PHOTOS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT 1948 English class 1971-1972 in student lounge, Old Main 1971 student lounge, Old Main basement 1972 mailboxes in student lounge, Old Main basement 1972- cafeteria line in Lottie

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OCTOBER 2021

TRENDING TOPICS

ASK THE

PRESIDENT

BY STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT, MATT JENKINS

BY MATT JENKINS

Q

uestion: In light of all that has happened in the past year, how can students recognize racism on Messiah's campus and work to make our community inclusive for everybody?

A

nswer: Regardless of one’s political beliefs, the events of the past year have challenged many to confront the question of how racism exists today. Aside from the hundreds of thousands of Americans associated with white supremacy groups, there are numerous examples of systemic racism which pervade our society, with redlining and mass incarceration being two of the most evident. While I encourage everyone to research these two issues, our Messiah community is not exempt from its own cases of systemic and subtle racism as well.

Let’s use microaggressions as a sort of case study regarding how to address racism, given their prevalence in the Messiah community. Microaggressions are statements, spoken intentionally or unintentionally, that subtly degrade stigmatized or marginalized groups. These often take the shape of offhand comments, crude jokes, or indirect insults. While not individually destructive, they collectively contribute toward a culture of marginalization rather than inclusion.

An example of a microaggression would be someone asking a Person of Color, “You

speak good English.” This conveys that someone’s native language is not English and sets a normative that being White is to be a native English-speaker. Even more subtle of a microaggression would be a question like, “Where are you from?” While for some this wouldn’t be perceived as a microaggression, depending on the context it can be spoken as implying that someone is not from here (wherever that may be). A more thoughtful question would be “Where do you call home?” This doesn’t set the reference point as being where you are currently, and it invites a person to share with you their lived experience and why they call their home “home”.

Entering my fourth year at Messiah, I have personally heard the stories of students who have experienced many microaggressions throughout not only their lives, but also while here. Growing up in a predominantly white community, in a predominantly white public school, my time at Messiah has taught me how language affects others and the personal responsibility I have in eliminating microaggressions ingrained in my language.

To address racism on campus today, begin by looking inward. For microaggressions, this means evaluating the language that you use when speaking and consider how it may impact someone who is culturally or ethnically different from you. Next, con-

sider the behaviors you take and their relationship to others within our community.

Working against microaggressions requires you to not only correct your own language, but speak out when you hear other people speaking microaggressions likewise. This process of evaluating ourselves and reflecting upon our role within the context of our community is the lifelong process we must undertake to combat racism.

Lastly, I would encourage students to connect with student groups that exist to help foster community and educate the student body about different cultures and communities on campus. Namely, I would like to highlight the Multicultural Council and SAGE, the Sexuality and Gender Education program. These two programs seek to create inclusive spaces for Students of Color and LGBTQ+ students, as well as to educate others outside either the culture or community. It is by finding inclusive spaces, and then learning to create safe spaces that extend beyond these programs that we can work to make Messiah more inclusive. But ultimately, that begins with us as individuals.

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TRENDING TOPICS

THE

RETURN OF CHAPEL

STUDENT PERSPECTIVES ON MESSIAH'S CHAPEL REQUIREMENT

BY MORGAN BATHGATE & GRACE WELLMON Now that life at Messiah is starting to return to normal, the requirement of attending in-person chapel is back in full swing. Unlike some other returning aspects of campus life, there are mixed feelings about the return to in-person chapel.

During the 2020-2021 academic year, Messiah had waived the chapel requirements in the fall to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

In the spring semester, students were only required to attend five chapel services.

These services ranged from worship services to regularly scheduled chapel series called Sixers. The chapel services could be attended in-person or remotely. Remote chapels required students to answer a quiz on Canvas to receive credit.

While some students were excited to return to chapel last year, other students took advantage of the opportunity of the adjusted requirement. An Instagram account under the name of @messiahchapel would anonymously post chapel answers so students could get chapel credit without physically attending chapel or watching the recorded service.

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OCTOBER 2021

So, despite attending a faith-based university, why do some students dislike going to chapel?

negative impact on student’s eligibility for leadership positions.

After surveying several students at the university via social media, a big reason for students not wanting to attend a chapel is because they are required to go and will be penalized if they do not.

Some students feel the chapel requirement adds another element of stress to their day and may take them away from much-needed rest or studying.

“I don’t like the idea of ‘forced church’. If you don’t go there, there’s a consequence,” @celeste.nicoleee said.

Douglas Curry, Messiah’s worship pastor, wants students to know that the purpose of chapel is to not replace going to church. The University does not want their students to feel like they have to get their credits in or that spirituality is being “forced” upon them. “[Chapel] is the opportunity for the community to gather together and to participate in an educational worship experience that is integral to the life of what it means to be a Christian University,” Curry said.

However, the consequences for not attending chapel include a $15 fine per chapel short of the required 14 chapels and a

“The sermons don’t feel beneficial to an 18-22-year-old student who needs extra time [in the day],” @sarah_nicole_stubbe said.

Some students also believe that chapel being required leads to people attending for mandatory reasons rather than genuine interest in worship.

Students also shared in the survey possible solutions to making chapel a requirement that they look forward to rather than dread.

One possible solution to address mandatory attendance could look like adding a substitution option with Bible studies or attending one’s chapel as an option, as well as lowering the minimum chapel requirement.

With the delta variant of COVID-19, attending in-person has also created some concerns.

TRENDING TOPICS ity and found they did not pursue God in the

Because of how contagious this strand of the virus is, some students do not feel comfortable attending in person. A solution to this could be options for online streaming services similar to last year.

same way without required chapel.

Some students also said that the expression of multiple forms of worship did help them develop their Christian faith.

The survey also found that some students had issues with the topics preached about during chapel. Some students think chapel focuses too much on politics and not enough on Jesus.

The campus ministries staff is always open to hearing from students about their thoughts on chapel and worship on campus.

“If chapel could focus on the world less and the Bible more, that would be great,” @k.c116 said.

“We’d suggest, if you haven’t already, that you visit our Campus Ministries website to rediscover the purpose of chapel at Messiah,” Curry said.

Mina Choi, student ministries pastor, said that student complaints concerning chapel are not new to them, and it has been something that they have been hearing for decades.

Choi disagrees that chapel is too politically orientated and believes that political topics help students learn how to be good Christians in a democracy.

“We are an educational Christian institution and we are offering chapel as an opportunity to learn and explore educational opportunities when it comes to spiritual formation," Choi said. "You may like or dislike the topics that are discussed, but we are sharing this information because we are a higher education."

In other cases, students found that the discussions held were not serious enough. @hancarns would prefer they discuss things such as “creationism, sexual sins, idolatry, and rapture day” during chapel to help challenge

Visit the chapel page on Messiah’s website for more information or email campusminisstudents to appreciate how people understand the word of God.

tries@messiah.edu.

Even though mandatory chapel services may cause some animosity, other students still showed high hopes and appreciation for Messiah’s traditional services.

“I just love coming together with the Body of Christ wanting to grow and learn our faith,” @emily_ruthy said.

At the end of last year, the Division of Student Success and Engagement conducted small focus group sessions to survey students about campus efforts toward spiritual formation and discipleship.

The data showed that students generally appreciated some form of spiritual accountabilPHOTOS BY LIAM FITZSIMMONS

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS FOR

DUMMIES A SUPPOSED GUIDE TO BASKETBALL

BY ETHAN DYRLI

Dribble - In basketball, the only way for you to move without passing is to bounce the ball up and down on the court as you move.

However, this only applies if you’re slow. As long as you’re fast enough you can sneak in extra steps wherever you’d like. Try it! Just make sure the refs don’t see...

So you want to learn about basketball?

We’ve got you covered.

Basketball got its start in 1891, created

by James Naismith, a Canadian physical education teacher working in Springfield, Massachusetts. Naismith’s reported final words before starting the first game of basketball were, “Hey you think I can nail this ball into yonder peach basket?”

News of the game traveled further than a James Harden and Lebron James lovechild, growing in popularity as it reached different people.

Basketball has since grown into a massive industry, averaging 4.25 million viewers, which is about how many people there are in the state of Kentucky, the 26th most populated state in America.

Unfortunately, it pales in comparison with this year’s season of the Bachelorette, which had 4.37 million viewers.

How do you start playing? Well, there are a few steps you need to take first.

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OCTOBER 2021

1. Check the mirror Depending on who you are, learning to play basketball will be a wildly different experience for you.

If short, please consider the following. Each team usually has room for one short player MAX, so if that spot is taken, you may want to look into other activities (we suggest gymnastics). Team mascots are always an option as well.

2. Learn the basics The objective: get the basketball into the basket. Simple enough, right? When you get the ball, there are three basic moves you can pick from, we’re here to make sure you know how to do them.

Pass - Nobody likes someone who keeps getting rid of the ball. If you have the ball, keep it, and never let go. It’s like they say, there’s no “pass” in “team”. Forget your teammates. This way, everyone can watch what a great player you are!

Shoot - The best advice I can give you is this: shoot the ball. Always. Wayne Gretzky once the ball, shoot it. Shoot it from up close, from half-court, take a few full-court shots if you have to. What’s the worst that

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

YOU MAY: KICK THE BALL NAME CALL USE “YOUR MOM” JOKES TO DISTRACT PLAYERS SKIP WHILE YOU DRIBBLE THE BALL (IT CAN’T BE A TRAVEL RIGHT?) STOP FOR LUNCH BREAKS CHANGE TEAMS AND VARIOUS OTHER FORMS OF BANDWAGONING

could happen? This way, you’ll quickly impress your team with what a brave risk-taker you are, and they’ll be happy to have you. said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. The INSTANT you think you should shoot.

3. Following the rules Rules lists are long and complicated, so we simplified them for you. (We didn’t actually read the rules, but we figured our best guesses would suffice)

PRESENT YOUR ARGUMENTS TO THE REF IN A LEGAL FORMAT SNEAK A SIXTH PLAYER ONTO THE COURT

YOU MAY NOT: TRAVEL SHATTER THE BACKBOARD

And that, friends, is basketball for dummies (or at least our best guess). Follow these tips, and you should be a professional in no time!

COMPLETE ARTISTIC MOSAICS WITH THE PIECES OF THE SAID SHATTERED BACKBOARD USE "MY MOM" JOKES TO DISTRACT PLAYERS SPIT CARTWHEEL LET MICHAEL JORDAN PLAY FOR THE WIZARDS

JASON-LEUNG

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

RENEWING

SCHOOL SPIRIT THIS HOMECOMING

BY ETHAN DYRLI As COVID-19 restrictions have slowly been lifted, school traditions at Messiah are being reinstated. Homecoming, a time of many fun events that were not possible last fall, is coming back this October.

According to Jay McClymont, director of Alumni and Parent Relations, the powderpuff game was originally created to include students in Homecoming weekend. McClymont had been noticing a decline in Homecoming activities that students could participate in and many were choosing to go home instead of stay on campus that weekend.

One exciting event during Homecoming is the annual powderpuff game.

Powderpuff is a game of flag football played by women, instead of men, taking place as part of the homecoming festivities. Those athletes, led by their male coaches, create a team of fellow classmates to compete against the other class’ teams. Students and alumni alike come to watch the game each year.

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OCTOBER 2021

“For whatever reason, there were less and less activities, so the Alumni and Parent Relations office said ‘What can we do to bring students into this weekend so they can feel like it’s theirs, that they can own this weekend,’ ” McClymont said. “Powderpuff was something that came out of that.”

The powderpuff game also strived to create an event that built unity between peers.

“It wasn’t just pick your own team, it was let’s create class identity” McClymont said.

“It certainly does that.”

McClymont and the office of Alumni and Parent Relations have big plans for this year’s homecoming. Since the majority of homecoming events were canceled last year, this is Messiah’s first official homecoming as Messiah University.

“We’re gonna try to make it a bigger and better homecoming this year because it’s our first homecoming as a university,” McClymont said.

McClymont’s various plans for a more student-engaging Homecoming come at a time when school spirit is rebuilding. After two

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

years of canceled events and disappointed students, Keegan Hurley, a senior at Messiah, feels that COVID has taken a toll on school spirit.

“I would say that school spirit is significantly lower,” Hurley said. “I think that’s at any school though.”

Hurley feels that almost everyone is having trouble being proud of where they are at because of the current global circumstances.

“I don’t think it’s particularly a Messiah issue,” Hurley said. “I think it’s a global issue, where people are having issues with their state pride or even their country pride, or their town pride depending on how certain things are being handled and the inability for certain people to come together.”

Alena Duncan, a junior, agrees with Hurley’s sentiment. She feels as if the issues surrounding the response to the pandemic have been the cause of tension on campus. Duncan is hoping that more interaction between students will lead to increased school spirit and a decrease in divisiveness.

“I’m all for social anything,” Duncan said. “I just like interacting with people in every environment… even just discussion with other people who have different views.”

Evan Tinsman, a senior, sees a pattern of divisiveness and lack of school spirit at

Messiah but is hoping that it will get better this year.

“I believe this year, with the vaccines and such, will be a better year with school spirit,” Tinsman said.

Both Duncan and Tinsman agreed that it was easier to bond with their class and create a “class identity” before COVID. As we approach homecoming, Aaron Bashore, a former powderpuff coach, is hoping that events such as powderpuff are a unifying experience.

“I am most looking forward to the comradery among the different teams,” Bashore said. “It is always super great to be able to get to know some of my classmates who I would not otherwise meet, I love how much energy each team brings to the games.”

Powderpuff will be taking place on October 9th on the rec fields, with the first game starting at 11:00 am. Watch the seniors vs first years and the juniors vs sophomores before the championship game at 1:30 pm.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9TH: 11:00 A.M. POWDERPUFF: SENIORS VS. FIRST YEARS REC FIELD #1

12:15 P.M. POWDERPUFF: JUNIORS VS. SOPHOMORES REC FIELD #1

1:30 P.M. POWDERPUFF: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME REC FIELD #1

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THROUGH ATHLETE'S EYES DALE FOGELSANGER CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD

BY ETHAN DYRLI

O

ver the course of a typical school year, Dale Fogelsanger coaches upwards of 150 athletes.

Fogelsanger works as the head coach of Messiah’s track and field and cross country teams.

Going into his 28th season with the Messiah Falcons, Fogelsanger has worked with generations of accomplished student-athletes.

As of 2021, Fogelsanger, known as “Coach Foge” by his athletes, has been named the NCAA Division III Mideast Region Track and Field coach of the year six times.

A few of Fogelsanger’s track and cross country athletes gave their perspective of who he is through their eyes.

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OCTOBER 2021

PHOTO BY LIAM FITZSIMMONS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Matt Higgs, a senior track and cross country athlete, finds that Fogelsanger works hard to invest in the individual rather than their performance.

“He’s a personable, friendly person, who cares about you outside of the sport,” Higgs said. “It’s really focusing on us as athletes over what our times or numbers are.”

James Sahakian, a junior on the track and field and cross country teams, also spoke to the level of care Fogelsanger exhibits for his athletes.

“He’s a very loving personality, he cares for us deeply and will do anything to help us in a positive way,” Sahakian said.

Much of Fogelsanger’s approach to coaching circulates around the idea of building a supportive community within his teams.

According to Higgs, a part of that is the way they train. While other teams practice exclusively with their event, much of the training within a track practice takes place as a whole team.

“Coach Foge does a great job of encouraging that, from day one, just to get to know all of your teammates, regardless of if you’re in the same event or not,” Higgs said.

The community Fogelsanger facilitates is deeply foundational for many of his athlete’s success For Higgs, it is this supportive environment that motivates him to keep running.

a child into an adult and it helps you become independent,” Sahakian said.

For Sarah Bath, a junior track and cross country athlete, the team culture makes room for true improvement amongst athletes.

“As we work towards these goals, we don’t have to be focused on winning all the time to see ourselves improve and really show up for each other, it’s just in our team culture,” Bath said. “This type of environment is exactly what Coach fosters.”

This community is more than just athletes, however. It is made up of believers, looking to follow God in every aspect of their lives, including their athletics.

According to Bath, Fogelsanger centers the team community on Christ, reminding them often to “keep the faith.”

“Foge definitely prioritizes keeping faith at

"This community is more than just

Fogelsanger encourages his athletes to not only model good running but also Christlike behavior.

“One thing that Coach Foge really stresses is that our sport is just a tool to be an example for Christ to our competitors and our spectators and whoever we come in contact with,” Higgs said. “It’s great to have this community of guys that are all seeking after the Lord.”

Fogelsanger wants his athletes to continually prioritize their faith and he isn’t afraid to lead by example. According to his athletes, whether it be team devotionals or his attitude in competitions, Fogelsanger points to God. “Coach Foge doesn’t just coach by himself, but he coaches with God helping him,” Sahakian said. “He praises God whether the result is good or bad.”

Fogelsanger combines his love of Christ and of running in order to help his athletes be their best.

“Foge keeps us centered on bettering ourselves in order to enrich the team and use running as a platform to enrich our faith and glorify God,” Bath said.

athletes..."

Fogelsanger demonstrates through his actions that track and cross country should be done for and through Christ.

the center of the team. He wants us to remember who we are running for, which is Jesus above everything else,” Bath said.

“He approaches it with this mindset of Colossians 3:23: ‘Whatever you do for the glory of God,’ ” Sahakian said. “He wants to do his best not for his glory, but for the glory of God and he also passes that message to us."

“I think it definitely gives you something to run for, it’s the extra motivation and you know your teammates are counting on you,” Higgs said. “At the same time, if you have a bad race you also have people that are going to come and encourage you and help you through that time.”

For Sahakian, the team community became a place where he learned to become more independent.

“It helps with growth… once you find that new sense of family, it helps you grow from PHOTO BY LIAM FITZSIMMONS

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HOW TO MAKE THE BEST

PUMPKIN PIE 1

CLI CK

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