THE BEAT at the heart of it all
IS FEMINSIM THE NEW
F - WORD?
TINY
OUSE
A M e s s i a h C o u p l e ’s D r e a m pg. 9
pg. 14
A DEEPER
LOOK
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
pg. 21
INTO
OUR FAVORITE
SEASON pg. 12
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 “DIY” 6 Prince of Peace Devotional 7 God Save the Queen 9 Bigger Isn’t Always Better 10 What Would Ol’ George Say? 12 Where Did That Christmas Tradition Come From? 14 Is Feminism The F-Word? 15 Creative Writing Submissions 17 Photography Spotlight 19 The Focal Point 20 Student Film: A Documentary on the Harrisburg Giants 21 Artist Spotlight 23 Harrisburg: Got a Minute? 24 So I Heard You’re A Night Owl
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Welcome to The Beat: The Heart of It All. I am very pleased to announce the release of this magazine to Messiah College. We have worked very hard over the past four years to get to this point, and it is finally here. But, I cannot take credit for all of the work. There have been so many volunteers, students and professors that have helped us along the way. So a thank you is most certainly in order. One of the greatest things about The Beat is the fact that it is all about collaboration. The Beat is a more in-depth feature based publication. We are unique in that we want to represent all areas of the campus. Since Messiah is a humanities based college, we wanted to incorperate all of the different personalities and quirks that make up this campus. We want this to truly be all about the students. This magazine is a platform to create, learn, and grow from one another. Enjoy!
Corinne Elliott Editor-In-Chief ce1207@messiah.edu
Megan E. Bloom Content Editor mb1461@messiah.edu
MISSION
The Beat is designed to be at the heart of Messiah College student life. The Beat is an eccentric and vibrant magazine that gives a fresh perspective to student life, on and off campus.
OUR FUTURE
This is only the beginning. Collaboration is what keeps this magazine running. Interested in being a part of it? Contact any of the editors below!
COVER ART
The cover was created by Design Manager, Bo Williams, as the premiere issue of The Beat. He has introduced the first of many Messiah College student artists who will be showcased for the cover art in future editions.
Olivia La Bianca Content Editor ol2153@messiah.edu
Miranda Ruiz Content Editor mr1294@messiah.edu
Bo Williams Design Manager bw1266@messiah.edu
PAGE 1
DO IT YOURSELF
Projects
THE BEAT
D EC O RAT ED M U GS
To make these lovely decorated mugs, I first hit the dollar store and bought a big red soup mug and a clear modern Mason jar mug. This is a simple project that you can do with supplies that you might have. Photos & Article by Katy Trice
PAINTED MUG 1. Tape it. For the painted mug use painter’s or masking tape to mark off your design, stripes are a great simple design that never get old. Make sure the tape is completely flat and paint onto mug using acrylic paint. 2. Bake it. Let dry for about twenty minutes and add more coats as needed. Let design dry overnight. Bake the mug for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Put the mug in the oven before it heats up and leave it in until the oven cools completely so that there will not be any cracks. Do not put in the dishwater, but instead hand wash gently.
SH ARPIE M UG 1. Stencil it. To make a sharpie mug use oil-based paint sharpie markers for long-lasting results. Make a stencil (heart, initial, etc.) out of cardboard and tape to mug. Use sharpies to dot around and on stencil to leave a dotted pattern. 2. Bake it. Let dry overnight and bake as directed above. Again, only hand wash mug gently. 3. Fill it. Make this into a great gift by filling the mug with friend’s or family’s favorite candy, hot chocolate mix, tea, or coffee to show how much they mean to you!
PAGE 3
D UCT TAPE WALLET For this funky functional wallet I would use the Duct Tape sheets you can buy at any craft store, Wal-Mart, or Target. I used 2 black sheets and then a smaller roll of blue for decoration. 1. Make it. Having a friend close by, peel the backing off of the first duct tape sheet and hold one top corner and one bottom corner while your partner holds the other. Placing the duct tape sheet sticky side up on the table we folded the sheet in half long ways. To make a pocket use the second sheet of duct tape cut in half long ways. Again fold the sheet in half long ways. 2. Decorate it. Using another color of tape, tape the pocket to the backing starting with the sides then tape the bottom of the wallet. Tape around all four side to create a border. On the backside decorate it any way you think! Try varying line length and width, different shapes, and how they interact fit together. It is much easier to do this craft if someone helps you tape the tape to itself. This is a great project that you can customize with all different colors and designs based on who you are making it for!
THE BEAT
A R EASO N TO GET
Off Campus only ten minutes away
Dillsburg Shopping Center (717) 432-5500 AnytimeFitness.com
A great health club with special Messiah student rates only 3 miles from campus! 24-Hour 7-Day Access Private Bathrooms and Showers Individual TVs on all Cardio Equipment Free Weights, Squat Racks & Medicine Balls Fit Box, HIIT & Zumba Classes Included Massage Therapy & Tanning
PAGE 5
Mimi Pedercini
{Prince of Peace} “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you”
John 14:27 (ESV)
Turn on TV: EBOLA OUTBREAK ISIS ATTACK ANOTHER SHOOTING Turn off TV.
And we can get angry and point fingers at whom we think is to blame. Governments, terrorists, bad people
Peace right now seems very small, probably the size of a paperclip which is easy to lose. What is often forgotten is that our peace, the true and eternal peace, is right beside us even when life is teeming with chaos. When Jesus was preparing to leave he told his disciples of the Holy Spirit that will be sent down and be among them. This was also a promise to us. Jesus goes on to declare:
Why would God let these horrible things happen? Isn’t he good? Doesn’t he care about us? Yes, he does care about us and he is our protector and healer. He is our peace. The only explanation as to why evil happens is because this world is broken, full of sin. Yet we have Jesus Christ. We have peace!
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
When he told us he gives us peace unlike what this world gives he knew its rottenness. He knows that when one war is over the next rises. He knows that persecution is real. That pain is real. So he is the only true peace we have. He is with us through the Holy Spirit. He has not left us in the rubble and he tells our hearts not to be troubled or worried because he is with us and we are being watched over. As Christians we have victory over death because our King is a risen king. Let us rejoice in knowing we have peace thanks to our savior! Let this equip us in going out into the nations and help build the Kingdom.
“
”
John 14:27 (ESV) What the world has to offer us is brokenness and injustice. Disease has afflicted thousands in West Africa by Ebola. Our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ have been persecuted, brutally killed as ISIS rampaged through Iraq and Syria. School shootings seem to be frequently on the news. This world offers us no peace. No true peace.
THE BEAT
…God.
Photo By: beckymonsterr16 Provided By: http://beckymonsterr16.deviantart.com/art/Candle-Light-Tex-
Olivia LaBianca
God Save the Queen his past September, the Royal Family announced that Kate Middleton was expecting a second child. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were reported as “pleased”. The Queen and members of both royal families Tweeted their congratulations. Meanwhile, Americans have been busy resurrecting the hashtag #RoyalBaby and falling once again into the deep well of romanticized Anglophilia. We read about how she canceled her first independent tour because of severe hyperemesis gravidarum, and we covered her re-emergence on October 22nd. We have speculated about why she is living with her parents instead of with her husband, about the possibility of marital fighting, about whether the child will be a boy or a girl and whether she will breastfeed her newborn – all the time critiquing her wardrobe. Meanwhile, Us Magazine is running galleries labeled as “Prince Harry’s Hottest Moments”, “Prince William’s Funniest Quotes”, and “Prince George’s Baby Pictures”. Buzzfeed continues to publish lists with titles like: “19 Things You Want To Do With Prince Harry Now That He’s Single” and “20 Truly Bizarre Gifts Received By The Royal Family”. But it is not just the Windsors with whom we have a fascination. We watched Daniel Radcliffe rapping on Jimmy Fallon. We sat Benedict Cumberbatch on a high stool and had him read the lyrics from R. Kelly’s “Genius”, the audience screaming as he croons stiltedly: “I can’t wait to turn you on, you got me like la, la, la, la, la.” We indulged in British inception as Benedict sang Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind” in the style of Alan Rickman. Speaking of singing, we discovered during an Avengers interview that Tom Hiddleston can give spontaneous renditions of Will Smith’s “Miami”. Oh, glory. Our preferences in music and television have been heavily saturated with British culture. The boy band One Direction has garnered a wildly popular American
T
Photo By: Michael C. Hersey Provided By: http://www.hitrecord.org/
fan base, with Ed Sheeran following close behind. Similarly, television’s recent crazes such as Downton Abbey, Peaky Blinders, Merlin, Reign, Game of Thrones, Dr. Who, and Sherlock all take place in Britain and/or feature primarily British actors. The question is: why do we care so much? The modern American fascination (bordering on fetishism) is exclusive to the British. It is impossible to name another culture with which we identify so strongly and idolize so completely. In fact, more often than not we struggle to do anything but stereotype or dismiss other nationalities – even those from neighboring countries. The French are artsy and snooty. The Irish wear green and are always drunk. Italians are all from Brooklyn, eat spaghetti, and carry guns. Yet somehow, despite a history born out of battle and bloodshed between America and Britain, we have decided we love the British. Or maybe it is because of that history? The British themselves have their own explanations. America has “never quite purged its monarchial instincts,” according to the BBC. Considering that over twenty three million Americans tuned in to watch the royal wedding back in 2011, that statement seems to be accurate. The BBC goes on to draw comparisons between their monarchy and the way we treat our elected officials. “The First Family is treated like elected royalty. Michelle Obama’s wardrobe receives the kind of scrutiny normally reserved for a queen. From the plane to the fanfare to the motorcade, the procession of an American president is, let’s face it, a very regal affair.” Meanwhile, RoyalCentral.co.uk claims that “it’s clear that America’s fascination with the British Monarchy seems to stem from a lack of certain characteristics in their own culture.” This is true not only of officials but also of our own celebrities. Buzzfeed talked about Beyoncé as “True American royalty” after she won the 2014 VMA Video Vanguard Award. Do we have a tendency to idolize glamorous individuals, their children, and their lifestyle in a manner which mimics royal reverence?
PAGE 7 PAGE 8
Photo By: fedi Provided By: http://pixabay.com/en/london-british-metro-underground-94268/
v o r i
4
a
t e
THE BEAT
h
i
n
s
B R I T I S H g
Digestives
The Tube
Clean, efficient, color-coded, and full of well-dressed British people. The Tube, London’s underground railroad system, can get you anywhere you want to go with as little fuss as possible. The stations themselves are full of history, each one varying and beautiful in architecture and décor. Just try to steer clear of rush hour, and make sure your Oyster Card is topped up! Granted, the term “digestive biscuits” makes these delicious snacks sound horribly disgusting. Actually, these large, chocolatecovered cookies are addicting, the perfect companion to a cup of good Twining’s tea. You feel elegant, and it satisfies your sugar craving without making you feel unhealthy. And no, they don’t actually have anything to do with “digestion.”
Waterstone’s
A bookstore chain that spreads from London to Oxford and beyond, Waterstones are palaces. They offer floors upon floors of books, accentuated with book-themed merchandise and writing paraphernalia, coffee shops, and reading nooks. Waterstones does not just stock the top bestselling novels and self-help books either, each one boasting a unique array of books you could not find – and would not think to look for – anywhere else. American money has nothing on the British pound. Paper bills are extremely large and colorful, with little sparkly stamps and insignias on them. t takes a while to learn all the different kinds, but you feel like a boss when you finally are able to whip out exactly the right amount of pence.
Fun Money
have detrimental effects on the concepts of British culture as a whole. “Just a story, you might say. A bit of fun. Harmless enough. History be damned for the sake of a ripping yarn,” Daniels exclaimed. “Yet what I want to ask is: who benefits from wistful, conservative, country-house class stereotypes in a fiercely popular key, and why does it have such currency in, for want of a much better phrase, a globalized world?” Could the exclusivism, classism, and elitism saturating many of these standardized British concepts be impeding our intentional move toward an equal and diverse worldview? Of course, this is not a call to action to ban the BBC, nor does it necessarily advocate an abstinence from American Anglophilia. But, like any cultural phenomenon, it should be acknowledged and analyzed for inherent social or political statements. Questions must be raised. Why does America currently love all things British? What about their culture – be it the actors or the accents or the members of the Royal Family – intrigues us? Could it be that we organize ourselves into allegiances to particular British sub-sects – Whovians, Sherlockians, Directioners, Cumberbabes, etc. – because we as a culture remember the days when we were the subjects of the British monarchy? Millennials, who are primarily perpetuating current Anglophilia, are also those least likely to vote in political elections or align themselves into political parties. Meanwhile, the uniformity of the British love of the Royal Family juxtaposes a cohesive political bonding which Americans lack. Could our disillusionment of the American political system be influencing our affiliation to a culture with a seemingly strong, identifiable and whimsical ruling power?
T
Morgan Daniels, a British academic and professor at Arcadia University, said that he is very confused by the American tendency to latch onto and adopt certain elements of British culture. “I firmly believe the most impressive thing the English ever did was convince Americans that our accents were cool,” he said once during a lecture. On the subject of British fascination in America, Daniels said: “Anglophilia – in particular the love for and obsession with our Royal Family – might be explained with reference to the relative ages of the United States and the United Kingdom. The weddings, affairs, grand speeches and charity work of the Windsors provide a sort of real-life, real-time soap opera for a country not old enough to have kings, queens, and the accompanying fairytales in which they play lead roles. Harmless enough.” According to Daniels, however, there is a different way to look at this as well. “I wonder whether another version might go like this: Anglophilia in part exists because here, in England, we say that it does, and because it is purposefully stoked. I have received more than my fair share of free drinks in the States because of my accent, and I have hardly complained about that.” But explanation is a “hand-washing exercise”, said Daniels, and possibly a patronizing and dangerous one as well. Attempting to explain away this trend as a flippant and harmless fad can blind Americans and Brits to potential problems. “That with which we associate Anglophilia is quite often arguably poisonous,” Daniels cautioned. “Historically-suspect television series like Downton Abbey ‘service the instincts of cultural necrophilia’, in the words of historian Simon Schama.” Idolized and ultimately inaccurate portrayals of a time long past can
F
American Anglophilia and Why it Exists
Bigger Isn’t Always Better Corinne Elliott he saying in America goes, “bigger is always better.” Seniors, and soon to be newlyweds, Austin Eschenwald and Stephanie Ducharme disagree with that saying. They are currently going against the traditional American consumerism mindset and instead of buying a big house with a white picket fence, they are building a tiny house. “Because we are living simply we are rejecting the American consumer mindset that we need more,” said Eschenwald. The tiny house movement has started back in 1997 by architect, Sarah Susanka and has been popularized in 2002, by Jay Shafer and Gregory Johnson. The tiny house appeal has caught on not only because of its irregularity in sight, but the ideals of environmental and financial sustainability are extremely attractive in an challenging economic depression. “We thought it was this dream we could never achieve, but the more we looked into it the more serious we got and it just took form over time,” said Ducharme. Their house is planned to be 270 square feet plus 150 square feet in loft space. Mind you, that is with the bigger model that they decided to go with. Their tiny house will be livable by December. Some may think that a tiny house would be without a lot of components that a normal house or apartment would have. Despite to contrary thoughts, the couple will be quite comfortable with all the necessities that modern houses have. The only drawback to their tiny house is a dishwasher, but both agree that it is a sacrifice worth taking. Eschenwald said that almost anyone can build a tiny house and there are numerous positives to living in one. The couple both agreed that not only a tiny house is financially feasible, but also is an environmentally friendly choice. By the time the house is completed, Eschenwald predicted the cost to be roughly around $40,000. This price not only includes building costs, but includes all the appliances and household items. According to the nerdwallet.com, “89% of tiny house people have less credit card debt than the average American, with 65% of tiny house people having zero credit card debt.” “It’s just so cool being involved in a project that is so different than what people are used to,” said Ducharme.
T
X
Both Eschenwald and Ducharme then described some of the positives that building a tiny house has brought out with in their relationship. Both also described some of the changes they had to make in their lives to sustain a tiny house. “I think neither of us realized how much stuff we had until we had to start working it down to what we can live with in a tiny house. You can really only own the things you need on a regular basis with a tiny house,” said Ducharme. Eschenwald said that by saving money in things like utilities, they then can can afford to spend extra money on high quality items and more sustainable foods and products. Both are very much concerned with social justice and believe that by living a simple lifestyle they can afford to make more ethical choices in their purchases. “Personally, I think when starting off in a tiny house when we get married, is that we are not going to have the extra stress,” said Eschenwald. The couple said how this experience has not only taught them more about each other in leading up to marriage, but has taught them responsibility in sustainability and reliance on God. Ducharme said, “All of our values that have come from our relationship with God are what inspired us to do all of this. If that wasn’t an essential part of our lives then I don’t think we wouldn’t have all the motivation to do all of this.”
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY Austin Eschenwald
PAGE 9
Grant Meckley
What Would Ol’ George Say? A Primer on Political Parties in the United States: Past, Present, and Future
G
E O RG E WA S H I N G TO N was a president of many precedents. While his successors heeded his standards of observing term limits, keeping an executive cabinet of advisors, and giving a farewell address, one major facet they reneged on was partisanship (or lack thereof). Washington undeniably had federalist tendencies which advocated for a strong central government
(though perhaps weak by today’s standards). His close friend John Adams established the Federalist Party, though Washington himself was not a member. Washington was staunchly opposed to what he dubbed, “the alternate domination” of one political party over another. He was leery of their “coinciding efforts to exact revenge upon their opponents” calling partisanship “a frightful despotism” in his farewell address. Though his final advice on avoiding foreign entanglements and maintaining checks and balances lasted a few decades, the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans of the early 1800’s quickly started the mud-slinging, hackneyed name-calling political debauchery that is party politics. The current political duopoly that is Democrats and Republicans started with Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln, respectively. Rarely do the modern parties harken back to origins because their voter base and ideology has changed. After the Civil War, the southern United States tended to vote Democratic because of bitterness over Lincoln’s triumphant federal forces and the reconstruction policy of the Republican Party. Conversely, many African-Americans continued to vote for “the party of Lincoln.” The tide began to change in the depression when Americans were attracted wholesale to the New Deal Policy of Franklin Roosevelt. When Harry Truman pursued the bid for presidency pushing for more civil rights, the Democratic Party spawned the Dixiecrat third party. When the Civil Rights Act was finally in place, Republicans like Nixon and Reagan began to court southern voters with widespread success. It is not completely wrong to say that the parties’ allegiants (and much of their ideology) has entirely flipped. What does the political party landscape look like today? Congress’ approval rate stands at a paltry 12%. Undoubtedly much of the unhappiness results from business-as-usual party politics. I suspect much of this frustration stems from two major reasons. First, is the lack of any sort of coherent political message from either political party. The Republicans and Democrats are equally bankrupt on principle and this leads to disillusionment. For instance the Tea Party movement grew largely out of the frustrations of Bush-era foreign and domestic policy. The Republicans who traditionally prided themselves in being a party of small-government vastly increased the size of the federal budget,
THE BEAT
surveillance programs, Department of Education, and of course interventionist wars. Conversely, the Democratic Party promise affordable health care and college education for everyone yet fail to explain how they would be funded. The Democratic position is one not of inconsistency, but of unfeasibility. Second, Americans are frustrated by a lack of choices: that is to say there is no vehicle for the average voters’ political leanings. The good news for voter misfits is that there are a plethora of third parties representing a diversity of positions. Take for example the Libertarian Party. As the fastest growing political party, the libertarians espouse limited government through free markets and greater civil liberties. There’s also the Green Party. Greens support greater government oversight on the environment in addition to more accessible “positive liberties” like subsidized higher education. Moving down a tier in popularity is the Constitution Party that promotes traditional American values while advocating highly isolationist foreign policy. The Reform Party (though now greatly diminished in popularity) pushes for election reform and reducing the national deficit through increased revenue and lower spending. Texas businessman Ross Perot in the 1996 presidential election garnered 8% of the popular vote under the banner of the Reform Party and 18% of the vote four years earlier as an independent. This brings us to the bad news for third parties: they rarely win elections even at the local level. Barring a few exceptions, election restrictions make it difficult for third parties to get on the ballot at any level of government. It doesn’t take a conspiracy theorist to assert these regulations were put in place by existing power structures (i.e. the major parties) to further diminish third parties’ chances of victory. But some may ask why vote for a winner when you can vote for principle. The future of partisan politics is unknown and I will refrain from making any oracles on political playing field of future elections. The number of independent voters (who do not associate with either party) is at a record high 42%. Perhaps no political party is the panacea for the problems of this country. Perhaps we would do well to heed Washington and choose our leaders by statesmanship instead of partisanship.
PAGE 11
Where Did That Christmas Tradition Come From? Miranda Ruiz
C
hristmas is one of the most popular holidays in all of the world! We celebrate annually with oversize evergreens, paper wrapped gifts, decorative stockings, and little manger sets. But do you know where these practices come from? If not, you’re in luck! Here is the history behind some of the most popular Christmas traditions.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
The origins of the Christmas Tree date back to the early German Christians. When Christianity spread to Europe, the former pagan Gaul rituals which included burning logs and gathering evergreen branches were slowly adopted by the church. Christians in medieval Germany would decorate “Paradise Trees” with apples to signify the Garden of Eden. Later, the addition of nuts and sugar wafers became custom. However, the use of Christmas trees in America didn’t start until the Christmas of 1848 after England’s Queen Victoria asked her German husband Prince Albert to decorate as he would have as a child. The family and the ornately decorated tree were featured in the London News. The couple were considered fashion icons by wealthy Americans who quickly adopted the “Christmas Tree.” The Christmas Tree had become a part of the American home and has been so ever since.
DECEMBER 25TH
December 25th is about the only birthday that everyone knows! Well, that is only half true. The 25th of December is never noted in the Bible as Jesus’ actual birth date, Scripture doesn’t mention specifics. So where did we get that date from? Well, there are many different theories but Christian historian Sexist Julius Africanas is the first person known to connect the date with Jesus Christ. In 221 AD in his writings he declared March 25th as the Spring Equinox and day of Creation. Therefore, he believed that Jesus would be born 9 months later.
THE BEAT THE BEAT
Still, some pre-Christian Romans celebrated the pagan god Mithra whose birthday was considered the holiest day of the year, December 25th. By 1st century AD the church was conflicted with new Christian traditions and the old pagan customs. It is theorized that the church decided to adopt December 25th as the birth of Jesus because they knew they would not be able to outlaw the ancient pagan traditions. Instead, the early church inherited the day as Jesus’ birthday, and Pope Julius I officially declared it in the 4th century. It’s now a holiday that is written on calendars all around the world.
SANTA CLAUS
Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas! Santa Claus as we know him has only been around since 1863. But the concept of Mr. Claus goes back to the 4th century, when a Greek---modern day Turkey--bishop by the name of Saint Nicholas was raised by wealthy devout Christian parents who died from an epidemic. He is said to have lived as his parents taught him and by Jesus’ teachings to give to the poor and help the needy. He was a revered bishop who made quite a legacy by giving gifts and leaving presents in stockings, and for having a heart for children. In 1822, American seminary professor Clement Clarke Moore published the poem, A Visit from Saint Nicholas now known as The Night Before Christmas. This poem depicted a character called Santa Claus, a jolly old elf that no one had heard of before. This man rode on a sleigh pulled by reindeer on Christmas Eve, smoked a pipe, toted a bag of toys, and wore American fur. But when cartoonist Thomas Nast illustrated his version of Santa, it changed history. He was commissioned by the magazine Harpers Weekly to illustrate their Christmas edition. Thomas Nast made Santa larger with his iconic round belly, he lived in the North Pole with a workshop of elves, and looked over a naughty and nice list. This was the first glimpse of modern day Santa Claus; the one we know and love today!
Student Interviews Malaysia
Q: What do you typically do for Christmas in Malaysia? A: “ Christmas is a time to evangelize; it’s when we ask non-Christians to come to church. Q: Do you have any special traditions?
Shung Li Tan
A: “ We are big on gifts! We love to give out presents in my family and to people in our congregation. We also do things like caroling to people who go to our church, we put up Christmas trees and fill stockings. Christmas is very westernized in Malaysia so we share a lot of the same customs as you do here in the States.” Q: Do you celebrate Christmas on the 25th? A: “We do have Christmas on December 25th but our clock is ahead of yours so we celebrate before you guys do. But our weather is different because we don’t have seasons, we have a rainy and dry period. Christmas is at the end of the rainy season so the weather is normal... humid and hot.”
United States Q: How does your family celebrate Christmas?
Sarah Priga mother.”
Ethiopia Q: What kinds of food do you eat for Christmas in Ethiopia? A: “We eat a traditional bread called Dabo with coffee, popcorn, and Kolo which is fried Barley.” Q: Do you have Santa Claus in Ethiopia?
Lily Mekonnenn
A: “No, we have our own version of Santa...he dances. He’s a judge for this Christmas game we play, it’s kind of like field hockey.” Q: What kind of gifts do you give? A: “We don’t give gifts for Christmas. It’s just a time to get together with family and eat a lot.” Q: Is Christmas a holiday everyone celebrates? A: “I celebrated Christmas because I was Ethiopian Orthodox. I would go to church in the morning, but my country has a lot of Muslims as well. Christians and Muslims celebrate separately and even have separate butchers to bless the food.” Q: Do you celebrate Christmas on the 25th? A: “ We actually celebrate about 2 weeks after your Christmas, January 7th.”
A: “We don’t get a real tree but we decorate it and put it up together. We also have some special decorations that we put up like ones that me and my brother made when we were younger and even some that have been passed down from my great grand-
Q: What do you do on Christmas Eve? A: “ We have a big dinner where my grandma or mom cooks a Christmas ham and then we go to church at night.” Q: Do you have any special traditions? A: “Well, A Christmas Story is usually playing on TV after church so we watch that together as a family.”
PAGE 13
T
THE F-WORD
here has been a word leaving a sour taste in people’s mouths. This term has been present in Western culture since the 20th century and has been used as an offensive term in modern times. With so many negative connotations ascribed to the word “feminist” it might as well be a cuss word. Why is this word so ridden with cynicism that when a person admits to believing in feminism, many wrinkle their noses? Why does the word “feminist” sound like an angry mob of man hating women to so many people? Like with anything, in order to understand a concept one must define the term and do research to uncover the truth. Going with this approach, what exactly is feminism?
DEFINING M OD E RN FE M INI SM
In the first and second waves of feminism the goal was to have the voices of women heard in a patriarchal society. In this third wave, the passion for women is still present but is portrayed and made real in a different way. “Modern day feminism is more about equality for men and women,” said senior, art history major, Lindsey Henry. She explained that it is no longer about men verses women or women being above men, it is about equal rights for all. Dr. Samuel Smith, professor of English stated, “A feminist is someone who recognizes that woman are, in every way, the equal of men.” He believes that when women are given the opportunity to display their abilities in male dominated settings, they prove that they are able to succeed in that field as well. By defining feminism, it gives light to a subject that many have been skeptical about for decades. If a person believes that men and women should be treated equally and given the exact same rights, then that person is a feminist in its most basic form. “Second wave feminism was quite radical in the 70s,” said senior, politics major, Casey Daggett. “So people now hear the word and think ugly, bitter, man hating women.” These caricatures that have been created do not realistically reflect who the feminists of 2014 are. Henry explained that, “The woman staying home with her kids and making a home is as much of a feminist as one striving to be a CEO.” She continued to say that people should not have a multiple choice answer for their lives, it should be open ended.
MEN ARE IM PORTANT TOO
Feminism is not solely about women, men can be feminists as well. “I don’t know who wouldn’t want to be a feminist,” said Dr. Emerson Powery, professor of Biblical studies. “If folks are treated differently, given less pay or not allowed to be the head minister of a church, any type of separation of genders is illogical in modern Western democracy.” To support this statement, Smith added that once women get to demonstrate their abilities, it’s hard not to be a feminist.
THE BEAT
Megan E. Bloom
“If you’re antifeminist then you’re sort of ignoring reality.” Smith did not always think this way which is the experience for many people who grow up with the patriarchal mindset as normal. He was not able to “break the training” of the ideology that he was brought up in until he met the female scholars supervising him for his dissertation. For society to move forward with the feminist agenda one must go against what has been originally taught about men being superior over women. He explained that the continuation of a patriarchal Western world is not realistic. “This idea that men have this innate superiority that should put them in positions of leadership just doesn’t make sense, it conflicts with reality. To be patriarchal is to be putting yourself up against a reality that will demonstrate that that’s just not the case.” These statements are not saying that all men in power need to step down to allow women to lead the world. The idea is to allow both genders equal opportunity to lead in whichever field they are passionate about.
WWJ D
“To my understanding Jesus was both a liberal and a feminist,” said Dr. Kate Quimby, professor of communications. “He bucked all the things that were in place in his time.” This is true, Jesus went against what the pharisees said about not working on the Sabbath, saved an adulteress from being stoned and even flipped tables in the temple. To support this, Powery, who is specialized in the New Testament, explained that Jesus was quite radical for 1st century Jewish culture. He was a liberal in the modern sense of the word and treated women equally and fairly. Even though feminism was not present at that point in history, Jesus still cared for females. “We have to consider people; as a follower of Jesus that is what he is doing,” said Powery. “Through his teachings and culture, he shows to be more engaged and actively speak out against things that are unfair or unjust.” So why shouldn’t Christians follow Jesus as a role model in respect to feminism? If there is injustice then they should be encouraged by Christ to bring an end to it. To assist in being an advocate for equality, having conversations about it is essential and making a statement if one is discriminated against because of their gender. Looking at the role models put in place at this institution is another way to open up the mind to women being fully capable in any field of study.
Daylight Savings Time Ends John Snyder Autumn has not passed us yet; the growing, glowing fires, have cooled into amber, have settled into bronze, but are not wholly doused— not dead yet. Other Autumns we’ve watched fade, not holding on so tightly; falling and tapping out under much less duress, color wrung out completely, with much less of a fight, going gently into that dark, frosty night, rage all spent, long before dusk. But you’re still here! Endured another stroke of Life’s arms— and you’re here yet. That boxer has thrown every punch, blow after blow after blow, and now in the corner you lay dazed and disheveled, but not out. It has been the fight of a lifetime, and your opponent is getting restless. The loyal crowd draws in a deep breathWe’re on the edge of our seatsStanding now, around the ring, as close as we can squeeze in this cramped room. We are tenseeven the youngest knows the stakes are severe. It cheers us, invigorates us— if one more hour is all you can give, we will take it, and cheer you through the night.
PAGE 15
P l e a s e D o n’ t S e n d Me Letters
S u m m e r ’s Fa l l
Olivia La Bianca
“Who could have predicted it?” asked the flowers, when the sun grew weak and the rain cold.
The city lights make me forget Your window’s yellow glow And the face that I miss most is drowned In faces I don’t know They all seem so happy here Can I be happy too? Please don’t send me letters, sir They remind me of my pain It tells me that through all the changes I remained the same The footsteps of a million people Hide the missing sound Of your uneven amble next to Mine, upon the ground
Michael Scinto
“Not us,” replied the leaves in rustling unison. “Truly, this is the end of paradise,” lamented the butterflies. “We weep for our children.” “What can I do to stop it?” cried the warm summer wind, fearing the chill growing deep within. “We can fight it,” said the canopy, ever hopeful. “Many of us are green yet.” “But how?” wondered the wilting flowers. “With hope,” the butterflies answered, as their fluttering wings slowed.
No one round here gives a s**t Seems I’m still giving two
“Take courage,” whispered the wind, but its frosty voice found no audience.
So please don’t send me letters, sir They’re full of ghosts, you see That taunt me with the cold hard truth That you have gone And the city moves on And I’m still stuck as me.
As for the trees, they just sighed and shook their heads bare.
THE BEAT
THE FOCAL POINT In this day and age everyone with a camera is a photographer. By definition, anyone who creates photos is a photographer, whether they be from your Instagram account or your grandmother’s old film camera. Cameras in phones are constantly improving but they will never adequetly replace a dedicated still camera. Regardless of the tool, what is important is the quality of your photos. Bellow are two two tips that are most applicable to all photographers. They have been condensed to help kickstart your photographic prowess. More advanced guides and tips to follow.
1. The Rule of Thirds Composition within your photos plays a pivitol role in determining a good photo from a bad one. A simple tool to apply to your photos is Rule of Thirds. The Rule of Thirds consists of four intersecting lines that help to show where you can place your subject within the photo, besides dead center, to create a pleasing composition. Simply, place your subject at any of the four intersecting points or along the four lines.
2. Flash This is pretty straight forward; it creates light when the camera thinks there’s not enough. But, you are smarter than your camera. Auto flash usually does more harm than good. Intentionality is key. A flash directly from your camera towards your subject will usually make them looked washed out. To remedy this, if you must use flash, try to diffuse it or reflect it off another surface before it hits your subject. As a side note, if your subject is more than six feet away, your flash probably won’t even reach ypur subject. If you can, just turn it off and save your battery. Photo & Article by Bo Williams
PAGE 17 PAGE 17
Photography Spotlight: Bo Williams
THE BEAT
Paul Ney
PAGE 19
Artist Spotlight:
Amie Bantz
Bo Williams
Benjamin Jancewicz THE BEAT
Dalvin Byron
Brian Behm
Brian Behm
Jesi Zinn
To r i W i n t e r s PAGE 21
STUDENT FILM: Documentary on the Harrisburg Giants Senior film students Kyle Kull, Scott Orris, and junior english and ethnic and area studies major, Jonathan Barry Wolf have come together to create a documentary film on the Negro League baseball team, the Harrisburg Giants. The film will focus on the untold stories of the players who are still alive. Where did the idea for the documentary come from? Jonathan Wolf (JW): The idea for the film came from Dr. Jean Corey, professor of English and Peace and Conflict Studies, who goes to church with Jim Weedon, a 93-year old man who was a player for the Harrisburg Giants. Dr. Corey brought it to the Center for Public Humanities Student Fellows Program and asked if I would do a documentary about this for my project. So we teamed up with the documentary film class, comprised of Kyle Kull and Scott Orris with the direction of film professor, Nathan Skulstad. What is the main purpose of the film? JW: Our general goal would be to capture the voices of these players and the history in a way that will captivate viewers. We want to make sure the Harrisburg Giants, this Harrisburg history, this baseball history, this American history is not forgotten. Kyle Kull (KK): We are possibly also going to relate that to the culture of Harrisburg during this time of segregation. SO: An interesting fact I found randomly, was that when baseball was first organized in about 1867 or so in Harrisburg, the baseball clubs decided they didn’t want black players in the league. They completely segregated. We want to find out about the culture of Harrisburg, how was race viewed at the time, and how it worked out with the white team, the Harrisburg Senators.
THE BEAT THE BEAT
JW: I think the race relations part is very important, it’s the most interesting part for me as an ethnic and area studies major. They created the Negro League so African Americans could have a place to play, but also there were whites on the Giants team. We asked Jim Weedon how this worked and he said it wasn’t about race when you’re on a team. They were unified by baseball. Who is your audience? Where are you showing this film? JW: We want to lead a discussion at the Humanities Symposium in February. Otherwise a huge goal for the Center of Public Humanities is that we are creating this for the city of Harrisburg, we’re really trying to create something to engage Harrisburg with their history. We want to take this history and put it into a format that will present itself well to viewers and give it to Harrisburg as an archive of their history as the Harrisburg Giants. KK: There is a film festival at the end of every year for film students called SPLICE so we will probably show it there. We are trying to expand and look into different local film festivals, submit it to the Society for American Baseball Research’s film festival, and the PBS Point of View series. We want to get it on as big of a stage as we possibly can. This project has the possibility of enlightening thousands of people in the Harrisburg area about their local history. Creating a documentary on an important part of American history is something that can be enjoyed by all. By: Megan E. Bloom
Danielle Burkett
Night Owls f you absolutely have to stay up late, and you aren’t used to it, here are a few tips from a long-time night owl. I recommend if you are staying up late for the first time that you don’t do it alone. Working with friends can be a great motivation. Working with other people helps keep your energy up and can break up the monotony, and if you are nice enough, having another person there to proofread your work is always helpful.
I
Working in a group provides motivation, because you are all working towards the same goal – getting your work done so that you can get some sleep. Working in a group has its negatives too: groups make it easier to get distracted. Choose your late night study group wisely. No matter how much you might want to sleep, fight the urge. You might think it’s a good idea to take a 5-10 minute nap and then get back to work, but if you are staying up alone napping can equal a death sentence to the rest of your night. If you are staying up with a friend or two then by all means take a really quick nap, having your friends around will help ensure you actually wake back up and get to work again.
spaced out enough that you can actually get work done. Also don’t stay in one spot for too long. Take it from me, you’ll get burnt out easier, you’ll get tired and lose focus. What I like to do is go for a quick walk to clear my head. My final tip has to do with food. Snacking can help you keep your energy up, but like all things in life don’t overindulge. Snack in moderation and avoid eating a whole lot of junk food that will make you feel sluggish. Energy drinks make me shaky so I tend to go for tea for my late night caffeine fix. Avoid herbal teas like chamomile since those are usually designed to relax and help you sleep. Black tea has the highest caffeine content followed by green tea. Teas with ginger and ginseng are naturally designed to help give energy. Keep some of these tips in mind and staying up late doesn’t have to feel quite so terrible.
Plan out how you want the night to go, make a schedule for yourself and try to stick to it. Breaks are absolutely necessary. The last thing you want is to get so burnt out that you can’t think any more. Don’t make your breaks super long either keep your breaks short and
PAGE 23
Elisabeth Ciarrocca
Harrisburg: Got a Minute?
M
essiah students looking for something to do that is nearby should check out Harrisburg City Island. From sports, to music, arts and history, cruises and train rides, Harrisburg has got it all.
Harrisburg Shakespeare Company (HSC), founded in 1994, showcases the Shakespeare Festival in the Park, which provides free performances. Producing two main stage shows at Gamut Classic Theatre, HSC tours a Shakespeare work and a collection of Edgar Allan Poe stories. Shows typically run Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. The Art Association of Harrisburg is a non-profit art gallery and school that presents varied exhibits of regional, national, and international artists’ works in the historic Governor Findlay Mansion, as well as an eclectic art selection available for purchase in the Sales Gallery. Check their website for hours at www.artassocofhbg.com. For those who enjoy more active entertainment, Harrisburg provides challenging miniature golf courses at the Bumble Bee Hollow Center. The golf courses are open to the public, allowing individuals, no matter their level of expertise, to get the most out of their golfing experience. There are also baseball games at Metro Bank Park during the day and cruises on a Susquehanna Riverboat. The Susquehanna River Bank provides sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises, and live music entertainment. Lastly, one can visit Capitol Rotunda, Pennsylvania’s state capitol building. The centerpiece of the Capitol. The building is breathtaking and tours are provided every half hour, which include the Governor’s Reception Room, The House Chamber and The Senate Chamber.
THE BEAT
PHOTO PROVIDED BY: http://www.politicspa.com
come visit US
CONTRIBUTORS Designers: Designers: Carly Carly GroffGroff Designer: Katy Katy Trice Trice Designer: Designer: James Gibbons Designer: James Gibbons Designer: Frances Miller Designer: Frances Miller Designer: Corey LaQuay Designer: Corey LaQuay Photography: Photography: Megan E. Bloom Megan E. Bloom Art Contributors: Bo Williams Dalvin Byron Art Contributors: Paul Ney Jesi Zinn Bo Williams Brian Behm Tori Winters Paul Ney Benjamin Jancewicz Amie Bantz Brian Behm Benjamin Jancewicz Editors: Editor in Chief: Corinne Elliott Lindsey Markle
Content Editor: Megan E. Bloom Content Editor: Miranda Ruiz Editors: Content Editor: Olivia La Bianca EIC:Manager: CorinneBo Elliott Design Williams Content Editor: Megan E. Bloom Design Assistant Manager: Carly Groff
Content Editor: Miranda Ruiz Writers: Content Editor: Olivia La Bianca Danielle Burkett Design Manager: Bo Williams Grant Meckley Design Assistant Manager: Carly Groff Katy Trice Mimi Pedercini Writers: Elisabeth Ciarrocca
Danielle Burkett Creative Writing Contributors: Grant Meckley Michael Scinto Katy Trice John Snyder Mimi Pedercini Olivia La Bianca Elisabeth Ciarrocca Publisher: Creative Writing Contributors: Intelligencer Michael Scinto Academic Advisor: John Snyder Dr. Ed T. Arke Olivia La Bianca Special Thanks To: Square Bean Coffee Yellow Bird Cafe Anytime Fitness
THE BEAT
PAGE 25 PAGE 25
Who Are We?
Our Mission... Promote honest journalism Provide timely and accurate news Act as an outlet for student voices and perspectives Help students gain skills in newswriting, radio, design, communication, and more. Open Hours Monday-Friday 1 pm - 5 pm 717-691-6081 facebook.com/MessiahPulse twitter.com/MessiahPulse